Pineapple Ginger Punch

1 cup pineapple juice, strained
1 cup ginger syrup
1 cup sparkling water or sparkling wine
1 sprig fresh mint or lavender
1/4 teaspoon sugar

Thoroughly chill liquid ingredients. Remove leaves from stem of herb. Discard stem and muddle leaves with sugar in a chilled serving container. Add cold liquids, stir, and taste. Correct balance according to taste. Adding ice will dilute flavors.

For pineapple juice
Make your own or buy the very best you can afford. Commercially manufactured juice may have additions of water, sugar, preservatives, and grape, apple, pear, or other juices, and will decrease the intensity of the pineapple's flavor.

For ginger syrup
Very thinly slice 4-inches of fresh ginger root. Place in saucepan with 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar. Cover and bring to boil without stirring or removing the cover. Simmer for at least 30 minutes. Without removing cover, take off heat and cool. Strain and chill syrup. After a month, the flavor begins to fade. Recipe may be doubled or halved.