Strawberry Syrup

Use this natural strawberry syrup to pep up fizzy water and make a refreshing drink.

• Place the strawberries in a saucepan with the caster sugar and cold water. Heat gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until the strawberries are very soft and have lost most of their colour, stirring regularly.
• Strain the softened strawberries and syrup through a fine sieve into a jug. (Don’t press the strawberry flesh through the sieve; it’s the clear syrup that you want.)
• Pour into a clean ice cube tray, leave to cool then freeze until solid.
• Transfer the ice cubes to a freezer bag. Seal, label and freeze for up to 6 months.
• Defrost a handful of cubes in a jug at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before friends are coming over. Add a bunch of mint leaves, sliced strawberries and some ice and top with a litre of soda water made using the soda stream maker and serve.
• One cube should be enough to gently flavour one 500ml carbonating bottle of water.