Mocktails with a punch

Are you game for a spicy and slightly bitter sparkling beverage with a touch of sweetness? Mariko Amekodommo tells you how to find the right balance

This year has seen a surge in the popularity of mocktails as everyone is focused on their health and wellness. While alcohol is traditionally the go-to choice when you want to alter your mind and body, a new wave of mocktails provides a boost mentally and physically with added health benefits that also taste delicious. Here are some elixirs that contain added health benefits whenever you need a boost.

Kombucha Kicker

Does your brain need a boost after a long day staring at the computer screen or being confined while you WFH? Kombucha to the rescue. Now available throughout India, this fermented tea is gaining popularity. Slightly tart and slightly sweet with natural carbonation, kombucha contains vitamins B 1 (thiamine), B 6, and B 12 that help fight depression, stabilise the mood and improve concentration.

Available in the refrigerator section of most speciality stores, it comes bottled in a variety of flavours ranging from Elderflower to Lavender to Oolong Tea. This recipe contains classic ginger which provides additional mood-enhancing benefits, fresh pineapple juice to regulate blood pressure and lower stress-induced hypertension while the aromatherapy of fresh mint helps boost memory and concentration.

Ingredients

1/2 tbsp lime juice

1 tablespoon sweetener (maple syrup, honey or date syrup)

4 sprigs of fresh mint

1 cup pineapple juice, chilled

1 cup ginger kombucha

Method

Add lime, sweetener, and mint to a cocktail shaker. Using a wooden spoon, muddle all the ingredients together with a wooden spoon until the mint is crushed into small pieces.

Add pineapple juice and shake vigorously.

Divide among 2 glasses and top evenly with ginger kombucha.

Makes 2 servings

Grapefruit Cinnamon Soda

This is the perfect elixir when you need your mind and body to relax. The grapefruit peel contains high levels of Vitamin C and antioxidants, but in this recipe, you also get the aromatic benefits of essential oil as the scent helps relax the mind and body. Cinnamon has powerful inflammatory properties to reduce tension and pain in the body. The trick to this mocktail is making a simple syrup that can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. The result is a spicy and slightly bitter sparkling beverage with a touch of sweetness. When serving, add 1-2 tablespoons of simple syrup (or more to taste) and top off with ice and soda water.

Ingredients

4 heaping tbsps of chopped or
grated grapefruit zest

2 tbsps chopped turmeric root
(or 2 tsp dried powder)

1 cup coconut sugar, jaggery
or date syrup

4 cinnamon sticks (or 1/2 tsp
ground cinnamon)

2 cups water

Method

In a pot, combine the grapefruit zest, turmeric and sugar. Using a wooden spoon, mash them together until the oils release.

Stir in the water and simmer on low for 10 minutes, until the sugar has fully dissolved and the mixture has thickened slightly.

Remove from heat, cool and strain through a fine-mesh sieve.

Makes 8 servings

(The author is an international culinary expert.)