Summer Sip: Strawberry & Basil
There is something about summer that makes me crave a drink that feels special. Something cold and refreshing, a little sweet, and made with real, simple ingredients.
Since I no longer drink alcohol, I've really come to appreciate a good mocktail. Sometimes I make them when I'm gathering with friends, and oftentimes it's just for me. Nothing is better than sitting on the porch at the end of the day, watching the squirrels and birds in my backyard, holding onto a fancy glass with a beverage that’s vibrant with color and flavor. In addition to enjoying a drink that feels like a celebration, I love the ritual of making something beautiful to sip, adding a little love and creativity to the process.
And, summer gives us so much to work with.
Fresh fruit and herbs from the garden or farmers market offer endless possibilities. Make a simple herbal infusion, turn them into a homemade syrup, or simply add them fresh to your water. Add some citrus or a splash of sparkling water, and now we’re talking.
This Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup is one of my favorites.
I originally made it last summer for a retreat, where I served it as a refreshing afternoon treat during one of our breaks. This summer, I've had an abundance of fresh basil coming my way from the farm, and it felt like the perfect time to bring it back.
I’ve been using organic dehydrated strawberries and fresh basil, but fresh strawberries work beautifully here too. The result is sweet and fruity with that unmistakable aroma of basil.
A Closer Look at the Plants
Part of what I love about making drinks from scratch is that even something as simple as a summer mocktail becomes an opportunity to get to know the plants we're using.
Strawberry | Fragaria × ananassa
Bright, juicy strawberries feel synonymous with summer.
Energetically, strawberries are generally considered cooling and moistening, which makes sense when you think about the experience of biting into a ripe berry on a hot day. They're largely made up of water and provide vitamin C, manganese, fiber and an array of naturally occurring plant compounds, including anthocyanins, which give strawberries their beautiful red color.
While we tend to think primarily about the berry, strawberry leaves have traditionally been brewed as tea. The leaves contain tannins, which give them a gentle astringent quality, helping to tone and tighten tissues. This is part of why strawberry leaf has traditionally been used to support digestion, as well as the urinary system.
Basil | Ocimum basilicum
Basil is an aromatic herb with a long history of use for supporting digestion. Traditionally, it has been used as a carminative, meaning it helps settle the digestive system and ease occasional gas and bloating.
Much of basil's distinctive scent and flavor comes from its volatile oils, which are released when you rub or tear the fresh leaves.
Those aromatic oils aren't just responsible for its small, they're also an important part of its digestive action.
Basil also has a relationship with the nervous system, particularly when stress and tension are felt in the gut. It's a beautiful example of the connection herbalists often make between our nervous and digestive systems.
And while we often associate basil with pesto, tomato dishes and savory summer meals, its character works beautifully with fruit too. In my opinion, strawberry and basil are the perfect pair. Strawberry brings sweetness, tartness and juiciness, and basil brings that fresh, fragrant flavor that makes the combination both enjoyable and a little unexpected.
Strawberry Basil Simple Syrup
Ingredients:
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
½ cup dehydrated strawberries or 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
½ cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
To make:
Add the water, sugar and strawberries to a small saucepan.
Warm over medium to low heat, stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved.
Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for about 5 minutes. If you're using fresh strawberries, you can simmer them a little longer, until they soften and begin releasing their juices.
Remove from the heat.
Lightly tear or bruise the fresh basil leaves and add them to the warm syrup.
Cover and allow the basil to steep for about 10–15 minutes.
Strain through a fine, mesh strainer into a clean jar or bottle.
Allow the syrup to cool completely before refrigerating.
Make It a Summer Mocktail
Fill a glass with ice and add 1–2 tablespoons of strawberry basil syrup. Top with cold sparkling water and give it a gentle stir.
From there, make it your own. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime, a few sliced strawberries or a sprig of fresh basil. You can also add the syrup to plain cold water if bubbles aren't your thing.
I love that you can adjust the sweetness depending on your mood and what you’re craving. Sometimes you want just enough syrup to lightly flavor your sparkling water, and other times you want something sweeter that feels more like a true mocktail.
That's part of the beauty of making it yourself.
A Simple Summer Ritual
Working with plants doesn't always have to mean making a medicinal preparation. It can be as simple as noticing what's growing abundantly, bringing it into the kitchen and finding another way to enjoy it.
For me, preparing and having fun drink in my hand has become part of how I enjoy the season without alcohol. A simple infusion of fruit, herbs and sugar can mark an occasion, accompany a meal, be shared at a gathering or make an ordinary evening feel just a little more intentional. Cheers!