This Italian grapefruit soda recipe is a mash-up of Italian and American culture, bringing sweet-tart grapefruit flavor to an icy-cold sparkling soda. Because in America, you definitely need the ice. It’s made with homemade grapefruit syrup and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice for the best fresh fruit taste that store-bought soda just can’t compete with!
Growing up with a live-in grandmother from Italy meant you got a lot of lessons on Italian culture. My grandma brought as much of her heritage as possible to the Midwest. Thankfully, even though I did inherit things like Italian guilt and worry, I also got a healthy dose of her love of food and beverages. Citrus is a BIG part of Italian culture, especially in southern Italy, where my grandma’s family is from.
I grew up stealing my dad’s Frescas and this homemade version is so fresh, it replaces that nostalgia in a heartbeat. This recipe was inspired by my Italian lemon soda recipe, also called limonata. San Pellegrino makes a grapefruit soda called Pompelmo that is crisp and refreshing, with a bit of a grapefruit bite similar to popular Italian aperitifs like Aperol. When I made my grapefruit simple syrup I just knew an Italian soda was in the cards, too.
why you’ll love this grapefruit Italian soda:
🍊 sweet & tart. This soda is perfectly balanced, thanks to a few key ingredients like simple syrup and a homemade saline solution. Don’t worry, it sounds fancy, but it’s actually super approachable and easy to make.
🥤crisp & refreshing. Whether you’re dreaming of sunshine or relaxing poolside, this soda is sure to put you in the “Roman Holiday” mood. It’s a great way to quench your thirst without leaving you with a 2 pm sugar crash, unlike with store-bought sodas.
🫧 bubbly & effervescent. Let’s be real, bubbles make everything more fun! And making your own sodas at home is super easy and accessible. You don’t even need any speciality equipment!
🛒 ingredients
- grapefruit simple syrup – take the time to make your own pink grapefruit simple syrup, trust me. This homemade fruit syrup will add a delicate layer of grapefruit flavor with sweetness to balance out the bitterness.
- fresh grapefruit – you’ll need a few fresh whole grapefruit for this recipe. We’ll be using freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and slices of grapefruit to garnish the drinks. Choose a sweeter variety of grapefruit like pink grapefruit instead of conventional grapefruit, which tend to be more bitter.
- unflavored sparkling water – Seltzer is sometimes called soda water or sparkling water, and all are interchangeable. Choose a brand of unflavored soda water, like La Croix or Polar seltzer, not a mineral water. Mineral water has additional minerals added to it that can change the flavor of your drink.
- saline solution – this magical solution is a simple mixture of salt and water, it’s not the same saline solution you buy at the drugstore, so please take a few minutes and make a quick batch at home. You’ll be able to transform all of your beverages, much like you use salt to season your cooking at home! In this recipe, it helps to balance out the bitterness of fresh grapefruit. This is especially important if you don’t have access to sweeter grapefruit varieties, like pink grapefruit.
See the recipe card for the exact quantities.
🍳 instructions
Step 1: Fill a glass halfway with ice, add grapefruit slices to the sides of the glass. Then fill the rest of the way with ice.
Step 2: Add grapefruit simple syrup.
Step 3: Pour in freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to top the simple syrup.
Step 4: Top with sparkling water.
Step 5: Add a straw.
Step 6: Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a sprig of mint, and serve immediately.
Hint: Use pink grapefruit if you can find it. It’s sweeter and more flavorful than the traditional ruby red variety.
💡tips & tricks for getting it right
🍽️ serving tips
How and when to serve your homemade grapefruit sodas:
- These sodas are perfect for serving at a spring or summer gathering, like an al fresco dinner party or afternoon barbecue.
- This soda is also a great option to serve at any even where you are serving margaritas or palomas!
Choose your glass
- Choose a glass that has at least a 16 ounce capacity, so your soda can handle a full can of seltzer water with room to spare.
- These soda can glasses from Libbey are a super fun glass to use when serving homemade soda pop!
Garnish
- Garnish your sodas using a wedge of fresh grapefruit.
- Since grapefruit is rather large, you may want to cut your wedges into smaller triangles to fit better on your glasses.
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ℹ️ troubleshooting tips
Fresh citrus is notorious for varying in flavor. It’s really difficult to tell what your fruit is going to taste like before you bite into it or juice it, so keep these troubleshooting tips handy in case you need to adjust the flavor of your soda.
- too bitter – if your soda is too bitter, you can add a few more drops of saline solution, or more simple syrup. Salt is the best way to counteract bitterness, but sugar can also cut the bitter flavor without overpowering it.
- not enough grapefruit flavor – if your soda doesn’t have enough grapefruit flavor, you can add 1-2 ounces more juice or simple syrup.
⚖️ scaling tips
This is a great recipe to scale up for a springtime party, when grapefruit is still in season from the peak of winter.
Simply adjust the quantity of ingredients to match the size of your crowd, and mix everything but the bubbly water into a pitcher. When you’re ready to serve your sodas, you can add the bubbly water right before serving to keep the effervescence crisp.
🔆 top tip
Taste your grapefruit juice before adding it to your sodas to see if it’s too bitter for your liking. While you do want a bit of a bite, you can balance overly bitter grapefruit juice by using a few drops of homemade saline solution.
♻️ substitutions & variations
♻️ substitutions
Missing an ingredient? No problem. Check out these tried-and-true substitutions, or comment below with your question. I’m here to help you troubleshoot!
- store-bought juice – if you can’t find fresh grapefruit, you can substitute store-bought juice. Try to choose a brand that is refrigerated, as they tend to be more fresh and flavorful than shelf-stable varieties. My favorite brand is Natalie’s, because it’s owned and operated in Florida!
- club soda – club soda can be used in place of sparkling water. Just be sure to taste your soda before adding in the saline solution, because some brands of club soda add salt.
- mineral water – if you want a flavor that is closer to the San Pellegrino pompelmo flavor, use San Pellegrino mineral water!
- pomelos – if you can’t find pink grapefruit, pomelos are the next best option. They are a larger fruit than grapefruit, but they have a more mellow flavor than ruby red grapefruit which can be bland and bitter.
🎛️ variations
Feeling like a rebel?! 😈 Feel free to stray from the recipe card using these variations, or leave me a comment with your own!
- make it a cocktail – spike your soda by adding in an ounce or two of tequila, vodka, or rum! Gin would also go well with the citrus in this soda!
- use another citrus – you can make this soda any flavor you like by using another variety of citrus! Try this recipe for a lemon Italian soda, or try using blood oranges, too!
- herbal – add a sprig of rosemary or mint and muddle it into your glasses to impart a delicate herbal flavor. Or, you can even use an herbal simple syrup, like this rosemary syrup or this sage syrup, to add a layer of herbal flavor!
🧰 equipment needed & storage tips
🧰 tools needed
- drinking glass – I like to use a glass that have a 12 – 16 ounce capacity, so I can fit a whole can of sparkling water without having leftover. You can use a smaller more festive glass if you like! These soda can glasses are the ones featured in the photos. A special old fashioned milkshake glass would also make for a great presentation!
- small measuring beaker or jigger – these OXO nesting measuring beakers are so handy to use in so many recipes! They come in a graduated set perfect for measuring small amounts of liquid. You can also use a jigger if you have one.
- straw – you can get really festive with your straws, adding a layer of fun for your friends and family. I love using these silicone straws from GIR co. They clean up easy, are dishwasher safe, and come in so many fun colors. You can also use these fun paper straws that come in a variety of colors!
- cocktail mixing spoon – a cocktail spoon is a mixing spoon with a longer than normal handle. This is super useful when mixing beverages because it allows you to mix easily without getting your hand into the soda!
🫙 storage tips
It is best to consume this soda shortly after drinking it because of the bubbles. If you are not serving it right away after making it, be sure to store it in an airtight container like these bottles from Bormioli Rocco that have stoppers.
Use caution when opening the bottles after storage— carbonation can build up in the bottle which can cause the top to burst off.
💬 q+a
Do I need to use grapefruit simple syrup in this soda?
If you don’t want to make the simple syrup, it is possible to use store-bought syrup or substitute regular simple syrup. The grapefruit flavor won’t be as prominent, but it will still be better than artificially flavored soda.
Can I use store-bought grapefruit juice?
Fresh grapefruit juice will have the best flavor for this soda recipe. If you can’t find fresh grapefruit, try to use a juice that is refrigerated over one that is shelf stable.
What is the difference between Italian soda and soda?
Italian sodas are made of sparkling water, flavored syrup, and sometimes fruit juice, milk, or cream. They are actually an Italian-American invention from the Torani family in California in the 1920’s. Thanks to the popularity of soda fountain drinks, Italian sodas were an instant hit!
If you make this recipe, please leave a review in the comments and a star rating!
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Italian Grapefruit Soda (Simple Pompelmo Rosa)
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Equipment
- 1 glass of choice
- 1 cocktail stirring spoon
- 1 citrus juicer or handheld citrus press
- 1 knife
- 1 small cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 ounce grapefruit simple syrup
- 2 ounces freshly squeezed grapefruit juice from half a medium-sized grapefruit
- 10 ounces plain sparkling water such as La Croix
- ice
- 5 drops homemade saline solution optional
Instructions
- Slice a medium pink grapefruit and juice it using a citrus juicer or handheld citrus press.
- Slice the other half of the grapefruit into thin rounds, then cut each round into 4-6 triangular wedges for garnishes.
- Fill a glass halfway with ice.
- Add grapefruit slices to the sides of the glass, then fill the rest of the way with ice.
- Add grapefruit simple syrup.
- Pour in freshly squeezed grapefruit juice to top the simple syrup.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and a sprig of mint.
Notes
Nutrition Information
The information provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition facts calculator and actual nutrition facts may vary.
