Clementina Frizzante
This bright Italian-inspired sparkling clementine drink is citrusy, lightly sweet, and easy to mix by the glass or pitcher. Fresh clementine juice gives it a soft orange flavor, while cold sparkling water keeps it crisp.
- Total time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 4 drinks
- Difficulty
- Easy
Prep 10mCook 0mItalian-inspiredDrinks
Clementina frizzante means “sparkling clementine,” and that is exactly the mood of this simple drink: fresh citrus, bubbles, and a clean finish. It works well for brunch, holiday meals, afternoon snacks, or any time you want something festive without much work.
The base is fresh clementine juice mixed with a little lemon juice and honey. The lemon keeps the drink from tasting flat, and a tiny pinch of salt makes the fruit flavor pop.
Serve it very cold over ice. Add the sparkling water at the end so the bubbles stay lively.
01What you'll need
Ingredients
8 items · 4 drinks
- 1 cup fresh clementine juice, from about 8 to 10 clementines
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1/16 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 cups cold plain sparkling water
- Ice, for serving
- Clementine slices or twists, for garnish, optional
- Fresh rosemary or mint sprigs, for garnish, optional
02How to make it
Step-by-step
1. Chill the serving glasses
Place 4 glasses in the refrigerator or fill them with ice water while you make the drink. Cold glasses help the clementina frizzante stay bubbly longer.
2. Juice the clementines
Cut the clementines in half and squeeze them with a citrus juicer or by hand. Strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve if you want a smoother drink, or leave in some pulp for more texture.
3. Mix the citrus base
In a small pitcher, combine the clementine juice, lemon juice, honey, and fine sea salt. Stir well until the honey is fully dissolved. If the honey is thick, let the mixture sit for 1 minute, then stir again.
4. Taste and adjust
Taste the citrus base before adding bubbles. If your clementines are tart, add another teaspoon of honey. If they are very sweet, add a small extra squeeze of lemon.
5. Add ice to the glasses
Empty the chilled glasses if you used ice water. Fill each glass halfway with fresh ice.
6. Pour the citrus base
Divide the clementine mixture evenly among the 4 glasses. Each glass should get about 1/4 cup of citrus base.
7. Top with sparkling water
Slowly pour about 1/2 cup cold sparkling water into each glass. Stir once or twice with a spoon, just enough to combine. Do not over-stir, or the drink will lose bubbles.
8. Garnish and serve
Add a clementine slice, twist of peel, rosemary sprig, or mint sprig if you like. Serve right away while the drink is cold and fizzy.
03From our kitchen
Cook's tips
- Make-ahead: Mix the clementine juice, lemon juice, honey, and salt up to 24 hours ahead. Keep it covered in the refrigerator. Add sparkling water only when serving.
- Storage: Once mixed with sparkling water, the drink is best served right away. Leftovers are safe to drink the next day, but they will be much less fizzy.
- Sweetener swap: Use maple syrup, agave syrup, or simple syrup instead of honey. Simple syrup blends especially easily into cold drinks.
- No fresh clementines? Use bottled tangerine juice or orange juice in a pinch. Choose 100% juice with no added sugar, and adjust the lemon juice to taste.
- For a less sweet drink: Start with 1 tablespoon honey, taste the citrus base, then add more only if needed.
- For an adult version: Replace 1 cup of the sparkling water with chilled prosecco or sparkling wine. The nutrition listed does not include alcohol.
Cook's note
Clementines vary a lot in sweetness. The small taste-and-adjust step matters here because it keeps the drink balanced without making it sugary.
04Frequently asked
Questions & answers
Can I make clementina frizzante without honey?
Yes. Use agave syrup, maple syrup, or simple syrup instead. If you want no added sweetener, leave it out and use very sweet clementines.
Can I make this in a pitcher?
Yes. Mix the clementine juice, lemon juice, honey, and salt in a pitcher. Just before serving, add the cold sparkling water and stir gently.
Why did my drink lose its bubbles quickly?
Sparkling water goes flat faster when it is warm or stirred too much. Use very cold sparkling water, chilled glasses, and stir only once or twice.
Can I use club soda instead of sparkling water?
Yes, but club soda may taste slightly salty because it often contains added minerals. Plain sparkling water gives the cleanest citrus flavor.
Do I need to strain the juice?
No. Straining gives a smoother drink, but leaving in some pulp adds body and a more fresh-squeezed feel.
05Per serving
Nutrition facts
Nutrition Facts
4 drinks
Amount per serving
% Daily Value*
- Total Fat0 g
- 0%
- Saturated Fat0 g
- 0%
- Cholesterol0 mg
- 0%
- Sodium38 mg
- 2%
- Total Carbohydrate16 g
- 6%
- Dietary Fiber0 g
- 0%
- Total Sugars14 g
- Protein0 g
- 0%
- Vitamin D0 mcg
- 0%
- Calcium8 mg
- 1%
- Iron0.2 mg
- 1%
- Potassium123 mg
- 3%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
05Keep cooking
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