• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

sweet miscellany

seasonal vegetarian recipes

  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • LINKS FROM INSTAGRAM
  • RECIPES
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
  • CONTACT

beverage

Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda

June 25, 2021 By Courtney West Leave a Comment

Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

Freshly juiced garden cucumbers are mixed with lemon basil, lemon juice, maple syrup, and sparkling water for a deliciously hydrating soda. This vegan and gluten free drink is perfect for enjoying on hot summer days or anytime you need to use up a glut of cucumbers!

Summer is officially here, and it is suffocating levels of humid and hot in Houston as per usual. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s sort of like an armpit here during the summer. I’ll wait while you enjoy that imagery in your mind for a few seconds… Since I can’t change the weather, I try to make do with cooling and refreshing foods and drinks. Enter: this verdant cucumber basil soda!

Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog
Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

This tipple was born out of a glut of cucumbers from the garden and the need for something a little more exciting than water to provide some summer hydration. I decided to throw the cucumbers into my juicer with a handful of highly fragrant lemon basil from the garden. I added lemon juice for brightness, maple syrup for sweetness, and sparkling water for some fizz. It’s simple yet delicious and is all I want to sip on at the moment!

Looking for more refreshing summer sips? Try some cold brewed herbal tea, sparkling sage lemonade, a cooling summer tisane, or a papaya coconut water slush with lime and mint.

Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Courtney
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 3-4 servings
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Freshly juiced garden cucumbers are mixed with lemon basil, lemon juice, maple syrup, and sparkling water for a deliciously hydrating soda. This vegan and gluten free drink is perfect for enjoying on hot summer days or anytime you need to use up a glut of cucumbers!


Ingredients

  • 1 large (or 2 small/medium) cucumbers
  • 1 large handful of fresh basil leaves (I used lemon basil)
  • 1–2 lemons
  • maple syrup to sweeten (you’ll need .5 oz per serving)
  • ice
  • plain sparkling water (you’ll need 2-3 oz per serving)


Instructions

Juice together 1 large cucumber and a large handful of basil. Alternately, you can blend these together in a high speed blender until completely liquefied, then strain it through a sieve to remove the pulp and solids. 

For each drink, you’ll mix 3 oz of the juice with .5 oz of maple syrup and the juice of half of a lemon. You can shake these in a cocktail shaker if you like or mix them together right in your glass. 

Add ice and top with sparkling water. You can garnish with a lemon wedge and fresh basil if you like.

Notes

You can use agave syrup or simple syrup in place of the maple syrup if you like. You can also make a big batch ahead of time, just leave out the sparkling water until right before serving.

  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: drink

Did you make the recipe?

I love to see what you’re making so feel free to tag me on Instagram @courtweststudio!

Refreshing Cucumber Basil Soda (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

Filed Under: beverage, garden, Recipe, summer, vegan

Cold Brew Herbal Tea & a Spring Garden Stroll

April 29, 2021 By Courtney West 1 Comment

Cold Brew Herbal Tea & a Spring Garden Stroll (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

Fresh herbs harvested from the garden are made into a delicious herbal tea using this cold brew method. You can go from garden to mug in no time at all! Customize this vegan and gluten free herbal tea with any herbs you like.

Cold Brew Herbal Tea & a Spring Garden Stroll (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” — Ernest Hemingway

Spring is certainly fleeting where I am as predicted highs for next week begin to flirt with the 90s. In anticipation of the sweltering summer days, I’ve been trying to enjoy as much time as possible outside in the garden. I don’t always have tasks to do so I mostly wander and observe. I check in on the ripening tomatoes to see how much the color has changed from the day before. I run my hands through the mint to release the lovely scent. And I check on my cucumbers to see if I can spot any female flowers emerging yet. For as small as it might seem, there’s always plenty to see in the garden if I take the time to actually notice.

Cold Brew Herbal Tea & a Spring Garden Stroll (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

While walking around the garden earlier this week I realized that I needed to harvest a few herbs and the first ripe tomatoes. So, I figured it would be the perfect time to document what the garden looks like at the moment and also share the way I make cold brew herbal tea with fresh herbs. As lovely as herbs are to look at and watch grow, don’t forget to harvest and use them! You can find the full video and written cold brew herbal tea method below. If you like the video, don’t forget to subscribe. And, if you’d like to check out my other video content, head here.

Cold Brew Herbal Tea & a Spring Garden Stroll (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog
Print
.tasty-recipe-responsive-iframe-container-0669d160 { position: relative; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 56.2%; } .tasty-recipe-responsive-iframe-container-0669d160 iframe { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0; } clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Cold Brew Herbal Tea


5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

  • Author: Courtney
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 1 serving
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Fresh herbs harvested from the garden are made into a delicious herbal tea using this cold brew method. You can go from garden to mug in no time at all! Customize this vegan and gluten free herbal tea with any herbs you like.


Ingredients

for each serving you’ll need:

  • 1/4 cup of fresh herbs such as mint, lemon verbena, lemon balm, and basil
  • 2–3 oz of just-boiled water
  • 8–10 oz of cool or room temperature filtered water


Instructions

Make sure you rinse your herbs well to remove any dirt, debris, or insects. Add your herbs to a heat-proof container like a glass jar or mug that has at least a 10 to 12 oz capacity. Pour 2-3 oz of just-boiled water over the herbs (this is water that has been brought to a boil then removed from the heat and allowed to sit for at least 30-60 seconds). Make sure your herbs are submerged in the water then set a timer and let them steep for 5 minutes. 

After 5 minutes has passed, add 8-10 oz of cool filtered water. For the quicker method, you can allow the tea to steep for 5-10 minutes more before straining and enjoying it. Or, you can cover the tea and place it in the fridge to brew for 2-3 more hours for a more developed flavor. Add ice as needed and enjoy!

I garnished mine with a borage flower which has a lovely blue hue and a cucumber flavor. 

Notes

  • I used a mix of Swiss Ricola mint, lemon balm, and lemon verbena in the video. Feel free to mix and match and try different combinations based on what you have available!
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: beverage

Did you make the recipe?

I love to see what you’re making so feel free to tag me on Instagram @courtweststudio!

Cold Brew Herbal Tea & a Spring Garden Stroll (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

Filed Under: beverage, garden, gluten free, herbs, Recipe, spring, summer, vegan, video

  • « Go to Previous Page
  • Page 1
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 5
  • Page 6
  • Page 7
  • Page 8
  • Page 9
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 25
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

Keep in Touch

Want free monthly seasonal eating tips and recipes straight to your inbox? Simply tap here!

dairy free blueberry corn muffins

Blueberry Corn Muffins with Whipped Maple Butter (dairy free) | seasonal plant-based recipes from the Sweet Miscellany Blog

summer picnic pasta salad

dewberry shrub with lemon thyme

Dewberry Shrub with Lemon Thyme (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

blistered shishito peppers with lemon basil cashew cream

Blistered Shishito Peppers with Lemon Basil Cashew Cream (vegan/gf recipe) | seasonal plant-based recipes via The Sweet Miscellany Blog

cucumber carrot salad with crushed peanuts & mint

Images and content owned by Courtney West copyright (c) 2011-2025

Copyright © 2025 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in