I am always fascinated by the amount of fizzy drinks that line the aisles of supermarkets at Christmas. I hate the stuff for countless reasons – from tooth decay to spillages.

I make cordials at home – elderflower, blackcurrant, lemon and lime.

This lime cordial is a particular favourite and it’s great with sparking mineral water.

As a side note, I have often added a dash of it to a Thai green curry when it's missing a touch of je ne sais quoi.

Put the water and the caster sugar in a saucepan and bring to the boil.

Add the lime juice and citric acid, stir well to combine and simmer for a further minute or two.

Take off the heat and allow to cool.

Pour the cordial into sterilised bottles and store in the fridge.

Serve with sparkling water and crushed ice.