Seltz al Limone (Refreshing Lemon Seltzer)

By Sarah DiGregorio

Updated July 9, 2026

  • Rachel Vanni for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Media 1 of 2
Ready In
5 min
Rating
4(89)
Comments
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This shockingly refreshing drink is a mainstay of kiosks in Sicily, particularly in the eastern city of Catania and the surrounding region. You could think of it as a natural Gatorade: crisp, assertively salty-tart and replenishing after a day under the intense Mediterranean sun. The magic of the drink is in the interplay between the lemon juice and salt — salt softens the lemon’s bitter sharpness into a flavor that’s almost rounded and savory. You can customize it in a few ways: Sicilian lemons are less acidic than regular ones, closer to Meyer lemons, which you should use if you can find them. A seltz also tastes great with half lemon and half lime. Sicilians would not serve this over ice, but you can feel free to do so, or to add a twist of lemon zest. Regardless, enjoy a seltz on a hot day, after a hard workout or a large meal.

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Ingredients

Yield:1 drink

  • 1 large, juicy lemon (preferably Meyer)

  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt 

  • 12 ounces cold plain seltzer or sparkling water

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving

8 grams carbs; 24 calories; 2 grams fiber; 986 milligrams sodium; 1 gram protein; 2 grams sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Juice the lemon into a large glass (you should have about a scant ¼ cup of juice). Add the salt and stir until dissolved. Pour in the seltzer slowly; it will foam up. Stir again to foam and serve.

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Ratings

4 out of 5
89 user ratings
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Comments

Brian B

Perhaps some gin and tonic would be worthwhile additions.

Salty doc

@gabekap That actually depends a lot on who you are (your body and health conditions) and what you’ve been doing that day. Blanket statements like this aren’t helpful. It feels like this type of commenter wants to control everyone’s sodium/sugar intake. Worry about yourself if you must; we don’t need you to save us. Next time please consider just reading a recipe you fundamentally disagree with and moving on without comment.

Julian V

This is great! In Vietnamese cuisine, salted preserved lemon and sugar with seltzer also makes a really nice drink.

George

If the original drink comes from Sicily why does the recipe call for Meyer lemons? Meyer lemons are a hybrid developed in California.

Beth

For those with easy access to a Trader Joe’s and a desire to make more than one serving of this drink, they sell organic Sicilian lemon juice (not from concentrate, even!). I think it’s about $3.29 for a 250 ml bottle.

Christine

I can’t wait to try this with lime and pomegranate juice—adjusting added ingredients to taste.

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