An effervescent non-alcoholic traditional German sparkling beverage, this lemon lavender schorle features tart lemon juice tempered with fresh orange juice and finished with a sweet lavender simple syrup. Mixed with sparkling water and poured over ice, this makes a refreshing mocktail for any occasion. This recipes makes extra lavender simple syrup.
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What is Schorle?
Schorle is a popular sparkling beverage (or spritzer), the term originating from 18th century Germany to basically mean 'mixed beverage'. It's essentially fruit juice or wine diluted with sparkling mineral water and served chilled over ice. It's enjoyed year round, but is utterly perfect during the heat of the summer months. Most common is Apfelschorle (sparkling apple juice), and you've probably had something similar if you were ever served fake "champagne" during childhood.
Why This Recipe Works
Dried lavender flowers are gently infused into a simple syrup mixture made from a combination of granulated sugar and filtered water. Fresh squeezed lemon juice is cut with fresh orange juice then followed with the sweet and aromatic lavender syrup. It's so refreshing. This recipe also makes extra simple syrup (approximately 1 cup), so you can enjoy this schorle recipe multiple times.
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
For the full list of ingredients and quantities, please see the recipe card below.
Organic dried lavender flowers: be sure to source food or culinary grade lavender flowers for this recipe. I prefer to use organic dried lavender to avoid and or reduce potential pesticide residues. If you like, you can reserve a few flowers for garnishing the finished drink, but this is optional.
Granulated sugar: This will create the base for the simple syrup.
Filtered Water: It's important to use good quality filtered water, otherwise the taste of the final simple syrup could be undesirably altered. Equal parts filtered water and sugar will create the syrup base.
Fresh lemons: for this recipe, only the juice is required.
Fresh navel oranges: again, these are juiced for the recipe and act to offset some of the tartness of the lemon juice.
Sparkling or carbonated water: this adds the effervescent or carbonated quality to the finished drink.
Step by Step Instructions
For the full detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below. This recipes comes together in two parts: preparing the lavender simple syrup and mixing the schorle.
STEP 1: add the sugar, water and dried lavender to a small saucepan and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until the sugar is fully dissolved.
STEP 2: Remove from the heat and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes at room temperature to infuse and cool.
STEP 3: Strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve to remove the lavender flowers.
STEP 4: Transfer to a sterile glass jar and refrigerate for minimum one hour or until fully chilled.
STEP 5: Strain the fresh lemon and orange juice through a fine mesh sieve.
STEP 6: Add the fresh juice into a serving container and stir in some of the lavender simple syrup. Refrigerate until chilled.
STEP 7: Just before serving, add the sparkling water to the lemon orange and lavender mixture and stir until combined. Serve immediately over ice.
Storage and Make Ahead
Make Ahead: this recipe requires advanced preparation for making the lavender simple syrup which can be kept in the fridge until it's ready to be portioned and mixed with the remainder of the ingredients.
Storage: lavender simple syrup will usually last for several weeks so long as it is stored in a sterilized glass jar with a tight fitting lid in the fridge. If you observe any signs of spoilage, the simple syrup must be discarded. The finished schorle should be kept in the fridge until you're ready to serve. It will last for 1-2 days, however, the carbonation will diminish.
More Recipes
If you love my lemon schorle with lavender, you may also enjoy:
Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Lavender Frosting
If you made my Lemon Lavender Schorle please leave me a comment below with a star rating; it really helps others who are interested in making the recipe. For more from The Simple Green, follow me on Instagram, Facebookor Pinterest. Consider becoming a subscriber to receive emails of new recipes and posts.
Lavender Lemon Schorle
Ingredients
Lavender Simple Syrup
- 2 tablespoon organic dried lavender flowers, food grade
- 1 cup filtered water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
For the Schorle
- 3 large lemons, juiced
- 3 large navel oranges, juiced
- ⅓ cup + 3 tablespoon lavender simple syrup
- 3 cups sparkling water
- ice cubes
- fresh lavender for garnish, optional
Instructions
Prepare the Lavender Simple Syrup
- In a small sauce pan, add the sugar, water and dried lavender. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often, until the sugar is fully dissolved (about 3-5 minutes). Remove from the heat and let the mixture sit for 30 minutes at room temperature to infuse.
- Carefully strain the syrup through a fine mesh sieve (or cheesecloth) to remove the lavender flowers. Transfer to a sterile glass jar, cover and refrigerate for minimum one hour or until fully chilled.
Prepare the Schorle
- Strain the fresh lemon and orange juice through a fine mesh sieve into a sterile glass serving container. Stir in ⅓ cup + 3 tablespoon of the lavender simple syrup. Refrigerate until chilled.
- Just before serving, add the sparkling water to the lemon orange and lavender mixture and stir until combined. Serve immediately over ice.
Notes
Nutrition
This is an approximation of the nutrition offered in this recipe, and is created using a nutrition calculator. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee accuracy. If your health depends on nutrition information, please calculate again with your preferred calculator.
Disclaimer
all recipes on The Simple Green are developed and tested in a Canadian kitchen, at normal elevation, using electric appliances and ingredients available in Canada. Results may vary.