Ever since I had it at Clementine restaurant, I’ve been wondering if I could re-create their amazing and tasty drink called Basil Lime Elixir. It is a delicious fizzy concoction of lime and basil.
Wanting to take a shortcut, I got frozen limeade at the local Walmarts. I poured four glasses. One was a “control” glass that was just limeade. The others contained finely chopped basil, coarsely chopped basil, and whole basil stems. I let them steep in the refrigerator for about 48 hours. The result? The ones with basil in them tasted limey and basily.
But they didn’t taste like Basil Lime Elixir.
I think my big mistake was using frozen limeade. I think the good people at Clementine must create a simple syrup, add lime and basil, then mix with carbonated water. I may attempt to create a more authentic reproduction in the future, but for now, at least I know that steeping whole basil stems is enough to imbue the concoction with its magical basily flavor.
Maybe you need to get one of those carbonator thingies. Then you can make fizzy anything. I think that’s how they do Orangina, too.
mmmmm….. basil lime elixir…
Really, I think if you put ‘elixir’ after anything, it must make it taste magical. I’m off to have some Cocoa Puffs Elixir!
I love basil but it has no business being in drinks, bleh …
And I’d Rick Roll ‘ya here for using the word imbue, but I’ve heard that tends to make people angry …
What if you add clam and tomato juice? Yummy.
Hey, Clementine diners – Elisabeth Large*, the local food critic for the local rag, just wrote this restaurant up for the Sunday edition – 3 stars out of 4 in all categories! Now I bet every Nebraskan in Bradaptationland wants to come East just to go there, no?
* Yea…I giggle, too.