Virgin Berry Blend Recipe

Inspired by Tamasha: Bar + Indian Kitchen

Time15m

Serves2

The essence of a fresh – picked berry basket. This blend combines the lush sweetness of strawberry and raspberry with the crisp, tart finish of cranberry, orange, and a spark of lemon.

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Ingredients

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Berry Base

1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered

1 cups fresh raspberries

1 cups cranberry juice (100% unsweetened)

Citrus & Sweetener

1/2 cups fresh orange juice (about 1 medium orange)

1 tbs fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)

2 tbs simple syrup (1:1 sugar to water) or honey

Texture & Finish

1 cups cold water or chilled sparkling water (for effervescence)

1 cups ice cubes

6 to taste fresh mint leaves (optional, for garnish)

8 to taste fresh whole berries (strawberry halves and raspberries) for garnish

Method

Berry Base

Prepare berries

Rinse strawberries and raspberries under cold water. Hull and quarter the strawberries; pat the berries dry with a paper towel.

Muddle or puree

Place the quartered strawberries and raspberries in a blender or food processor with the cranberry juice. Pulse 6–8 times for a slightly textured blend, or blend 20–30 seconds for a smooth puree. If you prefer a seed-free drink, strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible; discard solids.

Citrus & Sweetener

Add citrus and sweetener

Stir the fresh orange juice and lemon juice into the strained or unstrained berry mixture. Add 2 tablespoons simple syrup (or honey) and taste. Adjust sweetness by adding up to 1 additional tablespoon if desired. Mix until fully incorporated.

Texture & Finish

Dilute and chill

Add 1 cup cold water for a still version or 1 cup chilled sparkling water for a fizzy version. Stir gently to combine. If using sparkling water, add it just before serving to preserve effervescence.

Assemble and serve

Fill two serving glasses with ice (about 1/2 cup ice per glass). Divide the virgin berry blend between the glasses. Garnish each glass with 3–4 fresh raspberries, a strawberry half on the rim, and 3 mint leaves. Serve immediately.

Storage

Store any leftover blend (without ice) in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. If separated, give it a quick stir before serving and add fresh sparkling water if you want fizz.