Sweet Jam Seltzer

I'm totally hooked on jam fizzy water drinks this summer. It's crazy how mixing two simple things creates something so delicious. They've become my daily go-to, saving me from reaching for sodas while being much more fun than drinking plain water.

I stumbled on this drink last summer while doing a fridge cleanout and spotted several unfinished jam containers. Instead of tossing them out, I remembered a social media trend about jam and sparkling water. My first try using strawberry preserves tasted amazing, so I immediately fixed another with blackberry. Now my buddies message me beforehand to check if I've got "that fizzy jam thing" waiting!

Your Shopping List

• Any jam lurking in your refrigerator - all flavors work but I prefer berry varieties
• Sparkling water (plain or flavored) - whatever's cheapest works fine
• A squeeze of real lemon - the bottled stuff can work but fresh tastes much nicer
• Some ice - larger chunks melt slower keeping your drink from watering down
• Optional garnishes like mint or berries if you want to jazz it up (I skip this daily)

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Simple Preparation Steps

Begin With Preserves

Drop a dollop of jam into your glass bottom - roughly one or two tablespoons depending on sweetness preference. I typically use more when working with tangy jams like raspberry and less with sweeter ones like peach. Even budget supermarket jam does the trick, though those chunky farmers market preserves really take things up a notch.

Add Brightness

Squeeze fresh lemon directly onto the jam. This balances sweetness and helps dissolve the preserves. I learned through trial and error that missing this step leaves everything too sweet with jam chunks stuck at the bottom.

Brief Mix

Stir everything a couple times with your spoon to start breaking down the jam. Don't bother getting it completely smooth - finding little pockets of jam while sipping actually makes it extra enjoyable.

Add Fizz

Pour your sparkling water in gradually - rushing causes excessive foam. I enjoy watching tiny jam swirls rise with the bubbles. Pretty cool to see. Fill most of the glass but leave space for ice.

Finishing Up

Toss in ice and stir once more very gently. When making these for company, I might add a berry on the edge or float some fruit on top, but for myself, I can't be bothered with decoration.

My buddy Mark dropped by unexpectedly during a hot afternoon while I was mixing one with my homemade blackberry jam. He gave me a skeptical look when offered a glass, but after one taste, he actually went home and returned with his own jar of apricot spread to experiment with. Now we regularly share texts about new flavor combinations we've discovered.

Winning Combinations

I've probably sampled around twenty different jam and fizzy water mixes by now. Raspberry with lime sparkling water tastes just like a premium drink you'd pay too much for at some vacation spot. Orange marmalade with unflavored fizzy water and a sprig of rosemary tastes surprisingly grown-up. My strange-but-amazing find was fig preserves with grapefruit sparkling water - sounds odd but tastes fantastic.

Adult Version

When friends visit for weekend gatherings, I splash in whatever alcohol we have available. Vodka blends right in and lets the fruit flavors stand out. My friend Carla sometimes brings sparkling wine instead of seltzer, turning it into an amazing morning drink that goes down too easily.

Serving Suggestions

Just grab whatever glasses you have. Though I did pick up some old-fashioned coupes from a secondhand store that make the alcoholic versions feel special. For parties, I put out an array of jams, seltzers and mix-ins for a build-your-own station. People get surprisingly excited about it - much more than you'd think for something this basic.

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Insider Tricks

• For jam that's been refrigerated forever and turned stiff, let it warm up briefly first
• Homemade preserves or fancy store brands with fruit chunks create the most Instagram-worthy drinks
• Try using lime juice instead of lemon when working with exotic fruit jams

During our neighborhood gathering last summer, I created a jam fizzy drink bar instead of serving regular lemonade. My elderly neighbor Tom, who's barely changed his drinking habits in decades, sampled my raspberry creation and now fixes them for his visiting grandkids. He calls them "bubbly jam drinks" and the children think he came up with the idea. I haven't told him it's just something popular from social media!

Frequently Asked Questions

→ What's the best jam to use?

Honestly, whatever you like works! Go for raspberry, peach, apricot, or even blackberry. Seedless options are smoother, but it’s up to you!

→ Can I swap out seltzer for something else?

Sure can! Sparkling water or club soda do the trick. If you want more flavor, use a fruity sparkling water to match your jam.

→ Is there alcohol in this drink?

Nope, it’s totally alcohol-free. But if you’d like, you can splash in vodka, gin, or some prosecco for a grown-up twist.

→ How can I make it less sugary?

Use only a little jam, maybe a tablespoon, and increase lemon juice. Sugar-free jams or low-sugar versions work too!

→ Got garnish ideas?

Sure! Add fresh fruit like mint with strawberries, thyme with blackberries, or basil with peach slices for a fun combo.

→ Can I prep this ahead for a crowd?

Absolutely! Mix the jam and lemon in a big pitcher first, but only pour in bubbly water right before serving so it stays fizzy.