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This homemade Italian soda brings soda back in a way that actually feels good. It’s bubbly, lightly sweet, and made with real fruit, herbs, and simple ingredients. When you fuel your body with real food, it responds with better energy, steadier moods, and that “I feel good” feeling we’re all chasing—especially on a hot day.
You might also like my homemade cherry limeade, iced matcha latte, cinnamon dolce latte, and homemade strawberry lemonade.
Perks to Homemade Soda
When you embrace a plant-powered lifestyle and start cutting back on ultra-processed foods, soda is often one of the first things to go. And honestly, that makes sense. Most canned sodas—especially anything labeled “diet”—are far from real food. Artificial sweeteners, colors, and chemicals don’t give your body much to work with.
The biggest win? You’re in control. You decide how sweet it is, how bold the flavor feels, and what ingredients go into your glass. Each variation is refreshing in its own way, and you can mix and match flavors to create something that truly lights up your tastebuds.
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How to Make Italian Soda at Home
Making your own Italian soda is easier than it sounds. There are just two simple steps:
Step 1: Make a Fruit Simple Syrup Choose a flavor you love and simmer sugar, water, fruit, and any herbs or spices until the fruit is very soft and the syrup is concentrated. This step is key—it’s what gives the soda its bold, vibrant flavor. Strain the syrup, let it cool, and store it in the fridge or freezer until you’re ready to use it.
Step 2: Add the Bubbles Pour a few tablespoons of the syrup into a glass and top with sparkling water. That’s it. You’ve got a homemade soda that tastes special without being overly sweet or artificial.
Simple Syrup Flavor Ideas
Each of these brings a different vibe to your glass. They’re all delicious—and fun to rotate based on the season.
- Strawberry-Vanilla: Sweet, familiar, and kid-friendly with a cozy finish
- Peach Rosemary: Light, fresh, and slightly herbal for a grown-up feel
- Lavender Blueberry: Soft, floral, and gently tart
- Mango Jalapeño: Tropical, zesty, and just a little spicy
This homemade Italian soda proves that bubbly drinks don’t have to be artificial to be fun. It’s nostalgic, refreshing, and made with ingredients you can feel good about—one sparkling sip at a time.
Homemade Italian Soda
Ingredients
Italian Soda Recipe
- 1 cup sparkling water
- 3 tbsp simple syrup recipe options below
Strawberry-Vanilla Simple Syrup
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 cup strawberries
- ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
Peach Rosemary Simple Syrup
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1 .5 cup peach
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
Lavender Blueberry Simple Syrup
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 cup blueberries
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp dried culinary lavender buds
Mango Jalapeño Simple Syrup
- 1 cup cane sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1.5 cup mango
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- ½ jalapeño pepper sliced
Instructions
Simple Fruit Syrup
- Choose a flavor from the ones above and create a simple syrup. Place the sugar, water, fruit, and any other ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the fruit has released its juices and is very, very soft.
- Strain the syrup through a fine-mesh sieve to remove seeds, peels, and other solids. There should be about 2 cups of syrup. Allow to cool, then transfer to a jar with a tight- fitting lid and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for several months until ready to use.
Italian Soda Recipe
- Add 3 tablespoons of the strained syrup to 1 cup sparkling water. Serve chilled or over ice.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review for a chance to win signed copies of my cookbooks!Italian sodas require 3 ingredients: flavored syrup, soda water, and ice. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit!
Rule of thumb with Italian soda is, if you like the flavor, then you’ll like it in an Italian soda! Some people go the fruit route, while others play around with spices, and herbs. I personally love the strawberry vanilla classic, yet reach for the peach rosemary one when I’m looking for a more complex flavor.
Yes! Perrier is a little less bubbly than some other types of sparkling water, but works just as well. And with cute bottles, you could pour the finished product right back in the Perrier bottle for a great presentation!
Hi just curious do you know approximately how much sugar per serving?
The recipe card includes estimates on that— yet it just depends how much of the simple syrup you use. If you’re watching your sugar intake, start with a teaspoon and see if it’s sweet enough for you. That’s what I do— start small and add as needed.
This is a very tasteful and healthier alternative to the store bought soda if any kind.
We think so, too. And it’s easier to get the flavors you want when you can choose them from the produce section or even your back yard.
I saw the blueberry lavender recipe and had to try it. One word……”amazing”. Thank you for sharing these. With the stuff they put in real soda, people need to start doing this instead.
100%. Thrilled you liked it, Donna.
hi
Most delicous soda ever!!!
Can I use club soda vs sparkling water?
Sure. Let us know what you thought about it.
I am loving this recipe. I’ve made the blueberry/lavender, made a strawberry/mint with fresh mint leaves and created a pineapple/coconut. All of them delicious. I’m using these 3 flavors for an Italian soda bar at my son’s rehearsal dinner and I love to make it a cream soda by adding a couple tablespoons half & half. Mmm!
I love it! Thank you for sharing this with me!
Thanks for all the syrup options! I’ll be making the peach, mango and blueberries syrups today for a Italian soda bar.
Super fun! Great flavor choices!
I think “spring” is supposed to be “sprig”?
Anyways, I’m about to try one of these soon.
Def let us know what you think!
Such a fun summer drink! So refreshing!! Thanks for the recipe!
Such a yummy treat! My whole family loves Italian Soda nights. 🙂
This is awesome! I have been on a cold drink kick (Florida in August), and love a healthier option than coca cola. I tried the strawberry syrup and used Publix soda water.
There’s a way to post a fraction that works better. It just takes a simple HTML special character.
Where do you get the dried lavender buds? We don’t have a Trader Joe’s where I live.
Hi Ka! You should be able to find them on Amazon.
I’m excited to try!!
Is 11/2 cups supposed to be 1 & 1/2 cups? Wondering if it’s a font/print glitch.
Good catch, Ashley! Yes, it’s one and a half (1 + 1/2) cups. We’ll fix that font issue. 🙂
I have been thinking how great it would be to have a refreshing summer drink that is healthy! Thank you for doing the Hard work to discover the recipes. I can’t wait to try the Peach version with our fresh Georgia peaches!
That will taste so delicious!!
definitely trying this for the next pool party, I’ve even got strawberries on hand. I love that you can make the syrup ahead of time.
These would be perfect for a pool party!