Homemade Tarhun (Tarragon Soda)

Cooking method

1. Step 1:

   

   How do you make a homemade tarragon drink that tastes just like the store-bought one? It's easy. You'll need a fresh bunch of tarragon (also called estragon). Use a highly carbonated mineral water. Wash and dry the lemon and lime well. Grate the zest off both on a fine grater, then squeeze the juice from the flesh into separate bowls.

2. Step 2:

   

   Wash the tarragon, dry it, and pick off any darkened leaves. Cut the bunch into 2–3 pieces. The more tarragon you use, the richer the finished drink will taste.

3. Step 3:

   

   Put the tarragon in a blender, pour in the lime and lemon juice, and add the zest. For a brighter green color, you can toss in a handful of fresh spinach.

4. Step 4:

   

   Blend the herbs and citrus into small pieces.

5. Step 5:

   

   Transfer the green mixture to a saucepan, add most of the sugar, and pour in clean drinking water (2 cups / 500 ml).

6. Step 6:

   

   Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil, stirring now and then. Your infusion will turn a vivid green.

7. Step 7:

   

   As soon as the mixture boils, take the saucepan off the heat and let it cool to room temperature. If you'd like the drink cold, chill it further in the refrigerator. If you want it to match the color of store-bought Tarhun soda, add a little lime-green food coloring.

8. Step 8:

   

   Strain the mixture through a fine sieve or several layers of cheesecloth.

9. Step 9:

   

   Pour a little of the concentrated infusion into a glass, top it off with highly carbonated water, and sweeten to taste. I didn't add any sugar, since the tarragon infusion was already sweet enough. Enjoy!