Artificial Flavors Free Classic Citrus Mocktail
Bright, tangy, and genuinely refreshing, this citrus mocktail is the kind of drink that makes you forget you ever needed anything fancier. Three kinds of freshly squeezed juice — orange, lemon, and lime — come together with a quick homemade lemon simple syrup that takes only a few minutes on the stovetop. Because every drop of flavor comes straight from real fruit, there's no need to reach for a bottle of something artificially flavored or a pre-made mixer loaded with synthetic ingredients you can't pronounce. The syrup is strained clean, the sparkling water keeps things lively, and the whole thing is stirred over ice until perfectly chilled. It's the kind of mocktail that tastes like it came from a nice restaurant but comes together in your own kitchen with just a handful of whole ingredients. Garnish with a fresh orange slice and a sprig of mint, and it looks as good as it tastes.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the simple syrup
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp lemon zest
For the mocktail
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice (from about 2 medium oranges)
- 3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from about 2 lemons)
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice (from about 1 lime)
- 1 cup sparkling water, chilled
- 1 cup ice cubes
For serving
- 2 orange slices, for garnish (optional)
- 2 sprigs fresh mint, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the sugar, water, and lemon zest in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves, about 2–3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool for 10 minutes, then strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bowl or jar, discarding the zest.
- 2
Combine the orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and 2 tablespoons of the cooled lemon simple syrup in a cocktail shaker or pitcher. Taste and add up to 1 additional tablespoon of syrup if you prefer a sweeter drink.
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