There’s nothing better than relaxing and drinking a refreshing drink. Herbal mocktails are the perfect drink for people who avoid (or cut down on) alcohol. There are plenty of delicious options, and since they’re non-alcoholic, even the kids can have their own.
Featuring fruity and herbal flavors, these drink recipes not only taste great, but they’re also super good for you! Chill it for a refreshing summer drink, or enjoy it year-round. They also add a chic twist to weekend brunch!
What is a mocktail?
You’ve probably heard of them, but if you haven’t, mocktails are cocktails that don’t contain alcohol. So instead of putting some vodka or tequila into a sparkling drink, we use juice and mineral water. You’ll find recipes for everything from mojito mocktails to pina coladas on the internet.
These non-alcoholic drinks can be made with a variety of flavor combinations. They usually consist of simple syrup (such as grenadine), club soda or sparkling water, fruit, and sometimes vanilla. Here are some more ingredients to test in your homemade mocktails.
- Sweetener, such as raw honey, maple syrup, or stevia
- Juice, such as watermelon, pomegranate, apple, or pineapple juice
- Shrub made with apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar and herbs
- herbal bitters
- A little spice from ginger or jalapeno
herbal infusion
There are many ways to make healthy, delicious drinks, and herbs are one way to really enhance your health benefits. Herbal bitters aid digestion and improve intestinal health. You can make your own herbal bitter tincture and add a bit to mocktails to balance out the sweetness. This is the perfect after-meal digestive supplement!
Here are the herbs I use in the recipes below and why they are so amazing.
- ginger – Ginger is slightly spicy and is a great digestive herb. It warms, increases circulation and reduces inflammation. It also has antiviral properties, helps relieve menstrual cramps, and helps relieve nausea.
- basil – While basil tastes great on a caprese salad, it also has some pretty delicious health benefits! Basil reduces inflammation, protects the liver and blood vessels, and strengthens the immune system. Research also shows it has anti-cancer and anti-diabetic properties.
- Hibiscus – Hibiscus flowers are rich in vitamin C and other nutrients and have a sour and fruity taste. Conditions and cools irritated tissues, helps strengthen the immune system, and clears away sticky mucus. Helps relieve inflammation in areas such as the liver, stomach, urinary tract and uterus.
- lemon grass – Antibacterial, antifungal, reduces inflammation, and helps the body’s healthy response to fever. It also has a wonderful lemon scent!
- nettle – Nettle is a nutritious plant that contains a lot of minerals. You’ll find vitamins A, C, E and K, riboflavin, thiamine and several minerals. It helps nourish the body and replenish energy.
Add decoration
What’s a great drink without garnishes? I like to garnish the glass with a lime or lemon slice. You can also use fresh cranberries, other berries, or chunks of fruit. Mint leaves also add a nice kick to these mocktail recipes.
Cranberry Ginger Mocktail
This carbonated mocktail combines fruity, tart cranberry with spicy ginger.
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Add the cranberries and ginger to the water and heat in the pot until it boils.
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Turn off the heat, cover and soak for 10-15 minutes.
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Strain and mix in honey.
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Let cool completely.
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Add sparkling water before serving.
nutrient content
Cranberry Ginger Mocktail
Serving size (6 oz)
Calories 42
% Daily Value*
fat 0.024g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.002g
Monounsaturated fat 0.001g
sodium 12 mg1%
Potassium 24 mg1%
carbohydrate 12 grams4%
Fiber 0.6g3%
12 grams of sugar13%
protein 0.12g0%
Vitamin A 12 international units0%
Vitamin C 2.4 mg3%
calcium 6 mg1%
iron 0.06 mg0%
*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
If you don’t want to eat it right away, store the cranberry, ginger, and honey infusion in the refrigerator until you’re ready to mix with sparkling water.
Basil Citrus Mocktail
Savory basil pairs perfectly with sweet citrus. Use oranges, tangerines or even grapefruit for this recipe.
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Crush the basil with your hands until its juices are released.
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Place basil, orange zest and hot water in a mason jar. You don’t want the water to boil, just hot enough to absorb the flavor of the fresh ingredients.
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Cover the jar and let steep for 10-15 minutes or until cool.
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Strain and add orange juice.
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Let the mixture cool completely in the refrigerator and mix with sparkling mineral water before serving.
nutrient content
Basil Citrus Mocktail
Serving size (6 oz)
Calories 30
Calories from fat1
% Daily Value*
fat 0.06g0%
Saturated fat 0.012g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.018g
Monounsaturated fat 0.018g
sodium 1 mg0%
Potassium 120 mg3%
carbohydrate 6 grams2%
Fiber 1.8g8%
6 grams of sugar7%
protein 0.6g1%
Vitamin A 192 international units4%
Vitamin C 36 mg44%
calcium 30 mg3%
iron 0.06 mg0%
*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Try grapefruit, mandarin oranges or clementines instead of oranges.
Hibiscus Lime Mocktail
Rich in vitamin C, hibiscus and lime add to the fruity flavor of this drink.
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Bring water to a boil on stove. Add the hibiscus, lemongrass and lime zest, cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
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Strain and add lime juice and honey.
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Cool completely and mix with sparkling water before serving.
nutrient content
Hibiscus Lime Mocktail
Serving size (6 oz)
Calories 72
Calories from fat1
% Daily Value*
fat 0.06g0%
Saturated fat 0.006g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.018g
Monounsaturated fat 0.006g
sodium 12 mg1%
Potassium 48 mg1%
carbohydrate 36 grams12%
Fiber 0.12g1%
18 grams of sugar20%
protein 0.6g1%
Vitamin A 30 international units1%
Vitamin C 12 mg15%
calcium 18 mg2%
iron 0.6 mg3%
*Percent Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
If you like your drink sour, reduce the honey to one tablespoon.
Try more drink recipes
There are some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available.
Have you ever made your own mocktails before? What are your favorite ingredients to use?