Strawberry Mint Italian Soda

Ingredients

Fresh strawberries

2 cups, chopped

Fresh mint leaves

1/2 cup, packed

Granulated sugar

3/4 cup

Water

1 cup

Ice cubes

as needed

Soda water

2 cups (or to taste)

Additional strawberries

for garnish

Mint leaves

for garnish

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the chopped strawberries, fresh mint leaves, granulated sugar, and water. Stir to combine well.
2. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the strawberries to soften.
3. Remove the saucepan from heat and strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl or measuring cup, pressing on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and let the syrup cool to room temperature.
4. To serve, fill tall glasses with ice cubes. Pour about 1/4 cup of the cooled strawberry mint syrup into each glass.
5. Top each glass with soda water, stirring gently to combine the layers. Adjust the amount of soda water to your taste preference.
6. Garnish with additional strawberries and mint leaves for an appealing presentation. Serve immediately and enjoy!