Strawberry Mint Mocktail

Mocktails have gained quite a bit of popularity over the past few years, and for a good reason! Mocktails are a healthier version of their alcohol-containing counterpart. Alcohol not only increases inflammation in the body but if you drink too much, you're left with a nasty hangover.

Mocktails are a great option if you want to sip on a fun drink while enjoying company with friends but don't want the alcohol. Take it from someone who stopped drinking seven months ago. It can be challenging to say no to a cocktail in a social setting. If I drink a mocktail similar to one of my favorite summer cocktails, I don't feel like I'm missing out. I can have fun without the inflammatory effects!

• fresh strawberries - the star of the mocktail gives this non-alcoholic drink a fresh summer flavor. You can't make this recipe without strawberries!
• fresh mint - fresh mint belongs in every summer drink recipe! It gives this drink a refreshing and earthy flavor.
• lime juice - citrus helps cut through the sweetness from the strawberries and honey, providing brightness and freshness. I highly recommend purchasing a hand squeezer. I use it almost every day in the summer.
• raw honey or maple syrup - adds a sweetness to this recipe. Also, because unrefined, all-natural sugars taste better than granulated sugar and simple syrup.
• club soda - adds a little sparkle. Fever-Tree is my favorite club soda. It is bottled in glass and comes in smaller bottles, eliminating having to pour flat club soda down the drain.

See the recipe card for quantities.

The strawberry mint mocktail starts off being chopping fresh strawberries and placing them in a glass.

Next, fresh torn mint is added and muddled until all the juices and oils are released.

Fresh lime juice is squeezed into the glass with the muddled strawberries and mint.

Lastly, ice is poured over the top, and club soda is added. Give the mocktail a quick stir and enjoy.

There are five basic elements that make for a good mocktail. They include:

• fresh fruit - fresh fruit such as berries, melon, or citrus should be the main ingredient in every mocktail. This gives the mocktail body and is a good base to work off of.
• fresh herbs - fresh herbs such as mint, basil, and rosemary add a freshness to mocktails. They also provide an earthiness and a complimentary flavor to the fruit.
• citrus juice - citrus juice such as lime, lemon, or orange juice gives mocktails a brightness. Citrus juice also provides a slight sour taste which contrasts well with the ripeness of fresh fruit and the sweetness from sugar.
• sweetener - the options for sweeteners are endless. The sweetness from sugar cuts through the sourness of citrus and enhances the flavors of fresh fruit. My personal favorite sugars to use in mocktails are honey and maple syrup.
• soda water or fruit juice - the addition of club soda adds liquid and sparkle to the mocktail. A splash of fruit juice can add even more flavor and depend on the juice, such as lemonade, can give the mocktail a beautiful color.

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