Alcohol is used in many cultures to celebrate and it has it's place, but it is often overconsumed and it acts as a poison to the body including the brain and liver. We find that it is much more fun to stay clear, bright and alert and ditch the next-day hangover and instead wake up feeling refreshed and hydrated.
Mocktails, or nonalcoholic cocktails, are beverages that look and often taste like regular cocktails, but without the alcohol. In many situations, you can just leave out the alcohol; or sometimes, you might want to replace it with a healthier liquid.
Mocktail bases can start with seltzer, club soda, unsweetened tonic water, freshly squeezed juices, kombucha (which technically does have a small amount of alcohol), and iced fruit teas. In cocktails that typically include cream or other dairy products, like White Russians or Irish coffee, substitute plant milk and vegan cream.
A simple mocktail that we enjoy and that's refreshing in summer combines freshly squeezed fruit juice and sparkling water like Pellegrino and creative garnishes.
Basic Mocktail - Juice Spritzer
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fruit juice (freshly squeezed or juiced)
- 1 cup sparkling mineral water (unflavored and unsweetened)
- ice (for serving, optional)
- a garnish like citrus wedges (orange, lemon or lime) or mint
- In a small pitcher, combine juice and mineral water and stir to combine.
- Serve in individual glasses over ice.
- Garnish with organic orange, lemon, or lime wedge if desired.
Sunrise Citrus Mocktail
Ingredients:
- ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice (or high-quality store-bought)
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 16 oz sparkling water
- 2 splashes unsweetened cranberry juice
- 2 orange slices
- Divide the orange juice and lime juice between two 12-ounce glasses.
- Divide the sparkling water between the two glasses.
- Add a splash of cranberry juice to each glass.
- Garnish each glass with an orange slice.
Matcha Mint Lemonade
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cucumber juice (alternatively use chopped cucumber pieces)
- ¼ cup mint leaves
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup pineapple juice (unsweetened, 100% juice)
- 2 tsp matcha (powder, 100% matcha)
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup ice
- 2 sprigs mint
Directions:
- Add the cucumber, mint, lemon juice, pineapple juice, matcha, and water to a blender. Blend until smooth, about 2–3 minutes.
- Pour into two 12-ounce glasses filled with ice (if desired).
- Top with a mint sprig for garnish and enjoy!
I hope you will have fun experimenting on your own and come up with new creative drink recipes that will feed, nourish and delight your senses and body.
