Three Easy Herbal Mocktail Recipes
Mocktails are such a fun way to brighten up any gathering, and these three easy herbal mocktails recipes are simple enough to make any time you want something a little special. I love having a few mocktails in my repertoire that I can pull together quickly over the holiday season, or anytime really — a fragrant herbal infusion is just such a treat.
And if the occasion calls for a steamy beverage, you’ll want to take a look at my chai flavored cacao and chocolate creamer recipes too.
Let’s talk about this recipe
This trio of herbal mocktails is built on the same simple system: an overnight herbal infusion, a bit of honey, a little juice, plenty of ice, and a splash of club soda. They’re light, refreshing, and endlessly customizable, with three featured combinations for you to try in this post — hibiscus with orange juice, elderberry with lemon juice, and ginger with lime juice.
I first made these recipes for New Year’s celebration last year, and the citrus twist came from a childhood memory that’s always stayed with me. Santa always left a big Florida orange in my stocking when I was young, and that orange was considered a bit of a luxury back then — citrus just wasn’t something we had easy access to in the winter months where I lived. The bright, cheerful scent of oranges still brings the holidays to mind for me all these years later. And if you enjoy recipes with that same touch of “times gone by,” you may like my traditional Italian almond cookies and my pb&j thumbprint cookies too.
What makes this recipe so good?
- A simple infusion method gives you deep herbal flavor without any complicated steps, which means you can make refreshing mocktails whenever the mood strikes you.
- Natural sweetness from honey keeps the flavors clean and pleasantly sweet — no processed sugars necessary here.
- Endless combinations make this a recipe you’ll return to often — every herbal base pairs differently with each of the citrus juices, and that’s half the fun.
- A make-ahead syrup lets you prepare the infusion once and enjoy mocktails all week without any additional effort on your part.
- A bright, festive finish comes from the citrus twists, which add aroma and a hint of nostalgia to the glass.
Ingredients you’ll need
These herbal mocktails use just a handful of ingredients, and each one brings its very own personality to the glass. With so many years in the kitchen, I’ve learned that the simplest ingredients often give you the most beautiful results — especially when herbs are involved.
- Dried hibiscus: Delivers a bright, tart depth and that naturally vibrant red hue I’ve always loved working with in simple herbal drinks.
- Dried elderberry: Offers a deep, earthy berry flavor that brings a comforting richness to the infusion without weighing it down.
- Fresh ginger root: Adds lively warmth and a clean, zesty edge — the kind of straight forward flavor I’ve leaned on for decades in both the kitchen and the apothecary.
- Honey: Sweetens the infusion in a clean, uncomplicated way, letting the herbal notes stay true and beautifully balanced.
See recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Make it your own
- Mix and match your flavors to create new combinations — any of the herbal infusions pair well with any of the citrus juices.
- Add fresh herbs for a little extra character; rosemary, mint, basil, lemon balm, or thyme all add their own bit of character to these mocktails beautifully.
- Bring in warming spices when you want a cozier drink; cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, or cardamom pods work especially well for this.
- Swap the club soda for kombucha, coconut water, or chilled herbal tea, when you want a different flavor profile.
- Play with citrus combinations using a combination of juices in each glass for extra brightness.
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How to make herbal mocktails
The process to make these mocktails is simple and easy — you may even want to make it part of a weekly from-scratch kitchen routine so that you have quick, refreshing herbal beverages ready to put together whenever you want one.
Make the infusion: Place your chosen herbal ingredient (hibiscus, elderberry, or ginger) into a pint-size jar. Bring water almost to a boil and fill the jar. Set the lid on top without tightening it and allow the mixture to steep for 24 hours.
Strain and warm: Strain the herbs from the infused water using a fine mesh sieve. Place the infusion in a small saucepan and warm it until it is just below a simmer, then remove it from the heat.
Sweeten the mixture: Stir in the honey allowing the warm infusion to dissolve it completely.
Add the citrus juice: Stir the citrus juice into the warm honey mixture until everything is fully blended, then let it cool to room temperature. Refrigerate until you’re ready to make the beverages.
Assemble the drinks: Fill a 12-ounce glass with ice. Add 2 ounces of the herbal honey mixture and top off with club soda.
Add the citrus twist: Garnish with an orange twist for hibiscus, a lemon twist for elderberry, or a lime twist for ginger — or use any combination you prefer.
Serve immediately: Give the drink a gentle stir and enjoy the bright, bubbly flavor.
Recipe FAQs
Absolutely — it stores really well and makes assembling mocktails at the drop of a hat quick and easy.
You bet. The infusion and honey mixture scale beautifully. I often make it in a quart jar, and have made it by the gallon for large gatherings as well.
You can add a little extra honey to the syrup, or add more syrup to each glass.
Yes — fresh herbs can be used. Just keep in mind that fresh herbs aren’t as concentrated as dried, so the infusion will be much lighter and the yield may vary a bit. Dried herbs are preferred when you want the fullest, most consistent flavor.
They do, but the twist adds aroma and brightness, so it’s highly recommended when serving guests.
Serving ideas
These herbal mocktails are easy to dress up for any occasion. Add a handful of edible flowers to your ice cube trays, muddle a few berries in the bottom of the glass, or tuck a small sprig of fresh herbs alongside the citrus twist. Little touches like these make the drinks feel a bit more special, even when you’re just enjoying them at home.
You can also set out a small dish of citrus twists, a few fresh herbs, and some whole spices and let everyone build their own drink — it makes the whole experience more fun and inviting. And if you’d like a little more variety in your beverage spread, try my blueberry lemonade concentrate, or make a batch of my pear simple syrup, grape simple syrup, or easy lemon syrup to mix with club soda and let guests garnish to their liking.
Diane Gail’s tips for success
- Steep with intention: A full 24-hour infusion pulls deeper flavor from the herbs, and that extra time always pays off.
- Warm gently, never boil: Heat the infusion only until warm enough to dissolve the honey — too much heat can mute the herbal notes.
- Cool completely: Letting the syrup cool on its own, before refrigerating it, keeps the clarity and brightness of the final drink.
- Adjust the strength: Every herbal ingredient extracts differently, so taste as you go and add a little more syrup or club soda until it suits you.
- Prepare ahead: I often make a double batch of the infusion so I have an easy base on hand ready for gatherings, weekend treats, or last-minute company.
Final thoughts
These mocktails are such a simple pleasure — refreshing, herbal, and easy to adapt to whatever you have on hand. Whether you’re gathering for a special celebration or just treating yourself to something bright and bubbly, this trio offers a fun, natural way to enjoy herbal flavors in a sparkling glass. I hope you enjoy all the different combinations you create with them!
Take a peek at my DIY simple homemaking and slow living by season categories for more handmade projects, cozy inspiration, and everyday simplicity.
3 Simple Herbal Mocktails
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup herbs choice of; dried hibiscus, dried elderberry, or fresh ginger root
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup citrus juice choice of; orange, lemon, or lime
- ice
- club soda
Instructions
- Steep herbs: Add chosen herbs to a pint-size jar. Bring water to a boil and pour it over the herbs in the jar. Set the lid on the jar, do not tighten it, and let the herbs infuse into the water for 24 hours.
- Strain & heat infusion: Strain the herbs from the infused water using a fine mesh sieve. Heat 2 cups of the infused herbal water in a small saucepan until almost at a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Prepare honey syrup: Add the honey to the saucepan and stir until fully dissolved.
- Add citrus juice: Pour in the citrus juice and mix well. Allow to come to room temperature.
- Assemble drinks: Fill a 12 ounce glass with ice and add 2 ounces of the herbal honey mixture to the glass. Top off with club soda.
- Garnish & serve: Garnish with citrus peel if desired.
Video
Notes
- Note on nutritional value: The nutritional value for this beverage is calculated using elderberries and the herbal ingredient and orange juice as the citrus element for the recipe. Nutritional values will vary dependent on which herbal and citrus elements you choose to make your own recipe.
- Make it ahead: The herbal infusion can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in the fridge.
- Adjust sweetness: Add more or less honey depending on your taste preference.
- Enhance the presentation: Serve in a fancy glass with a citrus twist or fresh herb sprig for a cocktail-like experience.
- Try sparkling alternatives: Swap club soda for sparkling water or kombucha for a unique twist.
Great post! I’m going to try making this for the family this weekend!
I hope you get a chance to make them. They’re really great 😉
These look absolutely delicious and refreshing! I will have to give them a try. Looks healthy and tasty!
love these! So fancy but alcohol free.
Because I rarely drink alcohol I need a really tasty substitute. These fit the bill 😉
I hope you enjoy these refreshing herbal mocktails — they’re the perfect blend of soothing herbs and vibrant flavors for any occasion! If you give this recipe a try, I’d love to hear how it turns out — please leave a review and share your experience! If you have any questions or need some tips while making your mocktails, feel free to ask in the comments below. I’m happy to help and can’t wait to hear how your drinks turn out!