Mocktail spiced citrus blend (Printable Version)

A bright citrus and spice beverage with sparkling water and fresh mint for a festive touch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Citrus Base

01 - 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
02 - 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
03 - 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

→ Spiced Syrup

04 - 1/2 cup water
05 - 1/3 cup honey or agave syrup
06 - 2 cinnamon sticks
07 - 4 whole cloves
08 - 2 star anise
09 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced

→ Finishing Touches

10 - 2 cups sparkling water or club soda, chilled
11 - Orange and lemon slices, for garnish
12 - Fresh mint leaves, for garnish
13 - Ice cubes

# Directions:

01 - Combine water, honey or agave syrup, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and sliced ginger in a small saucepan. Simmer gently over medium heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool for 5 minutes, then strain out the spices.
02 - In a large pitcher, combine freshly squeezed orange, lemon, and lime juices. Stir in the cooled spiced syrup until evenly blended.
03 - Add ice cubes to the pitcher. Pour in chilled sparkling water and stir gently to combine all ingredients.
04 - Pour into glasses filled with ice. Garnish with slices of orange and lemon along with fresh mint leaves before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a hug in a glass without any of the grogginess afterward.
  • The spiced syrup can be made ahead, so you're just mixing and pouring when guests arrive.
  • Even the picky eaters at the table find something to love in the citrus and spice combination.
02 -
  • Never simmer the spices longer than 5 minutes or they'll turn bitter and overpower everything else—I learned this the hard way.
  • Strain the spices completely; even one clove floating around can catch someone's tooth and ruin the whole experience.
03 -
  • Freeze small orange or lemon slices in ice cubes ahead of time so the drink stays cold without getting watered down.
  • Taste the spiced syrup before mixing the full batch—if it's too strong, add a splash of water; if it's too mild, you can always make another batch and blend them together.

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