Blackberry Juice

Step 1

Rinse the blackberries under cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Pat them dry with a paper towel.

Step 2

In a medium-sized saucepan, combine the blackberries, sugar, and water. If you're using fresh mint, add a few sprigs to the saucepan as well.

Step 3

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally to dissolve the sugar and prevent the berries from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes, or until the blackberries have softened.

Step 4

Once the blackberries have softened, remove the saucepan from heat and let the mixture cool slightly.

Step 5

Use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain the juice into a clean container, pressing down on the blackberries to extract as much juice as possible. Discard the leftover pulp and seeds.

Step 6

If you used fresh mint, remove the sprigs from the strained juice.

Step 7

Taste the juice and adjust the sweetness by adding more sugar if desired. Stir well to dissolve the sugar completely.

Step 8

Cover the container and refrigerate the blackberry juice until chilled, or serve it immediately over ice.

Step 9

If desired, garnish each glass of blackberry juice with a fresh mint sprig for added freshness.