I love this easy grapefruit mocktail, made with fresh grapefruit, lime, maple syrup, and sparkling water. Think of it as a non-alcoholic version of the Paloma cocktail. It’s refreshing, pretty, and delicious!
A mocktail is a non-alcoholic drink, usually with a similar flair to popular cocktails. I love a good mocktail and expect it to be as delicious and exciting as a traditional cocktail.
This sparkling grapefruit mocktail is my go-to non-alcoholic drink to make at home. It’s really easy to make and tastes great. For more mocktail recipes, see our ginger hibiscus mocktail.
Key Ingredients
- Grapefruit: I love the fresh taste of freshly squeezed grapefruit juice! One large grapefruit should provide enough juice for 3 refreshing mocktails. As a bonus, adding a grapefruit slice to each glass makes the drink smell amazing.
- Lime: This mocktail is inspired by the classic Paloma, which always features fresh lime juice. We’ll follow suit and add a squeeze of lime to this mocktail.
- Maple Syrup: For sweetness, I prefer using maple syrup. It adds a lovely, toasty flavor that complements the other ingredients. If you don’t have maple syrup, use homemade simple syrup instead.
- Green Tea (Optional): This sounds unusual, but trust me, chilled green tea adds a subtle depth to the mocktail. It provides a bit of backbone, similar to tequila in a traditional Paloma.
- Sparkling Water: I usually opt for plain sparkling water or club soda (which has a touch of salt). Feel free to use your favorite type of sparkling water to create your perfect mocktail.
How to Make Grapefruit Mocktails
This really could not be any easier to make. All you need to do is combine fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, maple syrup, and chilled green tea if you have it. Next, add some ice and top the drink off with sparkling water.
Making This For a Crowd: You can mix grapefruit, lime, maple syrup, and green tea in advance, making this a quick and easy non-alcoholic drink for parties. Keep the mixture in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve, add the mix to glasses filled with ice and top with sparkling water.
Sparkling Grapefruit Mocktail
- PREP
- TOTAL
I love this easy grapefruit mocktail recipe made with grapefruit, lime, maple syrup, and sparkling water! Think of it as a non-alcoholic version of the Paloma cocktail. It’s refreshing, pretty, and delicious. The green tea is optional but gives the drink a backbone and makes it taste more like a cocktail.
You Will Need
1 ounce (2 tbsp) strong green tea, chilled, optional, see tips
2 ounces (1/4 cup) freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1 ounce (2 tbsp) fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce (1 tbsp) maple syrup, or more to taste
Sparkling water
Directions
1Combine one ounce of green tea, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and maple syrup in the bottom of an 8-ounce (or larger) glass. Taste and add more maple syrup if the drink needs it.
2Add ice cubes, and then top with sparkling water. Serve with lime slices or grapefruit slices as a garnish.
Adam and Joanne's Tips
- Green tea: This mocktail is delicious without green tea, but if you have some on hand, strong green tea adds a lovely backbone to the drink in the same way strong liquor would. I brew green tea and allow it to cool to room temperature or store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. For strong green tea, we use two tea bags.
- To make a pitcher for 6: Combine 6 ounces (3/4 cup) strong green tea, 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) grapefruit juice, 6 ounces (3/4 cup) fresh lime juice, and 3 ounces (6 tbsp) of maple syrup. Chill, and then divide into glasses and top with sparkling water when serving.
- The nutrition facts provided below are estimates. We included 1/2 ounce of maple syrup.
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! made it with fresh pink grapefruit juice and was surprised at how very refreshing it was! I’ll try it with honey next. I’m glad I let curiosity get the better of me.
So glad you enjoyed it. We love it with honey 🙂