3 Herb-Infused Holiday Mocktails

Hi, herb fam!! 

As many of you know, the 2020 holiday season was…a little challenging. And by challenging, I mean it was, hands down, one of the most difficult seasons of my life (I’m sure a lot of you can relate). This year, I’m SO grateful for healthy parents, my amazing fiancé, and—as of this past month—OUR NEW PUPPY, BANKS.

Two of the biggest lessons I learned this year were how to be present and how to actually show up for others in my life (which often goes hand-in-hand with the first one). I’m embracing the challenges, the celebrations, and the chill times with those I love most this season.

With that being said, we can’t talk about the holidays without talking about holiday parties and get-togethers. We at team OO love a good holiday cocktail as much as anyone, but this year, we’re feeling the mocktail love. A beautifully crafted, tasty beverage that does good things for our mind & body and doesn’t come with a hangover risk? Sign. Us. Up.

Since Nick & I have been committed to using herbs however we can this year—making vinegar, adding them in baked goods, decocting herb-infused syrups, etc.—we thought herb-infused mocktails sounded like the perfect new holiday tradition. We’ve got three yummy, phytochemically-rich options for you, listed from least effort to most.

Each of these holiday mocktails is full of plant goodness on its own, but we added our favorite tincture to each for an optional extra boost. Whether you’re hosting a casual girls’ night or an elaborate dinner party, these recipes will raise the vibe.

Cheers to getting creative & juicy this holiday season!

1. Sweet Rose Peace Lover
The Chillest Way To Melt Into Festivities

Effort Scale: 2 out of 6

For those of you who absolutely do not need another thing on the to-do list this season, this mocktail is low effort and high reward. It’s the easiest of the three without skimping on herb goodness, flavor, or presentation. Definitely special-occasion worthy!

Starting with a refreshing base of citrus and rose, we then add one of our yummiest tinctures: Peace Juice, which helps lift your mood and calm your nerves with a blend of kava, gentian and more. We’ve paired these flavors with fresh rosemary, which has been indicated medicinally to ease stress and offers other benefits, too (yes, your common kitchen herbs are highly medicinal!). 

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces sunwink Lemon-Rose Uplift Tonic
• 3–6 sprays of Peace Juice (optional)
• Sprig fresh organic rosemary muddled
• Squeeze of lime
• Raw honey to taste

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients together, muddling the rosemary if possible.
2. Serve over ice with a lime slice.

MAKES 2 MOCKTAILS

The juicy plant power inside:

• Rose – Said to calm and soften the spirit, rose also adds a boost of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Rosemary – There’s already rosemary in the Sunwink tonic, but we had to add fresh herbs to this mocktail to strengthen this lovely flavor and to soak up more of its benefits. Rosemary is said to help relieve stress and promote focus—helping you to get grounded in the present. 
• Kava – One of our favorite herbs for quick relief from acute stress or restlessness, kava is a calming and soothing herb that won’t make you feel sleepy. It’s one of the key herbs in Peace Juice. 
• Honey – What’s more comforting than a nice cup of tea with honey? We love our mocktails to be sweet but not overly so, and this magical golden substance sweetens just right while delivering antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits.

2. Nourishing Citrus Swirl
A Blend of Nervines For Holiday Spirit

Effort Level: 3.5 out of 6

“Vibrant, yet comforting.” —How I’d describe this drink, and honestly how I’d like to be described by my friends. It’s packed with powerful herbal ingredients: citrus, ginger and basil give it the right amount of zing, while vanilla and honey sweeten the delivery. We like to use Marshmallow root decoction because you get more of the soothing & anti-inflammatory phytochemicals of the plant. 

For an added herbal boost, Mood Juice contains skullcap: a member of the mint family, which is primarily known as a nervous system soother—meaning you can sip on this and welcome relaxation (something we could all use more of during the busy holiday season).

Note: This recipe calls for both brewed tea and a decoction (a concentrated essence made by heating/boiling an herb with water; similar to tea!). We recommend making both in advance.  

Ingredients:
For the Marshmallow Root Decoction

• 2 cup of water
• 2 oz. Marshmallow Root
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract with alcohol*
  For the Mocktail

• 1 cup of fresh juice of preferred citrus
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract with alcohol* 
• 4 tablespoons of Microbiome Tea (or similar)
• 1 teaspoon honey 
• 2 tablespoon marshmallow root decoction 
• 2 dropper of Mood Juice
• ¼-½  cup sparkling water
• 1-2 fresh sprigs of basil (optional)
• ½ teaspoon fresh vanilla bean (optional)

*Use glycerin vanilla extract to stay completely alcohol free.

Directions:

1. Place the marshmallow root in a pot of water and boil for at least an hour. Pro Tip: Add some vanilla extract to help get those phytochemicals. We recommend doing this step the day before and storing it in the fridge. Strain the marshmallow root so that only the liquid remains. Set aside.
2. Juice your citrus until you have at least 1 cup.
3. Brew one heaping scoop of Microbiome Tea.
4. Add the citrus juice, vanilla extract, vanilla bean (optional), and honey to the blender with the infused liquid and blend on high for 30 seconds. Taste and adjust by adding in more of the infused liquid, honey, or vanilla as necessary. 
5. Pour into a glass and top off with sparkling water, Mood Juice, and the option basil leaf.

MAKES 2 MOCKTAILS

The juicy plant power inside:

• Vanilla Bean – We love vanilla bean in our ice cream and lattes, so it’s only natural that it’s the perfect complement to vibrant citrus in this well-balanced mocktail. Vanilla bean is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but it’s also said to inspire a calming effect as well.  
• Basil – Fresh basil has a way of giving any dish (or, in this case, beverage) that extra je ne sais quoi. It’s cooling, refreshing, and flavorful without being overpowering. And it’s got a ton of benefits—including digestive & detox support and antioxidant properties.
• Ginger – Found in our Microbiome Tea, ginger is a warming herb with juuuuust the right amount of bite. We love it for detox & digestive support, as well as its anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits.
• Marshmallow Root – Soothing, anti-inflammatory, supporting & nourishing to the digestive system—are you sensing a trend here with the herbs in this drink? Marshmallow root can also help soothe a sore throat (just like honey and tea, which are both in this mocktail), so it’s a perfect drink if you’re feeling a little under the weather.

3. Get Extra Fancy
A Decadent Dance with Opulent Herbs

Effort Level: 6 out of 6

Anyone else love to get dressed up and get extra fancy with everything this time of year? You are my people! Okay, this is THE DRINK for feeling your fanciest, bougiest self with impeccable taste. This mocktail is full of herbal goodness from hibiscus, ginger, cinnamon, and berries. And we’ve added our Liver Juice, which is a delicious herbal blend of detoxifying burdock root, milk thistle, and more.

Fair warning: This one requires quite a bit of effort (it’s SO worth it for the herb benefits and flavor). I know that can be a little intimidating—and, altogether, it IS a lot—but you can do a couple of the steps in advance to split up the work. That way, when it’s party time, you can just whip together the mocktail and drink up!

What I love about this recipe is that it gives you an opportunity to practice making an infusion, which is super easy and a great way to get more herbs into your daily routine! It also calls for an herbal syrup—like a decoction (or a boiled-down essence) but with honey. And finally (this is the most complex part), it calls for a cordial, which is gonna give it that super rich berry flavor. If this feels like too much effort (I’ll admit—it’s a lot!), feel free to muddle some berries and call it a day.

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. hibiscus ginger infusion (or pomegranate kombucha)
• 2 tbsp. cordial (or muddled berries)
• 1 dropper of Liver Juice
• 2 tbsp. schisandra syrup
• Juice of ¼ lemon
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• Cane sugar (for glass rim)
• Sumac (for glass rim) spice, ground

Directions:

1. Prepare the hibiscus ginger infusion by steeping loose hibiscus leaves with fresh ginger to make a tea. Steep for at least 30 mins. Strain and set aside. 
2. Make the schisandra syrup (recipe here).
3. In pitcher combine your infusion with schizandra syrup, lemon juice, and cinnamon – STIR WELL
4. Dampen the top of your glass and rim it with Sumac and Sugar
5. Place the cordial or muddled berries in bottom of your glass
6. Add ice 
7. Pour
8. Add 1 dropper of Liver Juice in each drink
9. Garnish with extra cinnamon

MAKES 2 MOCKTAILS

The juicy plant power inside:

• Hibiscus –  Loaded with antioxidants like vitamin C, hibiscus is a balancing herb that just happens to taste delicious. 
• Ginger – Ginger is a warming herb with juuuuust the right amount of bite. We love it for detox & digestive support, as well as its anti-inflammatory and soothing benefits.
• Schisandra – Schisandra berry is complex and well-rounded—containing all five flavor profiles (sour, bitter, pungent, salty, and sweet), while offering antioxidant and adaptogenic benefits.
• Sumac – A powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory spice, sumac has a tart, lemony flavor that—when paired with sugar—complements this drink beautifully.
• Burdock Root – A standout herb in Liver Juice, burdock helps support detox, stress management, and the microbiome.

Happy holidays, OO fam!! Have fun with these—sub in your favorite herbs and tinctures as you see fit. Be sure to tag @shoporganicolivia on IG when you post your mocktail creations!