january newsletter series: four functional mocktails
January was Mocktail Month!
Each week on my newsletter, I showcased a fun and functional mocktail for you to enjoy through Dry January and beyond! Check out my FOUR mocktails below.
The Wind Down Lavender Fizz
Ingredients:
— Traditional Medicinals Lavender Chamomile Tea (2 tea bags)
— 2-3 tbsp raw honey of choice
— Magnesium powder (optional)
— 0.5 oz of organic lemon juice
— Sparkling water of choice
Benefits:
Lavender is a calming herb, that helps to promote relaxation. Chamomile, also considered a calming herb, promotes relaxation and has been found to soothe gastrointestinal distress and insomnia. I could go on and on about my love for magnesium! Magnesium is the ‘anti-stress’ mineral, it promotes relaxation, and is considered ‘anxiolytic’ which means anti-anxiety. Adaptogens* have been used for centuries and help the body adapt to stress. L-theanine* is coined as “Nature’s Xanax,” and promotes calm and relaxation. Passionflower* is largely used in herbal medicine as a calming, relaxing herb, and has been used to treat anxiety and insomnia. Lemon juice is antioxidant, a natural cleanser, is rich in vitamin C, aids in digestion, and supports healthy hydration. Raw honey is anti viral, antibacterial, anti inflammatory and supports a healthy immune system. Honey is also loaded with phytonutrition.
How it’s made:
Boil 1 cup of filtered water and pour over 2 teabags. Let teabags steep well. To hot tea, add honey of choice. I have a lavender honey that I used to enhance the lavender flavor — raw/organic/local honey works too! Let honey melt and refrigerate tea until cooled.
Once cooled, add tea to desired glass of choice. Add in magnesium powder — froth well. This is optional! However, it will uplevel your sleep ten fold so… do with that information what you will ;)
I was gifted the magnesium blend by Recess - I chose the unflavored variety. I love Recess, Moon Juice, and Pure Encapsulations if you’re looking to choose one! All linked in my storefront.
Add lemon juice.
Add ice.
Add sparkling water until filled. Garnish with a rosemary sprig, a lemon, dried lavender — whatever you so choose! Enjoy. Best consumed in the evenings.
*Depends on magnesium supplement you choose
Blood Orange Immune Tonic
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh blood orange juice
1 oz fresh lemon juice
2 oz ginger simple syrup
Splash of lemon ginger kombucha
Benefits:
Blood orange juice is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, including anthocyanin, which is the antioxidant that sets blood oranges apart from your average orange. Lemon juice is rich in antioxidants, like vitamin C, is a natural cleanser, aids in digestion, supports healthy hydration, supports a healthy immune system. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory root, it supports a healthy immune system and eases digestion, contains gingerol which contains medicinal properties. Lemon ginger kombucha contains bacteria that supports a healthy microbiome.
How it’s made:
Juice your blood oranges. I juiced two to make one mocktail. Add your juice to your shaker with ice. I used a mason jar filled with ice with a lid to shake it! Add lemon juice. Add ginger simple syrup. Shake well. Strain into glass of choice or over fresh ice. Add a splash of lemon ginger kombucha. Garnish with a lemon twist.
For ginger simple syrup:
Boil 1 cup of ginger root in hot water and reduce to a simmer. Remove ginger root. To your ginger root infused water, add generous sugar and dissolve. Reduce to a simmer and let mixture thicken. Store in sealed container in refrigerator.
Strawberry Mint Smash
Ingredients:
— Organic strawberries
— 1 oz organic maple syrup
— 1 oz organic lemon juice
— Lots of organic mint
— Sparkling water
Benefits:
Strawberries are among my most favorites in the world of fruit! As a low glycemic index fruit, strawberries have a lesser effect on blood sugar and are loaded with antioxidants. MindBody Green states: “According to a recent study published in the journal Nutrients, eating a serving of strawberries a day may improve cognitive control and emotional coping capabilities.” Across the board, strawberries are jam packed with nutritional value and are potent for immune health. Be sure to always choose organic! Maple syrup is a low-glycemic index sweetener, which as mentioned, has a lesser impact on blood sugar in comparison to refined sugar, etc. Lemon juice is one of my favorite beverage ingredients! Antioxidant, natural cleanser, rich in vitamin C, aids in digestion, supports healthy hydration, supports a healthy immune system — the list goes on! Add more lemon to your life and to your mocktails! Fresh mint helps to improve digestive health as it contains stomach-soothing properties. It can also help to relieve cold symptoms and of course, improve your oral hygiene! Research shows that mint has been shown to enhance memory, increase alertness, reduce fatigue, and lower anxiety.
How it’s made:
Add your strawberries, I used thawed organic frozen strawberries by Cadia Foods, to my mason jar or whatever shaker you choose to use. Add lemon juice and maple syrup.
Muddle your strawberries, lemon juice, and maple syrup — muddle means mash! I didn’t have the tool I’d usually use to muddle so I got creative and use another kitchen utensil to be sure the strawberries we were well broken down! Feel free to skip this step, if you choose, and throw the three ingredients into your blender instead!
Then, smack your mint! Yes, smack it! This is the best way to activate the oils from the mint — do not muddle the mint — this will ruin the flavor!
Add your smacked mint to your shaker. Add ice. Shake well! Add mixture to your glass and fill with sparkling water.
Spicy pineapple cilantro ‘margarita’
Ingredients:
— 100% Organic Pineapple Juice
— Fresh lime juice
— Fresh cilantro
— Jalapenos or fermented jalapenos (optional)
— Organic mineral water or club soda
— Raw honey
— Orange bitters or fresh orange juice
— Redmond’s real salt and/or sea salt (for the rim)
Benefits:
Pineapple juice naturally contains a digestive enzyme, bromelain, which helps the body break down protein and has also been found to help reduce swelling and pain through its anti-inflammatory properties. Lime juice is packed with vitamin C, lime juice boosts digestion, supports immunity and skin health, and offers the body antioxidant value. Herbs like cilantro are powerful detoxifyers and support the body’s ability to detox heavy metals. Jalapenos give life a little spice, but not just jalapenos, I chose FERMENTED jalapenos — which we all know, our gut loves fermented foods! Raw honey: anti viral, antibacterial, anti inflammatory, supports a healthy immune system, loaded with phytonutrition. Orange bitters or splash of fresh orange juice (optional) offers the drink a punch of Vitamin C!
How it’s made:
Let me start by saying, I LOVE spicy margaritas — the spicier, the better! AND, the more real ingredients they use (ditch the sugary sour mix), EVEN BETTER.
That said, it was only right that I ended Mocktail Month with a personal fave — with all the health benefits possible! In your glass without ice, add 1.5 ounces of pineapple juice, 1 ounce of raw honey (I used hot water to thin the honey, making it easier to work with) and 1/2 ounce of lime juice. Add desired jalapenos and orange bitters or orange juice — muddle well. Add ice. Add cilantro. Rim your glass with lime and then dip in sea salt and/or real salt. Shake your drink well. Pour into glass — fill with club soda. Enjoy!
