This refreshing drink combines the flavors of tangy jamun (black plum) with fragrant and earthy basil! Topped with sparkling water, this mocktail can be enjoyed by everyone at festive gatherings!

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 20 minutes
  • Cook time: Not specified
  • Total time: 110 minutes
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Drink
  • Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

For Basil Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup basil leaves (packed)

For mocktail

  • 2 cups jamun pulp (thawed)
  • lime wedges
  • kala namak
  • sparkling water (as needed)
  • mint leaves (to garnish)

Method

  1. Thaw the frozen jamun pulp according to instructions on the package. I used only 1/2 of the 1 kg jamun pulp package that I got from the Indian store and refroze the rest. Start working on your basil simple syrup while the pulp is being thawed.
  2. Add water and sugar to a pan and stir. Then add the basil leaves and stir until the sugar dissolves. After the sugar dissolves, cook 1 more minute and then remove the pan from heat. Cover the pan let it sit for 30 minutes for the basil flavor to steep in. Then strain the syrup using a strainer and discard the basil leaves.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, combine 1 cup of the prepared basil simple syrup and 2 cups of the jamun pulp. Shake well to combine. You can also do this step in a big jar.
  4. To make 1 drink: take your serving glass (I used a 8 oz glass) and add a lime wedge at the bottom. Crush it using a muddler to release the juice. You can also add couple of basil leaves and bruise them slightly if you want a more pronounced basil flavor in your drink. Then add 2 oz the of jamun-simple syrup mixture, top with ice cubes and around 1/2 cup of plain sparkling water. Stir with a spoon to mix everything. Garnish with mint leaves and serve immediately. Make all drinks similarly.

Kiyaan Singh’s Kitchen Note

Keep this recipe as a working base: cook once as written, then adjust spice, texture, and serving style for your own table.