Nojito
A refreshingly minty lime beverage for those hot summer days. The best thing about a Nojito? No alcohol! So you can have as many as you'd like.
If you prefer to stay away from alcohol but still want a fancy beverage that's refreshing and full of flavor, a nojito mocktail is a great option. It's lemon-lime soda, fresh mint leaves, lime juice, and a splash of simple syrup for a little bit of sweetness.
Since my husband and close friends don't drink and I try to stay away from most alcohol, I thought this would be fun to come up with something that everyone can enjoy!
Table of contents
What is a Nojito?
A nojito is an alcohol-free version of the classic cocktail, the mojito. A mojito is mint leaves and lime juice muddled with a splash of simple syrup in a highball glass. The glass is then filled with ice and white rum and a splash of soda water. A nojito has the same refreshing mint and lime flavors, just without the rum.
Ingredients You'll Need
Another plus for this recipe is that it doesn't require a lot of ingredients. You'll only need some fresh mint leaves, lime juice, simple syrup, ice cubes, and lime soda water (I like Soleil Lime Sparkling Water).
Tools and Equipment Required
- 1 (10-12 ounce) highball or pint glass
- Muddler, spoon, or a wooden spoon.
- Jigger. This optional, but it's great for accurate measurements. You could also use a measuring cup with ounce measurements.
Step by Step Instructions
Place the mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup in a highball glass. Muddle the ingredients with the handle of a wooden utensil or a muddler.
Add the ice cubes, then pour in the lime sparkling water. Garnish with lime wedges or slices and a mint sprig, if desired, and serve immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions for a Nojito
You can use any sweetener of your choice. Sugar, honey, or agave syrup for example. If you choose to use sugar, start with 1 teaspoon and adjust to taste from there.
Absolutely! Since there's no alcohol, anyone can enjoy this refreshing beverage.
Yes, you can adjust the sweetness to tart flavor ratio as you make it.
Muddling is when you press gently on the mint leaves to bruise them to release the oils. You don't want to press them too hard or shred them because that will make the drink too bitter. Use a muddler, the back of a spoon, or the handle of a wooden spoon.
You can, but freshly squeezed lime juice has a stronger, fresher flavor.
Nojitos are best when they are made fresh. You can definitely make the muddled mint and lime mixture ahead of time, but to keep the drink from losing it's fizziness, wait until you are ready to serve before adding the ice and sparkling water.
A pitcher will give you about 5 (12-ounce) glasses, so you'll want to muddle up 50-60 mint leaves and 5 ounces of lime juice. Then you'll need to add 25-30 ice cubes, and 40 ounces (or 3 ½ cans of Soleil Lime Sparkling Water) whenever you are ready to serve it.
What are some good dessert pairings to go with a Nojito?
With it's minty and lime flavors, a nojito goes well with other citrusy desserts like a key lime pie or a lemon meringue pie. It will also go with desserts with a milder flavor profile like a vanilla cheesecake or tres leches cake. Pair it with my No Bake Cheesecake!
Nojito
Equipment
- 1 highball or pint glass 12-16 ounces
- Muddler or you can use the back of a spoon or wooden spoon handle
- Jigger optional, but great for accurate small measurements
Ingredients
- 10-12 fresh mint leaves
- 1 ounce lime juice
- ½ ounce simple syrup
- 4-5 large ice cubes
- 8- ounce lime sparkling water
- Lime wedges or slices for garnish
- Mint sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Place the mint leaves, lime juice, and simple syrup in a highball glass. Muddle the ingredients with the handle of a wooden utensil or a muddler.
- Add the ice cubes, then pour in the lime sparkling water. Garnish with lime wedges or slices and a mint sprig, if desired, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Best made fresh for optimal flavor and fizziness.
- Stir the drink before enjoying to mix up the flavors, or you can quickly pour it into another glass or shaker and pour it back into the glass.
- For a pitcher full, multiply the amount of ingredients by 5. Wait to add the ice and sparkling water until you are ready to serve.