This refreshing mocktail will grow on you so quickly. If you’re not fond of alcohol or you’re a designated driver, a virgin mojito is a perfect drink choice. Its taste is just as exquisite as a mojito but the word “virgin” indicates its non-alcoholic nature. It is sometimes referred to as a “nojito”.
You can make this drink in your kitchen with just a few steps. Here’s how to make a virgin mojito.
Ingredients
- One-quarter cup of fresh mint leaves, chopped
- One-quarter cup of lime juice
- Two tablespoons of agave (or to taste)
- Four cups of club soda or sparkling water
- One medium-sized lime, cut into wedges (for garnishing)
These ingredients make 4-6 servings of Virgin Mojito.
Procedure
Juice the lime
About three medium-sized limes will yield the equivalent of one-quarter cup of lime juice needed for this recipe. Once you wash your limes, slice them across the center into two halves and place them in a lemon squeezer to obtain the juice. Amazon offers quality juicers like the Zulay Kitchen Metal 2-in-1 Lemon Squeezer, which also works well for lime.
Remember, the amount of juice you can get depends on how well you squeeze. One helpful juicing trick is to microwave the limes first.
Muddle your ingredients
Pour your lime juice into a small mortar and add the mint leaves and agave. Muddle up the ingredients with the pestle for up to three minutes but no less than a minute. You can decide between pouring the mixture directly into glass cups or sieving out the mint leaves first; it does not matter.
Blending the ingredients in a blender also works if you do not have a mortar and pestle.
Add the sparking water
There is no special trick for this. Once you have your lime-mint juice, pour four cups of club soda into it and mix gently with a stirrer or long spoon. Garnish the top of the glass with the lime wedges and serve with ice.
How to store a virgin mojito
To get the best out of your virgin mojito, you should prepare it fresh. However, if you must store it, you should know this.
This drink can become flat very quickly when it comes in contact with direct sunlight. Therefore, it is best to keep it away from sunlight in a cool and dark area. Keep your virgin mojito refrigerated between 39°F and 41°F (4°C and 5°C) to prevent loss of carbonation and spoilage.
Dispose of anything left after 24 hours.
Virgin mojito and its variations
A glass of virgin mojito is a perfect choice for a hot day. The mint flavors present give it a cool and refreshing effect. Moreover, this drink defines versatility. Whether it is a picnic, a dinner party, a barbecue, or a club-like event, a virgin mojito has got you covered.
Like ginger ale, you can add fruits to a virgin mojito. Apart from its tasty addition to the drink, it gives a nice color profile and richness. Almost any fruit will work but be careful with bananas or pawpaw, they don’t exactly work well with mojitos.
Tips and troubleshooting
- Any mint leaf can be used for this recipe. You can even choose to use more than one type. It’s your call!
- Fresh leaves are preferable.
- Kids may not appreciate seeing leaves in their drink. Remove the mint leaves before serving this drink to kids.
- Over-muddling your mint leaves will release bitter oils that could change the taste of your virgin mojito. In this case, just add a little more lime juice and some more sweetener.
- Refrigerate the drink for thirty minutes, just before adding the sparkling water, to allow the flavors to meld.
- If your virgin mojito turns out flat, add a little more carbonated water and, or, lime juice. The acidity will revive its flavor.
- Cloudiness in your virgin mojito may result from improper straining methods or bacterial growth. If you sense it is the latter, dispose of the drink immediately and start over. However, if it is because of improper straining, you can strain it again using cheesecloth or filter it again using a coffee filter or paper towel.
