Prep time
10 min
Cook time
0 min
Serves
2
Calories
~60 kcal
Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients
Method
01
Blend the cucumber
Roughly chop the snacking cucumbers — no need to peel them, the skin is thin and flavourful. Blend with 200ml of cold water until completely smooth. Snacking cucumbers are seedless and mild, which makes them ideal for this — they don't add bitterness.
02
Strain for a clean juice
Pour the blended cucumber through a fine mesh sieve over a bowl or jug. Use the back of a spoon to press the pulp firmly and extract every drop of juice. Discard the pulp. The resulting liquid should be very pale green and almost clear.
03
Muddle the mint
In the bottom of your serving jug or a glass, add the mint leaves, honey and a small pinch of salt. Muddle firmly with a spoon or muddler — press and twist, don't chop. You're releasing the oils from the leaves, not shredding them. The salt brightens everything.
04
Combine and taste
Add the cucumber juice, remaining cold water and lime juice to the muddled mint. Stir well. Taste — it should be refreshing, slightly sweet, properly citrusy and cool. Add more lime if it needs sharpness, more honey if it's too tart. This is a drink that rewards fine-tuning.
05
Serve over ice
Fill two tall glasses generously with ice. Pour the cooler over the ice. Garnish with a thin ribbon of cucumber (use a peeler) around the rim and a sprig of fresh mint. Serve immediately — the ice dilution actually helps this drink over the first few minutes.
Tips for the best result
- ✦Snacking cucumbers are the best choice — thin skin, no bitterness, seedless. Turkish cucumbers also work well.
- ✦Strain thoroughly — unfiltered cucumber juice is cloudy and slightly bitter.
- ✦The pinch of salt is not optional. It elevates the sweetness and makes the mint pop.
- ✦Add a small piece of fresh ginger to the blender for a warming kick.
- ✦This keeps in the fridge for up to a day — the flavour actually deepens as the mint infuses.
Get both ingredients delivered
Every ingredient in this recipe is available on Urban Farmers.
Harvested at dawn, delivered every Tuesday & Friday across Mumbai.