This is the recipe for the strawberry wellness drink that I make when the fruit bowl is full of lovely fresh berries and I want to drink something cold, fresh and slightly sweet, but don’t want to go to the fridge for a bottle of drink. It’s very simple and made with just a few ingredients: strawberries, some citrus fruit, a bit of honey and cold water. It tastes of early summer and is very refreshing but not too sweet and not too thin. It’s great to drink on its own in the afternoon, or to have with a simple breakfast of toast and eggs.
This drink tastes of fruit and not of a recipe. The sweetness of the drink comes from the berries and the honey is just used to round off the sharpness of the strawberries. It is also quick to make. There is no cooking involved, no steeping of ingredients and very little washing up. It’s nice to have a treat every now and then, but this treat also happens to be good for you. Strawberries are packed full of vitamin C, so this drink is a great way to have more fruit and more water in your day. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that this drink will cure any of your ailments, but it is a fresh, honest drink that is good for you.
The most important thing for this drink is to have good strawberries. They need to be deep red all the way to the shoulder of the fruit, have a lovely sweet scent when you hold them to your nose, and feel firm but not hard. Pale, white-tipped fruit will result in a sour, watery drink even with lots of sweetener. In winter, frozen strawberries can be better than fresh, as the fresh fruit can look quite sad on the shelf. The frozen fruit will also make the drink even colder. Just a squeeze of lemon juice is needed to lift the flavor of the berries. Freshly squeezed lemon juice is always best as bottled lemon juice can taste flat when added to fruit. A little squeeze of lime juice is also good. I use honey to sweeten this drink, but you could use maple syrup instead. It is best to taste the strawberries first as if they are very ripe you may not need any sweetener at all. I also add a few mint leaves to this drink for a cool, green finish. They are not essential, but I think they add something. The water must be cold and fresh. If you want a slightly softer, rounder flavor then you could use coconut water instead.
First wash the strawberries under cold running water and remove the green tops. Leave the strawberries to drain on a clean tea towel for a few minutes. You want the strawberries to be as clean as possible but not too wet or the drink will be too watery. In the blender go the strawberries, the lemon juice, the honey and a few mint leaves, followed by the cold water. The first thing you notice is the color – a lovely, bright, almost jewel-like red color against the clear water. Then the blender is turned on and the sound of the blades gets louder and smoother. After a short time the mixture will have turned into a soft, opaque pink color and the smell will fill the kitchen. It is a sweet, slightly grassy smell of strawberries. I stop blending the mixture when I can no longer see any chunks of fruit. The mixture can look a bit foamy on top but this soon settles down. To make the drink very smooth, pour it through a fine sieve and press down with the back of a spoon to extract as much of the liquid as possible. I don’t bother with this step as I like the slightly thicker texture that the pulp gives to the drink. Add some ice to the glasses, pour in the drink and give each glass a quick stir.
The color of the drink is another good indicator of when it is ready. A well-blended drink will be an even rosy pink color with no dark red streaks or floating chunks of fruit. Take a spoonful to taste. It should be sweet but have a gentle tang to it. If it tastes flat then you need to add more lemon juice. If it tastes too sharp then you need to add a small drizzle of honey. The texture should be pourable and smooth, similar to a light juice rather than a thick smoothie. It should flow easily from the glass and coat the sides of the glass faintly.
Use cold water and chilled fruit if possible.
Start with small amounts of honey and add more as needed. You can’t take it out once it’s in.
Blend the mint briefly. If you over blend it then it will turn bitter and the drink will have a muddy green tinge to it.
Drink soon after blending. The drink is best consumed within an hour of blending as the color and flavor will start to fade.
Wash the berries just before use.
Too sour. The berries were underripe. Add more honey or even some sweeter fruit like a ripe banana. Too thin and watery. There was too much water in the first place or the fruit was not ripe enough. Add more berries to the blender next time. The drink has separated. This is normal for a fruit drink and can easily be fixed by giving the drink a quick stir. Bitter taste. Mint was blended for too long or some of the green tops were left on. Be careful to remove all of the green tops and blend the mint for a short time only. Too foamy. Let the blender rest for a minute and then skim off any foam on the surface of the drink with a spoon.
I prefer this drink cold, in a tall glass with lots of ice and a slice of strawberry on the rim of the glass. It’s perfect with a simple breakfast of toast and eggs, or as a refreshing drink after a walk on a warm afternoon. For a party, pour this drink into a glass jug and add some slices of lemon and some mint leaves to float on top. You could even add some sparkling water to make it even more festive.
Add some slices of fresh cucumber to make a spa-like drink that is quietly cooling. A small piece of fresh ginger can be added for a gentle warmth on cooler days. I made this drink with some raspberries in the spring of 2024 and it was a little deeper in color and a little more tart in flavor. I also added some chia seeds to the drink, which I stirred in and left to sit for a few minutes. This created a slightly thicker drink that was perfect as a light snack. To make a creamier drink, replace some of the water with plain yoghurt or a dairy-free alternative.
This drink is best on the day it is made but will keep for up to 2 days in the fridge. Pour into a clean, airtight bottle or jar and refrigerate as soon as possible. The color will fade slightly and the flavor will mellow after a day or two. Stir or shake well before drinking as the drink will separate slightly. If the drink smells fermented, looks fizzy or tastes very sour then throw it away. It is important to remember food safety when making raw fruit drinks. Wash the berries well, use clean equipment and keep the drink cold. Do not leave the drink at room temperature for more than 2 hours and do not give honey to babies under 12 months of age.
Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes. Frozen strawberries are great for this drink as they make it even colder and slightly thicker. You may need to add a little more water to the blender.
Do I have to remove the seeds?
No. The seeds are very small and you won’t notice them in the drink. If you prefer a smoother drink then you can strain the drink through a sieve.
Can I make it without sweetener?
Yes, you can make this drink without any sweetener at all, as long as the berries are very ripe. It will be tarter and lighter in flavor than the version with sweetener.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes, as long as you do not use any honey for babies under 12 months of age. Maple syrup is a good alternative.
Can I use a food processor instead of a blender?
Yes, you can use a food processor to blend the fruit but the result will not be as smooth as when you use a blender. You can strain the drink through a sieve to make it even smoother.
Why does my drink look brown after a day?
Fruit will brown when it is exposed to air for any length of time. Lemon juice will slow down this process but it is best to drink the fruit fresh.
Can I make a bigger batch for guests?
Yes, you can make a bigger batch of this drink for guests. I would blend the fruit in two rounds rather than filling the jug up to the top. Keep the drink chilled until you are ready to serve.
I judge the drink by the first sip. If it’s not right then I’ll pour the lot down the sink. This drink relies on the fruit so if you’re not using good strawberries then the drink won’t be good either. This drink is best when the fruit is fresh and the drink is cold. If you’ve made a good version of this drink then please leave a rating and a comment below.
This strawberry wellness drink blends ripe strawberries with fresh lemon juice, a little honey, mint and cold water for a light, naturally sweet refresher. It takes 5 minutes, needs only a blender, and works well for breakfast, afternoon breaks, or serving cold to guests on warm days.
Servings 2
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.