Grab a refreshing glass of sparkling blood orange mocktail! Each sip infuses healthy ingredients like turmeric, ginger, fresh-squeezed juice, mint, and rosemary.
Recipe Science
- The acidity of blood orange juice balances the sweetness of other ingredients, providing a refreshing tartness that enhances the overall flavor of the mocktail.
- Blood oranges contain anthocyanins, which give the mocktail its vibrant red color and provide antioxidants that contribute to health benefits.
- Muddling fresh herbs like mint releases their essential oils, adding aromatic compounds that complement the citrus notes and elevate the drink’s complexity.
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Why It Works
When blood oranges are in season, pick up a bag. They look like unassuming oranges, but once you slice them open. Surprise! The dark, ruby-red color is stunning. I wanted to mix up something simple and refreshing to share.
This blood orange mocktail recipe has just a few key ingredients to boost each sip. It’s perfect for dry January or if you’re looking for a non-alcoholic drink. This fruity spritzer will completely rejuvenate you!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Blood Oranges: You can find them in the citrus season from December to May. They 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, which provide healthy antioxidants.
- Tumeric: 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. It has an earthy flavor, which adds dimension to this winter mocktail.
- Ginger: Spicy, aromatic ginger root can help ease symptoms of nausea and gastrointestinal issues and even have anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Club Soda: To add a bubbly, effervescent, and refreshing taste, mix in club soda or sparkling mineral water.
- Sweetener: To balance the tartness of the oranges, add honey, maple syrup, or agave.
- Herbs: Fresh mint leaves and rosemary add a hint of aromatic herbaceous notes to the drink.
See the recipe card below for all ingredients and measurements (US and metric).
Ingredient Substitutions
- Citrus: Cara Cara, Navel, Valencia, or mandarin oranges are good substitutes. Add a splash of lime juice or other seasonal fruit for a refreshing tartness.
- Soda: Try flavored sparkling tonic water to enhance the fruit taste. Blood orange soda, like San Pelligrino, which is already sweetened, can be substituted for fresh blood orange juice when not in season.
- Sweetener: Simple syrup, granulated sugar, brown sugar, honey, agave, or maple syrup works well. Just add to taste.
- Ginger: Instead of dried ground ginger, add a slice of fresh ginger and muddle to extract the juices. Trying experimenting with ginger beer.
- Herbs: Lavender, basil, or thyme would pair nicely with the blood orange beverage.
How to Make Blood Orange Mocktail
Step 1: Mix the Drink
This recipe features a simple mixture of freshly squeezed blood orange juice, ground turmeric, and ground ginger. Add to a cocktail shaker with ice to mix, or it can be whisked together in a bowl.
Chef’s Tip: If you want extra sweetness, drizzle in honey, maple syrup, agave, or even stevia.
Step 2: To Serve
Pour half of the blood orange mixture into a glass with ice, then top it off with ½ cup sparkling water or club soda. To make each glass aromatic, I add fresh blood orange peel, orange slices, mint leaves, and a sprig of rosemary. It smells fantastic as you enjoy each sip!
Chef’s Tip: You can, alternatively, muddle the herbs like making a mojito to infuse more flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Blood oranges have a Mediterranean origin and come in two varieties, Moro and Tarocco. The season for Moro’s is from December to March, and Tarocco is from January through May.
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 their use. You can slice them up and top them on a fennel salad or blend them into a peach smoothie.
Tequila, vodka, a light rum, champagne, or gin would pair well with the blood orange mocktail base. Start with 2 ounces of the desired spirit, increasing as desired.
Look for blood oranges between December and May. When shopping at the market, choose ones that feel heavy for their size and firm to the touch. They have unique orange and red splotchy skin and are smaller in size than regular oranges. 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.
More Drink Recipes
If you tried this Blood Orange Mocktail, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below!
Sparkling Blood Orange Mocktail with Turmeric
Ingredients
- 1 cup blood orange juice, plus 2 slices for garnish
- ½ teaspoon ginger powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
- 2 teaspoons honey, optional
- ice
- 1 cup club soda, or sparkling mineral water
- 4 mint leaves
- 2 springs rosemary
Instructions
- Mix the Drink – In a medium bowl or cocktail shaker, add the blood orange juice, ginger, turmeric, and honey (if using). Whisk or cover and shake to combine. If adding to a cocktail shaker, add ½ cup of ice.
- To Serve – Pour ½ cup of blood orange juice mixture into a glass filled with ice. Top with ½ cup of club soda. Add mint, rosemary, and orange slices to each glass.
Notes
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Recipe Yield: 2 servings
- Blood Orange Substitute: Use Cara Cara, Navel, Valencia oranges, or orange juice.
Nutrition Facts
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet. All nutritional information is based on estimated third-party calculations. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.
Katie says
Oh my goodness, can’t wait to try this! It looks so refreshing for a hot day. 🙂
Jessica Gavin says
The blood orange mocktail is so yummy on those hot days! A little spike wouldn’t hurt either 🙂
Petra says
This mocktail sounds absoluety delicious! I will try it out soon for sure! 🙂
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you so much Petra! I hope you do 🙂
Aimee Mars says
Yes! Here is the answer to “hmm, what should I do with all the blood oranges I currently bought,” aside from obviously just eating them.
Jessica Gavin says
Yes! I have a blood orange salad too that you can try Aimee 🙂
Yvonne says
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos!!!
Jessica Gavin says
Thank you SO much friend! See you soon 🙂