Homemade Raspberry Pearls for Drinks
Create your own burst-in-your-mouth raspberry pearls at home using natural juice and the spherification method. Perfect for drinks, smoothies, mocktails, or healthy treats!
Ingredients
- 1 cup raspberry juice strained, no pulp or seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon sodium alginate
- 1 teaspoon honey or stevia optional, for sweetness
- 2 cups cold water for calcium bath
- 1 teaspoon calcium lactate or calcium chloride
Instructions
- Blend raspberry juice with sodium alginate until smooth. Add honey or stevia if desired. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes to allow air bubbles to dissipate.
- In a separate bowl, dissolve calcium lactate in 2 cups of cold water. Stir until fully dissolved to create the calcium bath.
- Using a dropper or syringe, carefully drop the raspberry-alginate mixture into the calcium bath. The pearls will form instantly.
- Let pearls sit in the bath for 1–2 minutes to develop a stable outer membrane.
- Remove the pearls using a slotted spoon and rinse under cold water to eliminate excess calcium.
- Store the pearls in a sealed container with clean water or juice. Refrigerate and use within 48 hours for best texture.
Notes
You can enhance flavor by adding lemon juice or mint extract to the mixture. Avoid overcrowding the calcium bath—form pearls in small batches. These pearls are perfect for teas, mocktails, smoothies, or as healthy dessert toppings. For softer pearls, reduce the setting time in the calcium bath slightly.