Grab a refreshing glass of sparkling blood orange mocktail! Each sip infuses healthy ingredients like turmeric, ginger, fresh-squeezed juice, mint, and rosemary.

When life gives you blood oranges, give them a squeeze! Have you tried them? I recently saw some at my local grocery store and had to buy a big bag. They are like edible jewels that you just can’t resist. Some look like unassuming oranges or have blushes of red on the surface, but once you slice them open. Surprise!

The dark ruby red color is mystifying. I had a flurry of recipe ideas for my bounty of blood oranges, but I wanted to mix up something simple and refreshing to share. This sparkling blood orange mocktail has a few key ingredients to give a little boost to each sip. I can’t wait for you to try it, it’s a wholesome glass of sunshine to brighten up your day!

How to make a healthy sparkingly soda

I always try to find ways to sneak extra nutrients into my recipes. This mocktail is no exception! Here are some healthy ingredients bursting with flavor to make each sip count.

Blood Oranges

These fellas contain antioxidants such as vitamin A, and 40% more vitamin C than navel or other sweet oranges. The reddish color is from their high level of anthocyanins from flavonoid pigments. These provide antioxidants to help prevent health issues like cellular damage and inflammation. Did you know that it also boosts the effectiveness of vitamin C? Score!

Turmeric

A beautiful golden orange spice with a peppery, earthy taste. This ground root promotes anti-inflammatory benefits and is used in culinary applications like curries.

Ginger

This distinct spicy, pungent root can help ease symptoms of nausea, gastrointestinal issues and even have anti-inflammatory benefits.

What does blood orange taste like?

I’m sure you are wondering how the taste differs from traditional navel oranges. The skin on blood oranges is thinner, slightly less sweet and acidic. The flavor has more berry notes, think strawberry and raspberry. Blood oranges are very versatile in its use. You can slice them up and top on a healthy salad or blend them up into a delicious smoothie.

Blood oranges have a Mediterranean origin and come in two varieties, Moro and Tarocco. Blood orange season for Moro’s are December to March, and Tarocco is January through May. So now is the perfect time to keep a lookout for these oranges at your local market.

So what’s in the glass? This recipe features a minimal mixture of blood orange juice, turmeric, ground ginger and topped off with sparkling water or club soda. If you’re looking for a quick and fruity spritzer, this mocktail will completely rejuvenate you. If you want a little extra sweetness, drizzle in some honey, maple syrup, agave or even some stevia.

To make each glass aromatic, I add some fresh blood orange peel, mint leaves and a sprig of rosemary. It smells amazing as you enjoy each sip! After a long day of recipe development and photoshoots, I invited my husband down for a drink. Let’s just say, this blood orange mocktail doubles as a lovely cocktail. Jason added a little tequila to his glass, but I’m sure a little gin would be nice too!

Do you look forward to the blood orange season? What are your favorite ways to eat this nutrient-rich fruit? I’d love to hear!

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How to buy and store blood oranges

When shopping for blood oranges at the store chose ones that feel heavy for their size and firm to the touch. If the rind feels soft or spongy, pass on those. Store them in the refrigerator, which can extend the eating quality to about two weeks. Look for these oranges between December to May. They have a unique orange and red splotchy skin and are smaller in size than regular oranges. There are a lot of additional health benefits like vitamin C, fiber and added antioxidants due to their ruby red color.

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