Sparkling Citrus Punch (Non-Alcoholic)

How to make Non-Alcoholic, Sparkling Citrus Punch

          Come summer, and all I crave for is something light & refreshing to drink. The thick beverages like smoothies, and ice-cream shakes that struggle to climb up the straw to quench my parched throat, are just not liquid enough to be my summer drink. Infact, the sad truth is that I miss my Indian fresh fruit juices, which has more of the real fruit juice & less of everything else. The american fresh juices are too very diluted with ice, and barely fruity!! That's one of the reasons, I've added frozen fruits in both the recipes below, instead of ice cubes - so none of the fruity flavor is Lost in Dilution.

                     Double Recipe Alert - There are two recipes in this post. The Sparkling Citrus Punch requires sparkling fruit cider. If that is not easily accessible to you; then you can make the Sparkling Lemon Soda which is also an equally refreshing drink for the summer.

Recipe I - Non- Alcoholic Sparkling Citrus Punch

Ingredients for about 15 small servings:

1 lemon, sliced & frozen

1 lime, sliced & frozen
1 large orange, sliced & frozen

1/2 cup of frozen raspberries
1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
1 liter chilled, club soda/seltzer water
2 (750ml) bottles of chilled, sparkling fruit cider (I used apple cider)
1 tablespoon white sugar

Ice cubes (optional)

Instructions for the Sparkling Citrus Punch:
              

•  Just before serving, place all of the frozen fruits in the punch bowl.  Add the lemonade concentrate, club soda & sparkling fruit cider. Taste & add sugar if needed & serve cold. Add ice cubes to chill it again, if needed.

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Recipe II - Sparkling Lemon Soda

Ingredients for 3 medium servings:

1/2 a lemon, sliced & frozen

1/2 a lime, sliced & frozen
1/2 an orange, sliced & frozen (Optional)

a handful of frozen raspberries
1 (6 ounce) can frozen lemonade concentrate
2 cups of chilled, club soda/seltzer water

Ice cubes (optional)

Instructions for the Sparkling Lemon Soda:

•  Just before serving, place all of the frozen fruits in a pitcher.  Add the lemonade concentrate & club soda. Add ice cubes if needed.

Notes:

• Addition of ice, will dilute the flavor of the drink. So, use sparingly if needed.
• I used Apple cider & Apple-Peach cider for the punch.
• If you have left overs & want to save the drink, make sure you fish out the citrus fruits and then refrigerate or else it might develop some bitterness.