BHA & BHT Free Classic Citrus Mocktail

Total time25 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time5 min

4.6

(5)

Bright, tangy, and completely refreshing, this citrus mocktail is the kind of drink that makes you feel like you're sitting on a sun-drenched patio even on a Tuesday afternoon. Three kinds of fresh-squeezed juice — orange, lemon, and lime — come together with a homemade lemon zest simple syrup that adds just the right touch of sweetness without any of the synthetic preservatives hiding in store-bought mixers and bottled beverages. That's exactly where BHA and BHT tend to sneak in: pre-made syrups, flavored sparkling waters, and packaged drink concentrates are common culprits, so making everything from scratch here is the smart move. The syrup takes only a few minutes on the stovetop, and once it's strained and cooled, the whole drink comes together in a shaker in under a minute. Topped with chilled sparkling water and a sprig of fresh mint, it's fizzy, citrusy, and genuinely elegant. This is the kind of mocktail you'd happily serve at a dinner party or sip solo on a slow weekend morning — no compromises required.

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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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