I can count on one hand the number of alcoholic drinks I’ve had in the last couple of years. I stopped drinking in January 2021 as I was experiencing some really intense anxiety and I was ready to do whatever I needed to in order to reduce the symptoms.
I started off drinking A LOT of sparkling water but after awhile I got a bit bored of so many bubbles. Last week I decided to test out some fun mocktail recipes for the holidays and I’m excited to share my top three with you here.
Whether you’re completely sober, sober curious or just looking to mix it up a little there is something here for everyone.
Enjoy and don’t forget to let me know what you think!
Golden Glow Water
I originally felt pulled to this recipe because the kids and Scott were battling colds and I wanted something that would bolster my immune system. We were supposed to go to a holiday party but had to cancel so I thought we could cheers with this spicy little number instead. This is a recipe from one of my favourite sites, Half Baked Harvest but I made a few modifications.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1/2 tsp of fresh grated ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Juice of 1 lemon
- sparkling water or kombucha for topping (I used Rise Ginger Kombucha)
Instructions
- In a glass jar, combine the water, ginger, turmeric, cayenne, honey, and lemon juice. Shake well to combine. Chill until ready to drink. Shake before serving.
- Add ice to your glass, add 1-2 tbsp of the water mixture and top with sparkling water or Kombucha. Taste and add more golden water if you’d like. Garnish with citrus slices and fresh mint.
This is one of those drinks you sip slowly because it has some heat to it. It’s jam packed with nourishment from the anti-inflammatory turmeric to the gut-soothing ginger so it packs a double punch – delicious and so good for you. Give it a try and let me know what you think!
Grapefruit Thyme Mocktail
This is one of the most refreshing and beautiful mocktails I’ve ever made. Again, I modified the original recipe from Flowers In the Salad a bit based on what I had available in my fridge.
I thought that making a herb-infused simple syrup would be complicated but it was SO simple and really satisfying to prepare. Please note you do need a couple of hours to let the thyme infuse into the syrup so prep this beforehand.
There are lots of ways to make a simple syrup with agave, stevia or other sweeteners but I went with a good old sugar recipe and just reduced the amount that I put in the drink as I don’t like super sweet drinks.
Ingredients
Thyme Syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup fresh thyme
Grapefruit Thyme Mocktail
- 1/3 cup sparkling water
- 1-2 tbsp of thyme syrup
- 1/3 cup of fresh grapefruit juice or store bought juice (look for options without added sugar)
- Ice
- Sugar and lime for the sugared rim
Instructions
Thyme syrup
- Add sugar and water to a pot and bring to the boil. Switch back to a low heat and simmer for about 5 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat.
- Add the thyme and cover with the syrup. Allow to steep for 2 hours at room temperature.
- Remove the thyme. Pour the syrup into a glass with a lid and refrigerate. Use within 1-2 weeks.
Grapefruit Thyme Mocktail
- Sugar the rim of your glass by rubbing it with citrus and then dipping into the sugar. Carefully place ice cubes into glasses. Add 2 tablespoons thyme syrup to each glass and fill up with 1/3 cup grapefruit juice. Top up the glass with sparkling water. Garnish with a slice of grapefruit and some thyme. Enjoy ice cold.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of these beautiful mocktails! I’m officially inspired to keep hunting for great non-alcoholic drink options so make sure you’re signed up for my weekly newsletter to get all my latest recipes, wellness tips and anxiety hacks. Add me to the list Erin!
If you make one of these mocktails don’t forget to share a picture and tag @RawBeautyTalks on Instagram.
Enjoy!!
xo -Erin
