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This pomegranate mocktail recipe is the most refreshing non-alcoholic cocktail you’ll ever have. Made with fresh mint leaves, lime, and real pomegranate juice topped with sparkling water, this pomegranate drink is a great alternative for anyone wanting a nice beverage without the booze.
Think of it as a virgin pomegranate mojito: tart, a little sweet, and bubbly. It’s a gorgeous drink for holiday parties and brunches, and it pairs beautifully with a warm baked brie or a round of apple cider mimosas for the adults. For more ideas, browse all my drink recipes.
Why This Recipe Works
- Gorgeous color. The deep ruby red is eye-catching and looks so pretty on a party table.
- Balanced flavor. Tart pomegranate juice, fresh lime, and a touch of maple syrup or honey hit the perfect sweet-tart balance.
- Light and bubbly. Sparkling water gives it a refreshing fizz that makes it feel special.
- Everyone can enjoy it. It’s a great pick for kids, designated drivers, or anyone skipping alcohol.
- Ready in minutes. You only need a few simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.
Key Ingredients
- Pomegranate juice: Be sure to use a pure pomegranate juice from a good brand, not a juice cocktail blend. We used POM Wonderful for this recipe.
- Lime sparkling water: It adds fizz and a little extra citrus. You can substitute plain seltzer or club soda.
- Maple syrup or honey: Any sweetener works. You could also use agave nectar, simple syrup, or stevia. Honey is my personal favorite because of the flavor it adds.
- Fresh mint leaves: Muddling them releases their oils for a cool, fresh flavor, the same herb that makes my cucumber grape lemon cooler so refreshing.
Lime wedges and ice round it out. Full ingredient amounts are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Substitutions and Variations
- Ginger pomegranate mocktail: Swap the sparkling water for ginger beer or ginger ale for a cozy holiday version. If you love ginger beer, my virgin matcha Moscow mule is another great alcohol-free sip.
- Switch out the lime: Use lemon juice, fresh orange juice, or even grapefruit. Lemon is especially good if you have some left from my old fashioned homemade lemonade.
- Switch out the mint: For a different herbal flavor, try basil or a rosemary sprig.
- Make a pitcher: Stir the juice, lime, and sweetener together in a pitcher, then top each glass with sparkling water right before serving so it stays fizzy. It’s the same make-ahead trick I use for party batches of raspberry lemonade.
- Make it frozen: Blend the pomegranate juice, lime, and sweetener with ice for a slushy version, just like the virgin option of my frozen strawberry margarita.
How to Make a Pomegranate Mocktail
- Rim the glass (optional). Rub a lime wedge along the rim of the glass and dip it in sanding sugar. I used hibiscus-flavored sanding sugar for a pretty pink finish.
- Add the mint and lime. Drop the mint leaves, lime wedges, and maple syrup into the glass.
- Muddle, then add ice. Gently press the mint and lime with a muddler to release the juice and oils, then fill the glass with ice cubes.
- Pour in the pomegranate juice. Pour it slowly over the ice.
- Top with sparkling water. Add the sparkling water last and stir gently so you keep the bubbles.
- Garnish and serve. Finish with a lime slice and a fresh mint sprig, and serve right away.
Expert Tips
- Muddle gently. Press the mint just enough to release its oils. Shredding the leaves can make the drink taste bitter.
- Chill everything first. Cold juice and cold sparkling water keep the ice from melting fast and watering the drink down.
- Add the bubbles last. Pour the sparkling water in at the end and stir gently so it stays fizzy.
- Taste before sweetening more. Pomegranate juice brands vary in tartness, so adjust the maple syrup or honey to your liking.
- Make it look fancy. Rub lime juice on the rim of the glass, or along the side at an angle, and dip it in sanding sugar.
Pomegranate Mocktail FAQs
People choose a non-alcoholic drink like this pomegranate mocktail for all kinds of reasons, from physical well-being to mental health. It lets guests of all ages feel included in the celebration, no one needs a designated driver, and there’s no hangover the next day. Once you’re hooked, try this amaretto sour mocktail next.
Pour leftover pomegranate mocktail into an airtight container, like a mason jar, and keep it in the fridge. It’s best served fresh while the carbonation is at its peak, since it will lose some fizz once stored.
Preferably not, because a frozen pomegranate mocktail loses its carbonation once it thaws. If you don’t mind losing the bubbles, you can freeze it. Just leave some space at the top of the jar for the liquid to expand.
This pomegranate mocktail is easy to customize. Add ginger beer or ginger ale for a holiday twist, swap the lime for lemon, orange, or grapefruit, or trade the mint for basil or rosemary.
Yes. To turn this pomegranate mocktail into a cocktail, use a clear liquor like white rum, tequila, or vodka. Since the drink is based on a mojito, rum is the most fitting. Tequila also works because its vanilla and honey tones pair well with the citrus.
More Refreshing Drinks
If you made this Pomegranate Mocktail, tell me what occasion you served it for! Leave a ⭐ star rating and a comment below. Cheers to you!
Pomegranate mocktail recipe
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup pomegranate juice
- 1/2 cup lime sparkling water
- 2 teaspoon maple syrup or honey, to taste
- 2 lime wedges
- 6 fresh mint leaves
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Muddle mint leaves with the lime juice, and maple syrup, in a glass.2 lime wedges, 6 fresh mint leaves, 2 teaspoon maple syrup
- Fill the glass with ice cubes.Ice cubes
- Pour pomegranate juice over the ice.1/3 cup pomegranate juice
- Top with sparkling water and stir gently.1/2 cup lime sparkling water
- Garnish with a lime slice or wedge and a mint sprig.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
