Zesty Mango Ginger Sparkler With Sparkling Water

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

• Yield: 4 servings (about 8 oz each)
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 10 minutes

Quick Ingredients

• 2 cups chilled ripe mango chunks (from about 2 large mangoes)
• 1 to 1 1/2 tbsp fresh ginger, very finely grated
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1–2 limes)
• 3 tbsp honey or agave syrup, or to taste
• 1/4 cup cold water (to help blending)
• 3 cups chilled sparkling water
• 2 cups ice cubes
• Optional: lime wheels, mint sprigs, thin ginger slices for garnish

Do This

• 1. Add mango, grated ginger, lime juice, honey (or agave), and 1/4 cup cold water to a blender.
• 2. Blend on high until completely smooth and silky, 30–60 seconds.
• 3. Taste and adjust sweetness or ginger heat; blend again briefly if needed.
• 4. For a smoother drink, strain the puree through a fine-mesh sieve (optional).
• 5. Fill 4 glasses halfway with ice. Add 1/4 to 1/3 cup mango-ginger base to each.
• 6. Top each glass with chilled sparkling water, stir gently, garnish, and serve immediately.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Bright, zesty, and refreshing with real mango and fresh ginger, not syrupy mixers.
• Quick to make in one blender, with no cooking and almost no cleanup.
• Easy to customize: make it sweeter, spicier, or lighter to suit your taste.
• Perfect as a non-alcoholic party drink, but easy to turn into a cocktail if desired.

Grocery List

• Produce: Ripe mangoes, fresh ginger root, limes, fresh mint (optional)
• Dairy: None
• Pantry: Honey or agave syrup, sparkling water (plain or lightly flavored), water, ice

Full Ingredients

Mango-Ginger Base

• 2 cups ripe mango chunks, chilled (from about 2 large mangoes, peeled and pitted)
• 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh ginger, very finely grated (start with 1 tablespoon if you prefer milder heat)
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1–2 medium limes)
• 3 tablespoons honey or agave syrup, or to taste
• 1/4 cup cold water (to help the blender run smoothly)

To Finish the Sparkler

• 3 cups chilled sparkling water (plain or lightly citrus-flavored)
• 2 cups ice cubes

Optional Garnishes

• Lime wheels or wedges
• Fresh mint sprigs
• Very thin slices or matchsticks of fresh ginger
• Extra mango cubes on cocktail picks

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Chill your ingredients and glasses

For the fizziest, most refreshing sparkler, start with everything cold. Refrigerate the mango, limes, ginger, and sparkling water for at least 1 hour if you have time. Pop your serving glasses into the fridge or freezer for 10–15 minutes so they are nicely chilled as well. This helps keep the drink bubbly and icy without diluting it too quickly.

Step 2: Prep the mango, ginger, and lime

Peel the mangoes, slice the flesh away from the pit, and cut into chunks. Measure out 2 cups of mango. Peel a small piece of fresh ginger and finely grate it using a microplane or the smallest holes on a box grater; you want 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons. Juice 1–2 limes until you have 3 tablespoons of fresh lime juice, straining out any seeds.

Step 3: Blend the mango-ginger base

Add the mango chunks, grated ginger, lime juice, honey or agave, and 1/4 cup cold water to a blender. Blend on high for 30–60 seconds, or until the mixture is completely smooth and silky. Stop and scrape down the sides if needed to capture any stray bits of mango or ginger. Taste the puree: if you want more kick, add a bit more ginger; if you prefer it sweeter, add another teaspoon or two of honey or agave and blend again briefly.

Step 4: Strain for extra smoothness (optional)

If you like a pulpy, smoothie-like drink, you can skip this step. For a smoother, more “sparkler” feel, set a fine-mesh sieve over a bowl or large measuring cup. Pour the mango-ginger puree through the sieve, using a spoon or spatula to press it through. Discard any fibrous bits left in the sieve. You should end up with a bright, thick, pourable mango-ginger base that is mostly free of strings or larger pulp.

Step 5: Build the drinks with ice and sparkle

Fill 4 chilled glasses about halfway with ice cubes. Give the mango-ginger base a quick stir. Pour about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the base into each glass (roughly dividing it into 4 equal portions). Slowly top each glass with about 3/4 cup of chilled sparkling water. Pouring gently down the side of the glass helps keep more bubbles intact. Use a spoon or cocktail stirrer to give each drink a very gentle stir, just enough to swirl the mango base up through the sparkling water without knocking out too much fizz.

Step 6: Garnish and serve immediately

Finish each mango-ginger sparkler with your favorite garnishes. Add a lime wheel or wedge to the rim, tuck in a sprig of fresh mint, and drop in a thin slice or matchstick of ginger if you like a visual hint of spice. Serve the drinks right away while the sparkling water is still lively and bubbly. Invite people to taste, then top up with a splash more sparkling water or a spoonful more mango base to customize their glass.

Pro Tips

• Pick super-ripe mangoes: The riper and more fragrant your mangoes, the sweeter and more intense the flavor will be. Slightly soft fruit with a strong mango aroma works best.
• Control the ginger heat: Fresh ginger can vary in strength. Start with 1 tablespoon, taste the blended base, and only then decide if you want to add the extra 1/2 tablespoon.
• Keep the bubbles ice cold: Use very cold sparkling water and avoid shaking or stirring too vigorously so you do not lose carbonation.
• Batch for a crowd: You can double or triple the mango-ginger base in the blender. Store it in a pitcher and top each glass with sparkling water just before serving.
• Adjust texture to your liking: For a thicker, more smoothie-like sparkler, skip the straining and use crushed ice instead of cubes.

Variations

• Spicy chili-lime sparkler: Add a tiny pinch of cayenne or a very thin slice of fresh chili to the blender for a gentle heat. Garnish with a chili-lime salt rim on the glass.
• Coconut mango-ginger fizz: Replace the 1/4 cup water with canned light coconut milk in the blender for a creamier, tropical twist. Top with sparkling water as directed.
• Boozy party version: For adults, add 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of white rum, vodka, or tequila to each glass before adding the sparkling water. Stir gently and garnish as usual.

Storage & Make-Ahead

Prepare the mango-ginger base up to 1–2 days in advance. Store it in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. The mixture may thicken slightly or separate as it sits; just stir or shake well before using. Do not mix in the sparkling water until just before serving, or the drink will go flat. Leftover assembled sparkler is best enjoyed within a few hours, but you can refrigerate it for up to 1 day, understanding that the texture will be less bubbly and more like a lightly fizzy juice.

Nutrition (per serving)

Approximate values per 1 serving (about 8 oz): 120 calories; 0 g fat; 0 g saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 5 mg sodium; 30 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 26 g sugars; 1 g protein. Values will vary slightly based on the exact sweetness of your mangoes and how much honey or agave you add.