Festive Non-Alcoholic Drinks: Pomegranate & Rosemary
Celebrate with a bright, low-sugar sparkling mocktail for one or two—pomegranate and rosemary make it feel special and gentle on digestion.
Making festive drinks for one or two should be easy. This recipe uses common supermarket ingredients and a simple muddle or short steep for rosemary aroma instead of a long syrup, so you save time and sugar.
Portions are modest and the sparkle is optional. If bubbles bother your stomach, choose still water and enjoy the same bright flavor with less fizz.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) 100% pomegranate juice, unsweetened
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) chilled sparkling water or still water
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 lemon)
- 1 small sprig fresh rosemary, plus extra for garnish
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup optional (or 1/2 tsp erythritol for lower sugar)
- Ice, optional
- 1–2 tbsp pomegranate seeds for garnish, optional (strain out if you prefer seed-free)
You can serve this mocktail with soft snacks like mild cheese and crackers, mashed sweet potatoes, or lightly toasted soft bread.
Step-by-Step Recipe
- Lightly bruise the rosemary by holding the sprig and clapping it once or pressing it with the back of a spoon in a small glass to release oils.
- Add lemon juice and the optional sweetener to the glass, stirring until the sweetener dissolves if using.
- Pour in the pomegranate juice; if you want no seeds, pass the juice through a fine sieve into the serving glass and discard any pulp.
- Add 2–3 ice cubes if you like cold drinks, gently top with sparkling or still water, and stir once to combine.
- Garnish with a small rosemary sprig and a few pomegranate seeds or a thin lemon wheel, and serve immediately to keep the sparkle lively.
Tips and Easy Variations
Gentler on digestion
- Swap sparkling water for still water to reduce carbonation.
- Reduce the amount of citrus to lower acidity.
- Serve with fewer bubbles and a softer texture for sensitive stomachs.
Seed-free & lower sugar
- Strain pomegranate juice before mixing or use bottled strained juice.
- Skip added sweetener or use erythritol if you need a no- or low-sugar option.
- Add seeds only as a garnish so the drink stays smooth.
Festive variations
- Steep a bruised rosemary sprig in warm water for a milder infusion without syrup.
- Float thin apple slices or a cinnamon stick for extra aroma on special occasions.
- Use a thin lemon wheel or extra rosemary for an elegant garnish.
Quick adjustments
- Choose still water and less citrus for a gentler drink.
- Adjust or omit sweetener according to dietary advice and taste.
- Keep sparkling water separate until serving to preserve fizz.
Storage and Leftovers
Fridge
Store unused pomegranate juice in a covered jar in the fridge for up to 3 days and keep any rosemary infusion refrigerated for 2–3 days.
Freezer
Freezing juice is possible in a sealed container, but thawed juice may be thinner; avoid freezing once mixed with sparkling water.
Reheating
This drink is best served chilled or at room temperature; do not reheat. If you made a rosemary syrup, use it cold or gently warm it for different uses.
Conclusion
Try this small-batch, low-sugar pomegranate and rosemary punch for festive non-alcoholic drinks that feel special without fuss. It’s simple, gentle, and sized just right for one or two people.
The recipe is quick to make, easy to adapt for digestion or sugar preferences, and shines when you keep components separate and mix just before serving.
FAQ
Can I make this alcohol-free mocktail in advance?▶
Yes. Keep the pomegranate juice and sparkling water separate and mix just before serving so the drink stays fizzy; pre-mix only if using still water.
My stomach is sensitive to carbonation. Any tips?▶
Use still water instead of sparkling and reduce citrus to make the drink gentler while keeping the bright pomegranate and rosemary flavors.
