Did you know that Canadians throw away over 3 million tonnes of plastic waste every year? Single-use plastics, like water bottles and soda bottles, are a big issue that contribute to the mess. One way we can individually fight this is by using a sparkling water maker, like the SodaStream, Drinkmate, Sparkel, or Aarke , which can save you up to 60 1L bottles with just one refillable CO2 cylinder.
To inspire you, here are some original drinks you can make with carbonated water—just in time for Christmas reunions! Of course, you can pick up most of the ingredients used in these recipes at your favourite zero-waste grocery store Bocaux & Co.—including your CO2 cylinder refills and some freshies thanks to their partnership with Jardins de la Pinède, Lufa Farms, and Second Life Market.
Let us know on Facebook or Instagram which one you make! Each recipe makes about 2-3 drinks, depending on your glass size.
Cool as a Cucumber (with Lime and Mint)
Cucumbers, limes, and mint—a classic and refreshing trio. Of course, you can swap out the limes for lemons if that’s what you have at home!
What you need
- 3 small cucumbers (215g)
- Juice of 1/2 lime (20 mL)
- Mint (1tbsp of finely chopped mint)
- 2 tbsp of Touski Agrumes from O Sirop
- Water (40 mL)
- Carbonated water
- 2-3 ice cubes
- For a festive alcoholic version, add 1oz of Cointreau or Vodka
How to do it
- Start by chopping up your cucumber and mint, and place both into a jar with a large opening.
- Add the juice from your lime, water, and the Touski Agrumes from O Sirop.
- Blend everything together using an immersion blender until homogenous.
- Pour the mix into a jar lined with a nut bag and squeeze out as much of the juice as you can.
- Pour your squeezed juice over ice, add some sparkling water (and alcohol if you want), and garnish with cucumber and lime slices to your liking. Of course, don’t forget to enjoy!
Not Your Typical Strawberry Smoothie
This is a great way to use strawberries that are a bit too mushy to eat on their own. Of course, feel free to replace them with frozen fruits if that’s what you already have at home!
What you need:
- 240g of strawberries
- 1/3 cup (80 mL) of La Pinte milk
- 1/2 tbsp of ground flaxseed (optional)
- 2 tbsp of Fraise Vaillancourt from O Sirop
- 155mL of carbonated water
- For a festive alcoholic version, add 1oz of rhum
How to make it:
- Start by de-stemming and cutting up your strawberries, then place them into a jar with a large opening.
- Add milk, ground flaxseed, and the Fraise Vaillancourt from O Sirop.
- Blend everything together using an immersion blender until homogenous.
- Add the sparkling water (and rhum if you want), then blend again for a few more seconds until emulsified. (Note: Don’t run the blender too long, otherwise the water won’t be fizzy anymore!)
- Pour out your mix into a tall glass, garnish with strawberries, and enjoy!
A Brewtiful Cold Coffee Soda
A fun bubbly twist to the classic cold coffee beverage, this caffeinated soda is a great option for coffee lovers who want to try something new. It’s an easy way to make your own nitro coffee at home!
What you need:
- 1/2 cup of brewed coffee, chilled
- 1/2 cup carbonated water
- 2 tbsp of Salted Caramel from O Sirop (adjust to sweetness liking)
- 2-3 ice cubes
- 1/4 cup of dairy or non-dairy milk (optional)
- For a festive alcoholic option, add 1oz of a cream liqueur
How to make it:
- Start by preparing the coffee. You can use instant coffee or some leftover coffee from your morning brew. Chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until cold.
- Pour the cold coffee over ice in a glass, then add the sparkling water.
- Add the Salted Caramel syrup (or any other sweetener you prefer) and stir well.
- If you want a more creamy drink, mix in your favourite dairy or non-dairy milk. (You can even froth it with a milk frother or by shaking it in a tightly lidded jar!)
- The easiest step: sit back and enjoy!
Out of CO2? Don’t worry! Thanks to our partnership with Indigo Soda (a Quebec company from St-Eustache), you can replace your empty can for a full one at Bocaux & co. for just $12.50 (plus taxes)!