From kombucha and sparkling teas to gut-friendly switchel and India’s refreshing nimbu soda, these alcohol-free alternatives do more than simply quench your thirst
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We’ve hit the peak of summer, children are off school, there’s very little sport on the television, and everyone you’ve ever known has decided to get a year’s use out of their barbecue over the next few weeks.
This means a casual bottle of beer is all the more likely to be offered up, a beer garden’s temptations all the more tempting. But there are plenty more options out there, and whether you’re cutting back on alcohol or simply do not drink, these are great options that do more than just taste nice.
Iced herbal teas
All your favourite herbal teas, with all their benefits, over ice in a nice highball glass. Great. To make this, simply brew the mint tea as you would, skipping any sweeteners, and place it in the fridge for a few hours though ideally overnight (make an entire pitcher, why not).
Then serve over ice, add a sweetener if needed, a slice of fresh lemon if you’re feeling fancy. You can also go wild and use a few different tea bags to make a sort of herbal tea mocktail (ginger and apple is a favourite of mine). Sparkling teas are also a great prosecco substitute.
Nimbu soda
Think of a clean, sober, margarita. That’s essentially what this drink which is ubiquitous through India is. Lime juice from a lemon or two limes, cold sparkling water, and a little salt – though be sure to use an unprocessed sea salt such as Pink Himalayan salt or Celtic sea salt.
If you want to be authentic, use kala namak (Indian black salt) for its distinctive taste. It’s calorie-free, feels sophisticated, and while not as roundly hydrating as an electrolyte, the pinch of sodium will help your body to absorb the water.
Switchel
This had its heyday in the 1800s, but if you note the ingredients you’ll see why it’s secretly ripe for a comeback – it’s a gut health powerhouse. Traditionally made with ginger, quality honey, and unpasturised apple cider vinegar (as well as chilli and lemon if you’d like), there’s anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant benefits, as well as a sophisticated, delicious drink that’ll feel just as elevated as any cocktail you could conjure.
To make a Switchel, simmer 100g of finely chopped and peeled ginger (and if using them, chilli and lemon peel) in 650ml of water for ten minutes, turn the heat off, cover the pot and let it infuse for 30 minutes. Then strain it into a sterilised pot; when cooled, add 60g of honey, 60ml of apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice. Give it a good shake, and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. To serve, you can dilute it to taste with water (even sparkling water) over ice. Delicious.
Kombucha
If you haven’t already, and the trace amounts of alcohol are okay for you, it’s time to embrace kombucha. The fermented tea has been around for millennia, and for good reason. It is both delicious, and has health benefits. Some of these are the benefits you’ll find in teas, such as antioxidants and polyphenols.
But as it is fermented, there’s also probiotics that can support gut health. Flavour-wise, that fermented element offers a sort of funk that you’d associate with sour beers or cider. There’s a host available, in many flavours, the important thing to look out for is unpasturised (or “raw”) versions as they’ll retain more of the reported benefits. They’re on the sugary side and are very acidic, so should be enjoyed in moderation.
Non-alcoholic bitter aperitifs
For those who want a negroni without the negatives, bitter aperitifs (such as Crodino, which is actually owned by Campari of “aperol”) have been around for a long time and taste very much like the stiff lip-curling cocktails you enjoy on warm summer nights. A case of these in the fridge is a fuss-free way to replicate bitter cocktails without the alcohol.
Non-alcoholic beer
It counts, and you can just buy it. Often lower in calories and with less sugar than plenty of soft drinks, if these are the sort of treat that won’t have you tempted, they work very well as a replacement. Watch out for the placebo effects (we’re kidding).
