Homemade sodas just hit different and this Grape Soda is probably one of my favorite creations yet. Made with real grapes, just the right touch of sweetness, and a hint of ginger, it’s the perfect fizzy treat to brighten up any day.
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❤️Why you will love this recipe
- Fresh, Real Ingredients: This soda uses fresh grapes which makes this a very refreshing, fruity drink.
- Healthier Alternative: The natural sweetness from grapes and stevia makes this soda a guilt-free option without added sugars.
- Easy: This recipe comes together in just a few steps and won't need much hands-on work.
- No Special Equipment Required: There is no need for a fancy soda machine—just a few basic kitchen tools are all it takes.
- Natural Carbonation: There is no machine or weird ingredient needed to create the carbonation. The ginger bug is a natural fermentation starter that makes a wonderful carbonation.
If you love this recipe you should try some of my other naturally fermented sodas like this plum soda.
🥣Equipment
To make this delicious grape soda, only a few basic tools are needed:
- Measuring cups and spoons: To measure your ingredients.
- Saucepan: For cooking the grapes and dissolving the sugar and stevia.
- Potato Masher or Wooden Spoon: Perfect for squishing the grapes after they have cooked, helping to extract all the juice.
- Strainer or Cheesecloth: To strain out the pulp and skins from the grape juice, leaving you with a smooth liquid.
- Bottle or Jar with Lid: For storing and fermenting the soda before serving. Use 2 350ml / 12 ounce bottles
📝The Ingredients
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients used to make this soda:
- Water: Serves as the base for the soda, helping to extract the flavors from the grapes.
- Grapes: Use fresh, juicy grapes. Red or black grapes work best for a rich, deep flavor.
- Sugar: The sugar is needed to feed the ginger bug during fermentation, helping create the natural fizz in the soda. It won't affect the sweetness.
- Sugar Alternative: Provides the actual sweetness for the soda. Use your choice of alternative sugar like stevia, monk fruit or erythritol. Adjust the amount to suit your taste preference
- Ginger Bug: This is the fermentation starter that creates the natural carbonation in the soda.
👩🏻🍳How to make a naturally fermented grape soda
Here is a quick overview of the recipe steps. Please read the recipe card for the full instructions.
- Simmer grapes, sugar, and water in a pot until the grapes soften.
- Mash the grapes to release more juice, then let the mixture cool.
- Strain the mixture, to remove the solids.
- Stir in the stevia.
- Combine the liquid with the ginger bug and pour it into a bottle with a tight lid.
- Ferment for 1-2 days, burping the bottle daily to release excess gas.
- Refrigerate the soda, then enjoy chilled!
🍴Serving suggestions
Here are some fun ways to serve this soda you should try:
- Enjoy as-is: Serve the soda straight out of the fridge.
- Chill over ice: For an extra crisp experience, pour the soda over a glass of ice cubes, which makes the grape flavor even more vibrant.
- Add a garnish: Make some elegant garnishes like a skewer of fresh grapes or a slice of lime to impress guests.
- Turn it into a cocktail: Blend the soda with gin, rum, or vodka for a refreshing, fruity adult beverage that’s perfect for a casual evening.
- Pair with a charcuterie board: The sweet, fruity notes of the grape soda complement cheeses, cured meats, and nuts beautifully, making it an ideal beverage to serve with a charcuterie board.
- Serve with light desserts: Pair this soda with fruit-based treats like sorbet, lemon cake, or macarons for a refreshing finish to your meal.
🥄Storage
Once your soda has reached the desired level of carbonation, you have to make sure to store it properly so it stays fresh and bubbly. Here are some tips:
- Refrigeration: Once fermentation is complete (after 1-2 days), move the bottle to the fridge to slow down the fermentation process and maintain the soda's carbonation.
- Shelf life: The soda stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 weeks. Over time, the flavor will become less sweet and more tangy as the fermentation continues.
- Pressure Release: It's important to "burp" the bottle daily. Simply open the bottle briefly to let out any excess gas and prevent over-carbonation or bursting.
❗Troubleshooting
Here are a few common hiccups you might run into when making fermented sodas, and some tips to fix them:
- Soda is too tangy: If it tastes more sour than sweet, the soda has probably fermented a bit too long. Next time, pop it in the fridge earlier to keep that sweetness.
- Not enough fizz: If your soda isn’t as bubbly as you’d like, it’s possible the ginger bug wasn’t active enough. Let it ferment a little longer or add a pinch more sugar to get things moving.
- Overly carbonated or too much pressure: This usually happens if it ferments too long or if you forget to burp the bottle. Make sure to release the pressure each day or get it in the fridge sooner to slow things down.
💭Frequently asked questions
Q: Can I use store-bought grape juice instead of fresh grapes?
A: Yes, you can use grape juice instead. I recommend fresh grapes as they make a fresher fruit flavor.
Q: Is this recipe suitable for kids?
A: Absolutely! Since it’s naturally fizzy and you can control the sweetness, it’s a healthier option for kids to enjoy.
Q: Can I use honey or maple syrup instead of sugar?
A: Yes, but keep in mind that it may slightly change the flavor of the soda.
Q: How can I make the soda less sweet?
A: Reduce the amount of alternative sugar or add more water to dilute the sweetness.
Q: Can I use frozen grapes?
A: Absolutely! Frozen grapes work just as well. Just thaw them before cooking to get the juice flowing.
Q: Does the soda contain alcohol?
A: Since the ginger bug is a natural fermentation starter, a tiny amount of alcohol is produced. However, it’s usually less than 1%, so it’s still considered non-alcoholic.
More recipes to try
📖 Recipe
Grape Soda
Equipment
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Medium Pot
- Potato Masher or Cooking Spoon (heat-resistant, such as wood, plastic or silicone)
- Fine-Meshed Strainer or Cheese Cloth
- Glass Bottle (with a tight seal)
Ingredients
- 250 g Grapes
- 2 tablespoon Sugar
- 500 ml Water
- 1 tablespoon Stevia or other sugar alternative
- 100 ml Ginger Bug
Instructions
- First, simmer the grapes, suar and water in a pot until the grapes soften.250 g Grapes, 500 ml Water, 2 tablespoon Sugar
- Then, mash the softened grapes with a potato masher or wooden spoon to release more juice.
- Next, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove the solids.
- After that, stir in the alternative sugar until everything is dissolved.2 tablespoon Sugar, 1 tablespoon Stevia
- Let the mixture cool completely, then combine it with the ginger bug.100 ml Ginger Bug
- Pour the soda into a fermentation bottle and seal it tightly.
- Allow it to ferment for 1-2 days, burping the bottle daily to release any excess gas. To do that, simply open the lid every day to release the pressure of the fermentation.
- Once the soda is fizzy, transfer the bottle to the refrigerator to stop the fermentation process.
- Finally, serve the soda chilled and enjoy!
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Nutrition
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