Blackberry Basil Soda
Posted: July 26, 2025
Updated: January 18, 2026
Instinct Level 4 – Advanced Technique: Patience and precision shine here: complex steps, longer time, sharper skills required.
Instinct Level 3 – Intermediate Balance: A little layering, some timing, and a dash of judgment — you’ve got this.
Instinct Level 5 – Expert Challenge: Multi‑stage, high‑skill cooking with nuanced judgment — a true kitchen adventure.
Instinct Level 2 – Easy with Guidance: Simple skills, short prep, clear steps — just follow along and you’re golden.
Instinct Level 1 – Beginner Friendly: You’ll breeze through this: quick, easy, no judgment calls, barely any cleanup.
Homemade sodas are fantastic, especially if you have a SodaStream (or something similar). My husband and I developed this recipe years ago when we lived in Seattle where the neighbors had GIANT blackberry bushes growing into our yard. To avoid buying syrups, we experimented with flavorings and found that basically a simple syrup with fruit juice instead of water worked wonderfully. The possibilities were endless...blackberry basil, orange thyme, lemon rosemary...all of them are delicious. Homemade is almost always better – healthier, yummier, more natural, and more environmentally friendly.
drinks at 2 tablespoons syrup each (≈1 cup syrup per 8 drinks, depending on how strong you want them to be)
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Hands-On Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Ingredients
Item
Quantity
Mise en Place / Notes
blackberries (fresh or frozen)
12
ounces
(about 1 cup per 6 ounces)
still (tap) water
¼
cup
plus more, if needed
granulated (white) sugar
½
cup
(divided)
fresh basil
¼
cup
torn into large pieces (about 1 handful of leaves per ¼ cup)
kosher salt (Morton)
½
teaspoon
sparkling, seltzer water, or club soda
2
liters
The Process
Cook
#
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1.
Add 12 ounces blackberries, ¼ cup water, and half of the sugar into a small or medium saucepan over medium heat. Gently mash the berries with a fork or potato masher to release their juices (2 to 3 minutes).
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2.
Once the blackberries have released the juice, pour the blackberries and juice into a liquid measuring cup and add enough water to reach enough liquid to make the 1 cup (or the target amount). Return the mixture back to the saucepan.
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3.
Stir in the remaining sugar and approximately ¼ cup basil leaves over low heat. Constantly stir to ensure that the mixture does not boil. Maintain a simmer until the sugar dissolves completely.
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4.
Once the sugar is completely dissolved, strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a glass jar or bottle and allow to cool. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
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Serve
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5.
Pour about 2 tablespoons of the syrup into a glass and top off with soda water over ice, stir. Garnish with fresh blackberries and/or basil leaves, if desired.
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Notes
Suggestions
Syrups are great for baby showers or other events. Just have ice, soda water, one or more syrups so your guests can make their own sodas.
Troubleshooting
Soda is too tart: Add more sugar when cooking or add a sweetener (honey is a good one) when serving.
Make Ahead
Syrups can be made in advance, stored in the refrigerator, and used as needed.
Storage & Leftovers
Store the syrup in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Just use the syrup when desired and add soda water.
FAQs
Q: How strong should the blackberry flavor be in the final soda?
A: The recipe suggests starting with 2 tablespoons of syrup per glass, but you can adjust to taste. Some people prefer a lighter, more subtle flavor while others want it more intense. Start with less and add more as needed.
Q: Can I make this without a SodaStream?
A: Absolutely! You can use any store-bought sparkling water or soda water. SodaStream is convenient but not necessary.
Q: Why can't I let the mixture boil?
A: Boiling can make the syrup too thick and may cook out some of the delicate herb flavors. Gentle simmering dissolves the sugar while preserving the fresh taste.
Q: What can I substitute for fresh basil?
A: You could try other herbs like mint, thyme, or even rosemary for different flavor profiles. Use about the same amount, but taste as you go since different herbs have varying intensities. Dried herbs are not recommended for this recipe.
Q: Can I reduce the sugar content?
A: Yes, you can use less sugar, though the syrup may not keep as long. This recipe also defaults to less sugar with the option to add more (I don't recommend much less sugar since the usual ratio for simple syrup is 1 cup water to 1 cup sugar). You can also substitute honey, agave, or maple syrup for the granulated sugar. Add sweetener to taste when serving if the syrup becomes too tart.
Cost
8 servings
| Ingredient | Per Serving | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| blackberries | $ | 0.55 | $ | 4.44 | |
| sugar (white) | 0.00 | 0.03 | |||
| basil (fresh) | 0.00 | 0.04 | |||
| salt | 0.00 | 0.02 | |||
| sparkling, seltzer water, or club soda | 0.38 | 3.00 | |||
| Total | $ | 0.94 | $ | 7.52 |
The cost can be reduced significantly if you buy blackberries from a UPick farm or on sale and freeze, grow your own basil, and use a SodaStream.
Nutrition Facts
serving size: 2 tablespoons syrup
| calories | 66 |
% daily value*
| total fat | 0.0 g | 0% |
| saturated fat | 0.0 g | 0% |
| trans fat | 0.0 g | 0% |
| polyunsaturated fat | 2.0 g | 0% |
| monounsaturated fat | 5.2 g | 0% |
| cholesterol | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| sodium | 88.8 mg | 4% |
| total carbohydrates | 17.0 g | 6% |
| dietary fiber | 3.0 g | 11% |
| sugars | 0.0 g | 0% |
| protein | 0.0 g | 0% |
micronutrients
| vitamin a | 5.3 mcg | 1% |
| vitamin c | 9.0 mg | 10% |
| calcium | 12.1 mg | 1% |
| iron | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| vitamin d | 0.0 mcg | 0% |
| magnesium | 9.0 mg | 2% |
| potassium | 69.5 mg | 1% |
| zinc | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| phosphorus | 9.0 mg | 1% |
| thiamin (b1) | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| riboflavin (b2) | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| niacin (b3) | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| vitamin b6 | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| folic acid (b9) | 10.6 mcg | 3% |
| vitamin b12 | 0.0 mcg | 0% |
| vitamin e | 0.0 mg | 0% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet; your needs may differ.
Nutrition information is estimated using USDA databases and may vary based on ingredient brands and preparation methods.
The 2,000-calorie reference is used as a general guide. Individual calorie needs typically range from 1,600-2,400 calories per day for adult women and 2,000-3,000 calories per day for adult men, depending on age, activity level, and other factors.
Need to look something up?
Simmer
Technique in which foods are cooked in a hot liquid just below boiling point (typically between 185°F & 205°F / 82°C & 96°C (a thermometer can be used but is not necessary if visual cues are monitored)). Small bubbles will occasionally rise to the surface but there is not a full, rolling boil. Used to soften foods, allowing flavors to meld and ingredients to cook evenly without becoming tougher. Slow cookers and crockpots may be used to maintain a simmer.
Mash
Reducing cooked foods (typically potatoes or other starchy vegetables) to a smooth, creamy consistency using tools like potato mashers, ricer, or food mills. In brewing, mashing specifically means combining ground grains with hot water to convert starches to sugars. The technique creates comfort foods like mashed potatoes while also serving technical purposes in brewing and distilling. Proper mashing requires the right tool, temperature, and liquid ratios to achieve desired texture.
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