Sparkling Panakam

I found this recipe on the Epicurious website (posted by Heidi Swanson), and I thought I'd post it here for others to enjoy. It's a sparkling version of a traditional Indian beverage that is typically made during the Hindi festival of Sri Rama Navami. Some families also serve Panakam to wedding guests as a welcome gesture. This version is less sweet than most other panakam recipes, so feel free to increase the sugar level to your liking. Yield is 4 cups/1 liter.

• Ready In: 10 mins
• Serves: 4
• Yields: 1 liter

Ingredients

• 1⁄4 cup  fine-grain sugar (muscovado, if possible)
• 2  teaspoons ground ginger
• 1⁄8 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1  tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1⁄8 teaspoon  fine-grain sea salt
• 4  cups sparkling water, chilled (1 liter)
•  ice cube

Directions

1. In a medium pitcher, make a thick paste by stirring together the sugar, ginger, cardamom, lime juice, salt, and a small splash of the sparkling water. Stir until all sugar has dissolved.
2. Add more water, a little at a time, stirring all the while. The mixture will get quite fizzy, so just take it slow.
3. Serve as cold as possible with as many ice cubes wedged into the pitcher as possible.