Easter

Orange Juice, Ginger & Mint Sodas

by:
May 31, 2011
3.3
6 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

I love citrus-flavored drinks of almost every kind. Pair it with mint and ginger, and you have a refreshing drink on a hot summer day, especially if you live in Texas. To make it an adult beverage, add a splash of your favorite poison, either a citrus vodka or perhaps a splash of spiced rum or bourbon. —gr8chefmb

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: gr8chefmb is a home cook and computer whiz based in Texas.
WHAT: Orange, ginger, and mint join forces in a soda made for hot summers.
HOW: A few minutes of simmering is all it takes: just assemble the ingredients and let them meld together in a saucepan.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Whether served with just soda water or some, ahem, fortification in the form of rum or bourbon, this drink will keep us cool all season long. —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 2 oranges
  • 1 1/2 cups demara [raw] sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 8 1-inch pieces ginger
  • 1 bunch fresh mint
  • 1 liter club soda
  • crushed ice
Directions
  1. Use a vegetable peeler to peel rind from oranges in thin pieces, taking care not to get white pith on rind. Cut oranges in half and squeeze juice into a 3-quart saucepan.
  2. Add sugar and water to saucepan and place over medium high heat and bring to the boil, stirring constantly until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat to medium. Add orange rind, ginger, and mint; simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Strain syrup, discarding solids. Store in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator for up 1 week.
  3. To make sodas, fill a tall glass halfway with crushed ice. Add 1/4 cup of orange-ginger-mint syrup to glass and top off with club soda. If desired, add a splash of orange-flavored vodka or spiced rum to glass before topping with club soda. Garnish with thin slice of orange and a couple of mint leaves.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • lora789
    lora789
  • LeeLeeBee
    LeeLeeBee
  • hardlikearmour
    hardlikearmour
  • EmilyC
    EmilyC
  • Burnt Offerings
    Burnt Offerings

24 Reviews

2334612499 March 10, 2020
Very well made drink as it is very refreshing and good to give to guest
 
lora789 February 16, 2015
There are perfect drinks to help you lose weight http://bestdietclub.com/recipe/there-are-perfect-drinks-to-help-you-lose-weight/
 
ghainskom July 11, 2014
I really like the ginger note but found the mint to be too discreet. I expect this may vary from batch to batch as some mints may be stronger than others so this is a keeper.
 
Camille714 February 16, 2014
In Ocean City, MD a favorite vodka drink & easier to make...fresh squeezed OJ, or other juice, vodka, sometimes flavored & toped with sprite...A personal favorite pool/beach-side drink
 
Texas S. August 18, 2013
I love this idea, but am not the biggest fan of cooked-orange flavor, so will simmer the sugar and water to dissolve, add the ginger, then steep with the mint, orange peel and orange juice off the heat as the syrup cools. I can't wait to try this, and my alcohol of choice will be bourbon. Yum.
 
smonfor July 26, 2013
This was tasty. I thought the ginger would have home through more. I think next time I'll do smaller chunks or even grate them.
 
LeeLeeBee July 6, 2013
LOVED this recipe - the hit of our dinner party tonight! I had small oranges, so I used three. Really simple and delicious, and so impressive garnished with a mint sprig and an orange peel!
 
hardlikearmour July 24, 2012
Congratulations! This sounds like a perfectly refreshing summer soda - now to figure out what adult mix-ins to try it with!
 
EmilyC July 22, 2012
My husband surprised me yesterday with a new Soda Stream, so I knew I had to give these a try. The orange-ginger-mint simple syrup is really nice (like the use of raw sugar). I used two giant oranges, which yielded exactly one cup of juice. If your oranges are on the small side, I'd use three or even four. And definitely don't skip the garnish...I liked the sodas the most once I squeezed some fresh juice from the orange slices and muddled with more mint. Looking forward to drinking these all week long!
 
Burnt O. July 20, 2012
With temps soaring into the 100's here in Baltimore, this recipe was instantly appealing on all levels. Absolutely pitch perfect for summer. Makes a wonderful, light, non-cloying simple syrup with the perfect bite of ginger, and coolness of mint, that is refreshing, versatile, and oh so good with or without booze. The kids liked it as much as the grownups. We used orange vodka, but spiced rum would be brilliant too, and it would also be excellent mixed with a good ginger beer. Have a mason jar of this in your fridge on hand all summer and you won't mind the heat.
 
Bevi July 20, 2012
This sounds great as a drink and a poaching liquid. Congrats!
 
Maria T. July 20, 2012
Great recipe, congratulations on being a finalist!
 
em-i-lis July 19, 2012
congratulations, gr8chefmb! it's a beautiful drink!
 
fiveandspice July 19, 2012
Congratulations! This looks crazy delicious and refreshing. Seriously perfect for the heat wave that's been cooking us all!
 
Madhuja July 19, 2012
I tested this recipe and the orange ginger mint combination was absolutely perfect! This is exactly what I want on a scorching summer day! Congratulations on being a finalist!
 
gingerroot July 19, 2012
Congrats on being a finalist! I have two oranges from my tree that are destined for this soda.
 
EmilyC July 19, 2012
Congrats! Having just recently had a baby, I always appreciate good non-boozy drink options! Because oranges are so variable in their amount of juice, how much juice should I use? Maybe 1/2 cup, or more?
 
BlueKaleRoad July 19, 2012
Congratulations! What a refreshing summer soda - can't wait to try it!
 
Midge July 19, 2012
So excited to try this. Congrats!
 
drbabs July 19, 2012
Yum...congratulations on being a finalist!