Homemade (sugar free!) Grape Soda ~ this gorgeous purple soda has nothing at all in common with the bottled stuff, it’s pure fruit, no added sugar, and bursting with grape flavor!
Most grapes come into season in the late summer, so you should be seeing some nice varieties in your local stores and farmer’s markets right about now. You can use any type of grape to make a really good fresh grape soda: red, black, or even green, seeded or seedless, it doesn’t matter, you’ll be straining out the pulp in this recipe anyway. But do try and taste your grapes before purchasing…I find they can be hit or miss. If they taste great out of hand, they will make a fantastic soda. I happen to love the color and flavor of black grapes, and when I am lucky enough to find them, Concord grapes are the ultimate.
did you know?
Concord grapes are native to North America! They were first developed by Ephraim Wales Bull in Concord, Massachusetts in the mid-19th century. Bull spent several years crossbreeding various grape varieties to create a grape suited to the New England climate. Concord grapes are known for their deep blue-purple color and unique rich flavor. One taste brings you back to your childhood grape juice and grape jelly!
Soda, or pop, depending on where you live, is a beloved American tradition that has become a dietary disaster over the decades. Full of sugar, artificial colorings and chemicals, soft drinks are a nutritional nightmare, especially for kids. But for a homemade fruit soda all you need is a fruit syrup and some sparkling water. My grape soda is sugar free, with a dash of lemon to give it a pop. If you start your kids on the natural alternative early enough, they’ll never miss the crappy stuff.
I like to store the concentrated grape syrup in a jar or bottle in the fridge and then pour it out over ice in a chilled glass and top with sparkling water as needed. I garnished my grape soda with bit of fresh basil, but you can also use mint. Kids can concoct their own soda blend as an after school treat, and there’s nothing stopping you from using it as a base for a cocktail or two.
more refreshing drinks to try
- Italian Cream Soda
- Rhubarb Soda
- Homemade Cream Soda!
- Fresh Peach Lemonade
- How to Make Lemon Balm Tea
- Rosemary Lemonade
Homemade Grape Soda
Ingredients
- 1 lb fresh Concord grapes, or another black grape that you like, taste first!
- 1/2 cup water
- juice of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
- Wash the grapes and put them in a heavy bottomed pot, along with the water and lemon juice. Bring the pot to a simmer and continue simmering for about 20 minutes until the grapes have begun to soften. Smash the grapes with the back of a large spoon as they cook.
- Transfer the mixture to a food processor and process until completely blended. Let the machine run long enough to get all the grapes completely pureed.
- Pass the puree through a mesh strainer, pushing lightly, to get the juice through. Discard any pulp, skin or seeds.
- Refrigerate the grape syrup until cold.
- To serve, fill a glass with ice and mix half syrup and half sparking water. Garnish with a sprig of basil or mint.
Nutrition
this isn’t sugar free, at all!
I tried this recipe tonight, very good cant believe it is sugar free. Its a little thick but its great
Thanks Sophie! Just add more water as necessary.
I wanted to read your recipe but as I live in Australia I couldnt get the ingredients list!
my apologies my isp was blocking it – all good now feel free to delete my comment – thanks
Oh good Rachelle — I hope you enjoy the soda 🙂
Can’t wait to try this, Sue. Just got some tiny champagne grapes that are sooooo sweet. Should be perfect for some grape sodie (my gran’s same for soda).
That looks so refreshing and the color is gorgeous. I’ve never tried making my own. I have been soda free for about 5 years now – but may have to give this a whirl~!
So pretty and so refreshing. Love that pour shot into the bottle, gorgeous Sue!
I never have store bought fruit drinks, so homemade soda is calling my name. And this one looks fantastic! I’d love to try it with black grapes, which are my favorite.
Sue – this looks so refreshing and tasty! I can’t stand any commercial grape juice or soda, because it all tastes odd to me, after growing up drinking the real thing. This reminds me of sitting on my grandparents porch in the summer with glasses of her fresh homemade juice, sparked up with some 7-up. I like this idea even better – wonderful!
Oh wow, the 7-up sounds like it would be really really good with the fresh juice!
I know I’m many years late to respond, but maybe someone will see this and enjoy. My 5yo just discovered sprite at grandma’s and keeps asking for it. ? a little squeezed lemon, lime, some fresh mint leaves, trivia or sugar of choice, topped with carbonated mineral water ?. Adding grapes to grocery lust for a twist. ?
Your healthy diy Sprite sounds inspired Stephanie!
i hate commercial grape juice, but fresh stuff sounds good to me!
Oh I do too, I grew up on that stuff, yuck.
Made from fresh grapes? Are you kidding me! I am in, I am all in! 🙂