Refreshing Blueberry Soda

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 cups fresh basil
• 2 cups blueberries
• 1/2 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 4 cups carbonated sparkling water

Directions

Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a saucepan. Stir the sugar and basil into the water and return to a boil; cook at a boil for 10 minutes and immediately remove from heat. Chill in refrigerator until slightly cooled, about 10 minutes.

Blend the blueberries, 1/2 cup water, and the lemon juice in a blender until smooth; pour into a pitcher. Remove the basil leaves from the simple-syrup mixture; discard the basil. Stir the syrup into the blueberry mixture. Add the carbonated water to the mixture and stir gently.