Crisp Ginger Pear Sparkling Spritz

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 4 drinks (about 8 oz / 240 ml each)
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes

Quick Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) pear juice (fresh or bottled, 100% juice)
• 2 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger (about 15 g)
• 3 tbsp honey or simple syrup (more to taste)
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 3 cups (720 ml) chilled sparkling water or club soda
• Ice cubes (enough to fill 4 glasses)
• Optional garnish: thin pear slices, ginger matchsticks, fresh thyme or rosemary

Do This

• 1. In a small bowl or jar, stir together grated ginger, honey, and lemon juice until the honey dissolves.
• 2. In a pitcher, combine pear juice with the ginger mixture and stir well.
• 3. Let the mixture sit 5 minutes to infuse, then taste; adjust sweetness or lemon if needed.
• 4. If you prefer a smooth drink, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve; otherwise leave the ginger pulp in.
• 5. Fill 4 glasses with ice. Pour the ginger–pear base halfway up each glass.
• 6. Top with chilled sparkling water, gently stir once, garnish with pear slices and ginger, and serve immediately.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Bright, crisp, and aromatic from fresh ginger and juicy pears, without being overly sweet.
• Zero alcohol by default, but easy to spike for a cocktail version if you like.
• Comes together in about 15 minutes with simple ingredients you can find anywhere.
• Perfect make-ahead base for parties: just add bubbles when you are ready to serve.

Grocery List

• Produce: Fresh pears (or bottled pear juice), fresh ginger root, lemons, optional fresh thyme or rosemary for garnish.
• Dairy: None.
• Pantry: Honey or simple syrup, sparkling water or club soda, ice.

Full Ingredients

For the Ginger–Pear Base

• 1 1/2 cups (360 ml) pear juice
  • Use 100% pear juice, or make your own by blending and straining 3 medium ripe pears (such as Bartlett or Anjou).
• 2 tbsp finely grated fresh ginger (about a 2 1/2 inch piece, 15 g)
  • Peeled before grating for the smoothest texture.
• 3–4 tbsp honey or simple syrup, to taste
  • Start with 3 tbsp (63 g honey or 45 ml 1:1 simple syrup); add the 4th tablespoon if you prefer it sweeter.
• 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
• Pinch of fine sea salt (about 1/16 tsp, optional but enhances flavor)

To Finish the Spritz

• 3 cups (720 ml) chilled sparkling water or club soda
• Ice cubes (enough to fill 4 highball or stemless wine glasses)

For Garnish (Optional but Lovely)

• 1 ripe pear, very thinly sliced lengthwise
• A few matchsticks or slivers of fresh ginger
• 4 small sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary
• Extra lemon wedges, for squeezing at the table

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the fresh ingredients

Rinse and dry your pears and lemons. If you are making your own pear juice, core 3 medium ripe pears (no need to peel unless the skin is very tough) and roughly chop them. Rinse a knob of fresh ginger and peel it with the edge of a spoon or a vegetable peeler to remove the thin skin.

Finely grate the peeled ginger using a Microplane or the small holes of a box grater. Measure out 2 tablespoons of the grated ginger, lightly packed. Juice the lemon and measure out 2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Set everything aside within easy reach.

Step 2: Make the ginger–honey mixture

In a small bowl, glass measuring cup, or jar, combine the 2 tablespoons grated ginger, 3 tablespoons honey (or simple syrup), 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and a tiny pinch of fine sea salt. Stir or whisk well until the honey is fully dissolved and the mixture looks slightly cloudy and fragrant.

Taste a small spoonful. It should be bright, gingery, and a bit sweeter than you want the final drink to be (the sparkling water will dilute it). If you like it sweeter, stir in up to 1 additional tablespoon honey or syrup.

Step 3: Prepare the pear juice base

If using bottled pear juice, simply measure 1 1/2 cups into a medium pitcher. If making fresh pear juice, add the chopped pears and 1/4 cup (60 ml) water to a blender. Blend until perfectly smooth. Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a pitcher, pressing gently to extract as much juice as possible; discard the pulp. Measure to ensure you have about 1 1/2 cups; if slightly short, top up with a bit of water or more pear.

Pour the ginger–honey mixture into the pitcher with the pear juice. Stir thoroughly to combine. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes at room temperature to allow the ginger to infuse more fully into the juice.

Step 4: Decide whether to strain or keep the ginger

After infusing, taste the ginger–pear base. If you enjoy the texture and little bits of ginger, you can leave it as is for a more rustic, punchy drink. If you prefer a smoother, clearer spritz, set a fine mesh sieve over a clean bowl or another pitcher and strain the mixture, pressing gently on the solids with the back of a spoon to squeeze out extra flavor. Discard the ginger pulp after straining.

Chill the ginger–pear base in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes if you have time. The colder the base, the longer your spritz will stay bubbly and refreshing.

Step 5: Build the spritzes with ice and bubbles

When you are ready to serve, fill 4 tall glasses (highball or stemless wine glasses work well) about two-thirds full with ice cubes. Give the ginger–pear base a quick stir, then divide it evenly among the glasses, pouring it over the ice. You should fill each glass about halfway to two-thirds with the base.

Slowly top each glass with chilled sparkling water or club soda, pouring down the side of the glass to preserve as many bubbles as possible. Aim for about 3/4 cup (180 ml) per glass, or until the drink reaches the rim. Give each glass a gentle stir with a long spoon to lightly mix without flattening the fizz.

Step 6: Garnish and serve immediately

Garnish each spritz with 1–2 very thin pear slices tucked into the side of the glass, a few delicate matchsticks or a thin slice of fresh ginger, and a small sprig of thyme or rosemary if you are using herbs. Add a lemon wedge on the rim or on the side of the plate for anyone who enjoys an extra citrus squeeze.

Serve the ginger–pear sparkling spritzes right away while they are cold and effervescent. Encourage sippers to give the drink one more gentle stir as they start drinking, in case some of the ginger and pear has settled toward the bottom.

Pro Tips

• Choose ripe pears: If you are juicing your own pears, pick ones that yield slightly when pressed near the stem. Riper pears give you sweeter, more aromatic juice, which makes the spritz taste fuller and more naturally fragrant.
• Control the ginger heat: For a softer ginger note, use 1 tablespoon instead of 2, or strain thoroughly. For extra spice, grate in an additional teaspoon and let it infuse 10–15 minutes before straining.
• Keep everything very cold: Chill the glasses, pear juice, and sparkling water in advance. Colder ingredients mean more persistent bubbles and less dilution from melting ice.
• Batch-friendly: You can easily double or triple the ginger–pear base in a large pitcher for parties. Do not add the sparkling water until right before serving.
• Adjust sweetness at the end: If the finished spritz tastes too tart once the bubbles are in, simply stir in an extra teaspoon or two of honey or syrup into each glass until it dissolves.

Variations

• Boozy ginger–pear spritz: Add 1–1 1/2 oz (30–45 ml) of chilled vodka, gin, or dry prosecco to each glass before topping with sparkling water. Stir gently and garnish as directed.
• Spiced winter version: Add a pinch of ground cinnamon and a tiny scrape of fresh nutmeg to the ginger–honey mixture. For even more depth, steep a small cinnamon stick in the pear base for 10–15 minutes, then remove before serving.
• Herbal citrus twist: Muddle a few fresh thyme or rosemary leaves with the grated ginger and honey before adding lemon and pear juice. You can also replace half the pear juice with cloudy apple juice for a different but complementary flavor.

Storage & Make-Ahead

The ginger–pear base (without sparkling water) can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance. Store it covered in the refrigerator; give it a good stir and strain if desired just before using. Some settling is normal. Once you mix in the sparkling water, the drink is best enjoyed immediately while fizzy. If a mixed spritz sits for more than 20–30 minutes, it will lose much of its carbonation and taste flatter, though it will still be safe to drink. Leftover base can also be frozen in ice cube trays and used later to chill and flavor other drinks or tea.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values per 1 drink (without alcohol, assuming 3 tbsp honey total and 100% pear juice): about 90 calories; 0 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 g protein; 23 g carbohydrates; 21 g sugars; 10 mg sodium. Values will vary based on the exact pear juice, sweetener type, and garnishes used.