Plum Ginger Sparkler

Name: Fresh Plum Ginger Sparkler Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 33 min
Yield: 4 drinks
Cuisine: International
Ingredients: 1 pound ripe red or black plums, about 5 medium plums, pitted and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces; 1/3 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup water; 2 tablespoons peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger, from about a 2-inch piece; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt; 3 cups chilled sparkling water, plain or lightly citrus-flavored; 1 cup ice cubes for shaking or cooling the syrup, plus 2 to 3 cups ice for serving; 1 small plum, thinly sliced into wedges; 4 thin lemon wheels or half-moons; 4 small fresh mint sprigs; 4 very thin fresh ginger coins

Imperial June 25, 2026June 25, 2026

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

Yield: 4 drinks
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 33 minutes, including 15 minutes cooling time

Quick Ingredients

1 pound ripe red or black plums, pitted and chopped
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
3 cups chilled sparkling water
1 cup ice cubes, plus more for serving
Optional garnish: 1 small plum, thinly sliced; 4 thin lemon wheels; 4 small mint sprigs; 4 thin ginger coins

Do This

1. Combine plums, sugar, water, ginger, lemon juice, and salt in a small saucepan.
2. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Mash the softened plums, then strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve to make a smooth plum-ginger syrup.
4. Cool the syrup for 15 minutes at room temperature, then chill if desired.
5. For each drink, add 1/4 cup plum-ginger syrup to an ice-filled glass.
6. Top each glass with 3/4 cup chilled sparkling water and stir gently once or twice.
7. Garnish with plum slices, lemon wheels, mint, and a ginger coin, then serve immediately.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Bright, juicy, and refreshing: Ripe plums give this sparkler a naturally lush fruit flavor and a beautiful rosy-purple color.
Fresh ginger adds gentle warmth: The spice is present but not overpowering, making the drink complex and easy to sip.
Great for guests: The syrup can be made ahead, then topped with sparkling water right before serving.
Easy to customize: Keep it alcohol-free, make it less sweet, or turn it into a cocktail with a simple variation.

Grocery List

Produce: 1 pound ripe red or black plums, 1 large fresh ginger root, 1 lemon, optional fresh mint, optional extra plum for garnish
Dairy: None
Pantry: Granulated sugar, fine sea salt, chilled sparkling water, ice

Full Ingredients

Plum-Ginger Syrup

1 pound ripe red or black plums, about 5 medium plums, pitted and chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger, from about a 2-inch piece
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

For the Sparkling Drinks

3 cups chilled sparkling water, plain or lightly citrus-flavored
1 cup ice cubes for shaking or cooling the syrup, plus 2 to 3 cups ice for serving

Optional Garnishes

1 small plum, thinly sliced into wedges
4 thin lemon wheels or half-moons
4 small fresh mint sprigs
4 very thin fresh ginger coins

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the plums and ginger

Wash and dry the plums, then cut them in half and remove the pits. Chop the fruit into 1/2-inch pieces; there is no need to peel the plums because the skins add color, tartness, and aroma. Peel the ginger with the edge of a spoon, then slice it thinly so it can infuse quickly and evenly.

Step 2: Start the plum-ginger syrup

In a small saucepan, combine the chopped plums, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons sliced fresh ginger, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt. Stir well so the sugar begins to dissolve and the plums are evenly coated.

Step 3: Simmer until the fruit is soft and glossy

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, which should take about 3 to 4 minutes. Once it is bubbling lightly around the edges, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. The plums should soften, release their juices, and turn the liquid a deep pinkish-purple. The syrup should reach about 200 degrees Fahrenheit if checked with an instant-read thermometer.

Step 4: Mash and steep for deeper flavor

Remove the saucepan from the heat. Use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to gently crush the softened plums against the side of the pan. Let the mixture steep for 5 minutes off the heat so the ginger flavor becomes fragrant without turning harsh.

Step 5: Strain the syrup

Set a fine-mesh sieve over a heatproof measuring cup or bowl. Pour the plum mixture into the sieve, then press gently with a spoon to extract the flavorful syrup. Do not press too aggressively or the syrup may become cloudy and pulpy. You should have about 1 cup of plum-ginger syrup. Discard the solids, or save the strained plum pulp to spoon over yogurt or oatmeal.

Step 6: Cool the syrup

Let the syrup cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. For a colder drink right away, set the measuring cup or bowl of syrup into a larger bowl filled with 1 cup ice and 1 cup cold water, stirring the syrup occasionally for 5 minutes. For best sparkle, the syrup should be cool or chilled before it is mixed with sparkling water.

Step 7: Build each drink

Fill four 10- to 12-ounce glasses with ice. Add 1/4 cup plum-ginger syrup to each glass. Slowly pour 3/4 cup chilled sparkling water into each glass, aiming down the inside of the glass to preserve the bubbles. Stir gently once or twice with a long spoon; avoid vigorous stirring, which can flatten the drink.

Step 8: Garnish and serve

Garnish each Plum Ginger Sparkler with a few thin plum slices, a lemon wheel, a small mint sprig, and a thin ginger coin if you like a stronger ginger aroma. Serve immediately while the drink is cold, fizzy, and bright.

Pro Tips

Use ripe but not mushy plums: They should smell sweet and give slightly when pressed. Overly soft plums can make the syrup taste jammy instead of fresh.
Chill everything: Cold syrup, cold sparkling water, and plenty of ice keep the bubbles lively and the flavor crisp.
Adjust the ginger to taste: Use 1 tablespoon sliced ginger for a very mild drink, 2 tablespoons for gentle spice, or 3 tablespoons for a more pronounced ginger kick.
Pour sparkling water slowly: A slow pour helps keep the drink fizzy and prevents overflow.
Taste before serving: If your plums are very tart, add 1 to 2 teaspoons extra sugar to the warm syrup. If they are very sweet, add an extra 1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Variations

Plum Ginger Lime Sparkler: Replace the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice and garnish with lime wheels for a sharper, more tropical finish.
Herbal Plum Sparkler: Add 4 fresh basil leaves or 1 small rosemary sprig to the syrup during the 5-minute steep, then strain them out with the fruit and ginger.
Plum Ginger Cocktail: For an adult version, add 1 1/2 ounces gin, vodka, or blanco tequila to each glass before topping with sparkling water. Stir gently and serve immediately.

Storage & Make-Ahead

The plum-ginger syrup can be made up to 5 days ahead. Store it in a clean, airtight jar in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below. Shake or stir before using, as natural fruit solids may settle. Do not combine the syrup with sparkling water until just before serving, because the bubbles will fade during storage. If you want to serve a crowd, prepare the syrup and garnishes ahead, chill the sparkling water, and set everything out over ice so guests can mix fresh drinks to order.

Nutrition (per serving)