Sober-Curious? Give These 7 Delicious Mocktails a Shot and You Won’t Miss the Booze

A reset from alcohol can do wonders for your mind, body, and energy. Whether you’re sober-curious, cutting back for wellness reasons, or just craving a fun, flavorful sip without the buzz, mocktails are the moment. Naturally, our team went on a taste-testing mission to find the lightest, brightest, most delicious non-boozy blends to keep you hydrated and happy all season long. So, sit back, relax, and get ready to dive into the world of mocktails—with six easy, refreshing recipes to shake (or stir) up at home. Cheers to sipping smart! What’s a Mocktail? For the uninitiated, mocktails are non-alcoholic cocktails that offer the same complexity of flavor notes but without the booze. As more peeps get on the sober-curious bandwagon, more companies are catering to their tastes with mixers minus the spirits and alcohol minus the ABV. Brands such as Seedlip have been leading the trend by creating non-alcoholic spirits in combinations such as Grove 42, Spice 94 and Garden 108–each with its own complex flavor profile. Three Spirit Drinks incorporates plant botanicals and adaptogens into their three flavors (Livener, Social Elixir and Nightcap) to mimic some of the sensations of alcohol–without the hangover. Chicago’s Ritual Zero Proof is a smaller maker that launched in 2019 and makes no-alcohol whiskey, gin and tequila. SAYSO—a women-owned company reimagining cocktails and mocktails with their craft cocktail tea bags. Simply steep one in cold water, add your favorite spirit (or don’t!), and enjoy a bar-worthy drink made with clean, all-natural ingredients like citrus peels, herbs, and spices. If all these delicious options haven’t convinced you to give alcohol the boot for a bit, here’s a story that covers the myriad health benefits that happen when going without alcohol for just three weeks. We break it down week by week, benefit by benefit. (Hint, they include more energy, better sleep and radiant skin!) Without further ado, let’s mock on! 7 Mocktail Recipes to Sip on This Summer Watermelon Mocktail (serves 2) (Image: Keeping the Peas) This mocktail is adapted from a recipe by Nutritious Life’s Ellie Erlich, MS, RD, originally shared on her blog Keeping the Peas. Inspired by the idea that a drink at home can feel just as special and beautiful as one from a 5-star resort, this recipe brings a little luxury to your kitchen. It’s the perfect feel-good treat to enjoy with family and friends—no alcohol required. Ingredients: 3 cups cubed watermelon seedless 1 cucumber ¼ cup lime juice, about 2 limes juiced Club soda 8 sprigs of mint Directions: 1. Combine watermelon, lime juice and cucumber in a blender and blend until smooth. Or juice each item separately and combine. 2. Strain the watermelon mixture until you’re left with pulp-free juice. 3. Divide mint between two glasses and muddle. 4. Pour watermelon juice halfway full. Top with club soda and stir. 5. Garnish each with additional watermelon and mint. The Dawson’s Pomegranate Mule (serves 1) This recipe, created by the mixologists of The Dawson Chicago, keeps things super simple. Looking to spice things up? Add some jalapeno slices to the mix. Ingredients: ¾ ounce Pom pomegranate juice ½ ounce lime juice 3 ounces ginger beer Directions: 1. Combine all ingredients into a copper mug. Stir and garnish with a wedge of lime. Mr. Howard (Image: Seedlip Drinks) This recipe, created by Seedlip Non-Alcoholic Spirits, uses Seedlip Spice 94 as its base. The flavor is a blend of allspice and cardamom with fresh citrus notes and a long bitter finish. It’s freshened up with fresh-squeezed lemon juice (and pink grapefruit too, if you choose to forego store-bought varieties.) To reduce its sugar content, you can take out the simple syrup altogether or easily cut it in half. Ingredients: 2 ounces Seedlip Spice 94 2 tablespoons pink grapefruit juice 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon sugar syrup Ice cubes 1 star anise for garnish Directions: 1. Add Spice 94, grapefruit juice, lemon juice and sugar syrup to a shaker with ice. 2. Shake for 30 seconds. 3. Double strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with star anise. Spindrift Blood Orange Tangerine This is a classic summer standby for Nutritious Life Founder Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN. Three Spirit Livener is a botanical-based elixir created by plant scientists and bartenders for a perfect pick-me-up minus the alcohol. Livener ingredients include watermelon concentrate, pomegranate molasses, cayenne pepper and caffeine. Plant botanicals are extracted from ingredients as exotic as hibiscus, guava leaf, schisandra berry and Siberian and Panax ginseng for a truly unique flavor. Ingredients: 1 ½ ounces Three Spirit Livener 3 ounces Spindrift Blood Orange Tangerine Ice cubes 1 large ice cube Blood orange slice for garnish Directions: 1. Add Three Spirit Energy and Spindrift to a shaker with ice. 2. Shake for 20 seconds. 3. Pour over a large ice cube in glass. Garnish with a blood orange slice. Strawberry Ginger Limeade For a refreshing drink with a peppery kick, this one does the trick. The strawberries, lime and mint are filled with bright, fresh flavor, and ginger adds the kick to make things more interesting. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups strawberries 1/2 inch peeled ginger Juice of 1 lime 4 fresh mint leaves To taste soda water Directions: 1. In a high-speed blender, add strawberries, ginger, lime juice, and mint leaves. Blend on high until smooth. 2. To a glass with ice, add 3-4 tablespoons of strawberry puree, top with soda water, stir, garnish with fresh mint, and enjoy! Liquor Lab Virgin Margarita (Image: Liquor Lab) Nothing says summer quite like a tangy (and sometimes spicy) margarita. This booze-free version from the bartenders and cocktail consultants at Liquor Laboratory adds a dash of optional pickle juice to the mix for a tangy twist. Ingredients: 1 ounce fresh lime juice ½ ounce fresh lemon juice ¼ teaspoon maple syrup or simple syrup ⅛ teaspoon pickle juice (recommended but optional) 3 ounces tonic water Salt Lime wheel Directions: 1. Run the lime around the rim of your glass before dipping the edge

Your Guide to Pineapple Water and its Impressive Health Benefits

There might not be anything more mouth-wateringly delicious and refreshing than water infused with pineapple, which is also full of health benefits. While it might not be summer just yet, it’s never too early to start thinking about–and drinking–lightly sweet and healthy refreshers like pineapple water. Fruit-infused water has been around for centuries. According to lore, it originated in Mexico, where it’s known as agua fresca–literally “fresh water”. There, the Aztecs muddled fruit while paddling in the waters surrounding today’s Mexico City, allegedly adding ice from dormant nearby volcanoes. Lucky for you, fruit-infused water such as pineapple water is so much easier to make today. (No digging around a volcano is necessary!) But the lengths to which the Aztecs went to make this tasty concoction might tell you something about how good it is. Muy delish! “Pineapple water is low in sugar and calories and it can be a great substitute for soda and juice,” says Nutritious Life Founder Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN. “While agua frescas typically contain added sugar, the trend more recently is to ditch the extra sweet stuff, which I’m 100% behind.” Read on for a tutorial on just what pineapple water is, its health benefits – especially for women – and a recipe for how to make some of this deliciousness for yourself at home. What Is Pineapple Water, Exactly? Pineapple water is simply fresh drinking water infused with pineapple and chilled. If you’re trying to get more H2O into your daily routine (aren’t we all?), it can help to add a little flavor to the water to make it go down easier. How to Make Pineapple Water There are different methods of making pineapple water, but the two most common ways are to: Infuse water with fresh chunks of pineapple, or Blend the freshly-cut pineapple with water, then strain out the pulp If you’re looking for a consistency that’s similar to OJ with pulp, you can skip the step of straining and drink up the benefits of the agua and the rewards (like fiber) of the whole, nutritious food you’ve infused it with. Win-win! Here’s a quick and easy recipe to try. Pineapple Water Recipe 1 Medium-sized pineapple 6 cups water Fresh herbs and spices (such as mint, basil and ginger) Ice 1. Check for ripeness: Choose a ripe pineapple for more sweetness (since you won’t be adding any sugar to this recipe). Pro tip: You can tell a pineapple’s ripeness in three ways. First, handle it and make sure it’s firm but has some give. Second, smell it. The riper it is, the sweeter it smells. Third, tug on a frond at its crown. If the spiky leaf detaches easily, that’s a sign that the pineapple is nice and ripe. 2. Prep and steep: Chop up the pineapple and steep it in the water. The longer you steep it, the sweeter it will be. 3. Add more flavor: To add some dimension to your pineapple water, fresh herbs and spices will do the trick nicely. Fresh mint or basil pair well with pineapple, and ginger adds a spicy kick. Feel free to experiment and add your fresh herbs and spices of choice. Why pineapple water? Read on to find out about the truly impressive health benefits of pineapple water. 11 Health Benefits of Pineapple Water It is super hydrating We’ll start with the most evident. Obviously, water is hydrating, but did you know that pineapple is made up of 87% water. So, pineapple water is a great way to get in nutrients while hydrating your body with sweet goodness. RELATED: 13 Hydrating Foods to Eat to Boost Your Water Intake Reduces inflammation and pain Pineapple contains a powerful enzyme called bromelain, which has a long history of use in treating medical ailments, including pain and inflammation. Pro tip: When given to treat pain, it should be taken on an empty stomach because it will act as a digestive enzyme if consumed with food. Supports immunity One cup of fresh, cubed pineapple contains 79 milligrams of vitamin C, which is all an adult needs for the entire day. Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals, helps prevent heart disease and contributes to immune defense. Helps digestion Pineapple is a solid source of dietary fiber. (So don’t forget to eat those chunks inside your pineapple water!) As mentioned, it’s also rich in bromelain, which helps to break down protein and support smoother digestion. An animal study found that purified fruit bromelain reduced inflammation and healed ulcers caused by colitis in rats. RELATED: 4 Easy Ways to Improve Digested Health Can alleviate acid reflux Fresh pineapple may also help improve acid reflux symptoms because of the concentrated amount of bromelain in it, which has alkalizing (the opposite of acidic) properties. Pro tip: Pineapple juice will not do the same because the bromelain has been diluted. Also, bromelain may interact with some medications, such as blood thinners and antibiotics, so check with your physician if you are at all concerned. Soothes sore muscles A study found that a mixture containing bromelain was effective in improving post-workout recovery and shortening the duration of muscle soreness compared to a placebo in athletes. Helps with healthy embryo development Pineapple is a rich source of folate, also known as vitamin B9. One cup of pineapple chunks contains 30 micrograms of folate, or 7% of the recommended daily value, according to the USDA. This is a crucial nutrient for women during early pregnancy that works to reduce risks of possible birth defects. Rich in disease-fighting antioxidants Pineapples contain flavonoids and phenolic acids. These two antioxidants work to protect you from cell-damaging free radicals that can cause chronic disease. Supports eye health Folate has been shown to reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration, an eye disorder that affects central vision and is a concern especially for those with diabetes. It lowers blood pressure That same folate also helps to lower blood pressure. It may help your sinusitis One

What is Moringa Tea and Is It Healthy?

If you’re plugged into the wellness world, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of moringa. This South Asian superfood has been pinned as a panacea and used to make products like powders, extracts and teas. Purported benefits of the moringa plant include its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, among others. Seriously, some Ayurvedic practitioners believe moringa has the power to treat upwards of 300 different ailments (think: high blood pressure, depression, and even cancer). But clinical studies on moringa, also known as the horseradish plant or the drumstick tree, are lacking. To help you sort through the noise, we’re breaking down the basics of moringa tea in particular. RELATED: What is Moringa, and Is It Really Good For Me? Read on for the nutritional value of moringa tea, health benefits of moringa, plus how to brew moringa tea at home. Nutrients in Moringa Tea Moringa tea is made from dried moringa tree leaves, which naturally serve up a slightly spicy flavor. Each part of the moringa plant delivers different health benefits. For example, moringa leaves are rich in key nutrients like protein, vitamins A, B and C, calcium, potassium and iron. Though not used in moringa tea, the plant’s seeds also contain more protein, plus anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Also cool: the moringa plant is a great source of potent antioxidants like quercetin. RELATED: How to Incorporate Omega-3s Into Every Meal Health Benefits of Moringa Tea There are countless purported health benefits of moringa in general. Experts say the research best supports those listed below, but it’s important to note that these studies utilized moringa in the form of a powder or extract, not a tea. Additionally, though the studies mentioned below found correlations between moringa and the highlighted health outcomes, not all of the findings were statistically significant. It May Lower Blood Sugar Levels Research supports the idea that the moringa plant could potentially have anti-diabetic properties. A small study published in the journal Nutrients reported that adding moringa leaf powder to food reduced the blood sugar response to meals of study participants with diabetes. Unfortunately, the powder also significantly reduced the palatability of the food, per the researchers. It Could Reduce Asthma Severity A 2008 study from the Indian Journal of Pharmacology found that daily consumption of a moringa powder in water improved symptoms of bronchial asthma, including difficulty breathing, coughing and wheezing. It Might Have Anti-Cancer Effects Moringa extract may induce apoptosis. Translation: it may promote the death of toxic cancer cells, per research published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. Will Moringa Help Me Lose Weight? Early animal studies found that an extract derived from moringa leaf led to a reduction in body weight and fat accumulation in mice. Sure that’s cool, but we need a lot more research—especially in humans—before we can draw any conclusions about the success of moringa for weight loss. Friendly reminder: there is no magic bullet for weight loss, so moringa tea alone won’t melt pounds. Go ahead and include the herbal ingredient in your diet if you’d like, but focus more on practicing health-promoting behaviors, like eating a diet packed with fruits and veggies, hydrating adequately, and exercising regularly for long-term results. Risks of Moringa It’s unlikely that a cup of moringa tea will deliver a high enough dose of the plant to pose health risks. However, more concentrated forms of moringa, like extracts or supplements, could potentially interact with medications used for conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, and high blood pressure. If you take medications for any of these health conditions, talk to your doctor before regularly integrating a cup of moringa tea or a moringa powder. How to Brew Moringa Tea To brew moringa tea at home, simply add a moringa tea bag to one cup (or eight ounces) of boiling water and steep for approximately 10 minutes. We love blends that combine earthy moringa with refreshing herbal accents like spearmint for the perfect sip. (Image: Shutterstock)