This Virgin Mojito recipe is a refreshing summer mocktail drink made with fresh basil (easily swap with mint), lemon, soda and sugar. Just a few ingredients muddled together, you can’t get an easier Mojito Mocktail recipe than this.

Recipe Snapshot

  • Prep time: 15 minutes
  • Cook time: Not specified
  • Total time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 2
  • Category: Beverages
  • Cuisine: cuban, World

Ingredients

  • 18 to 20 basil leaves ((small-sized of or ⅛ cup small basil leaves - about 1 gram (alternatively use mint leaves))
  • 2 lemon slices (- thinly sliced)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice (- divided)
  • 1 pinch salt (or add as required)
  • 2 cups club soda (or sparkling water or cold water)
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (or add as per taste)
  • ice cubes (or crushed ice as required)

Method

  1. First rinse the basil leaves or mint leaves in water a few times. Drain all the water and set them aside.
  2. In a mortar-pestle or in a pitcher, take the basil leaves or mint leaves, lemons slices, sugar and salt. Note that 2 tablespoons sugar will make the drink sweet. If you want a predominant tangy taste, then add 1 tablespoon sugar. To make the drink diabetic friendly, add a sugar substitute like stevia. You can also use honey instead of sugar.
  3. Muddle all the ingredients with the pestle.
  4. Spoon the muddled ingredients in two glasses.
  5. Divide the lemon juice and add in each glass.
  6. Add some crushed ice or ice cubes.
  7. Pour soda, sparkling water or water. Stir well with a stirrer or spoon.
  8. Serve Virgin Mojito immediately.

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.