.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
Navratri is all about the colour, the garba, the family and the food. It's traditionally a 'no alcohol' occasion but that doesn't necessarily mean your drink menu has to be restricted to water, bottled juice and soft drinks. There are loads of interesting non-alcoholic drinks that can really add to the fun of the occasion.
From refreshing mocktails and traditional Indian sharbats to creamy classics and fruit based coolers the range is quite varied. Whether you're putting on a Navratri party or just want to have some alcohol free drinks on offer during the festivities there are 10 recipes below that are definitely worth a go.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
A pomegranate mojito is a colorful take on the classic Cuban mojito (without the rum). It's pomegranate, mint and lime all combined. The bright red colour makes it a very attractive cocktail for a party, particularly when served in high glasses with a good garnish.
To make it you'll need pomegranate juice, fresh mint, lime, pomegranate seeds and lemonade. Just crush the mint and lime gently to release the flavor, add the pomegranate juice and lemonade and serve over ice with a garnish of mint and pomegranate seeds. It's a very simple, fruity, fizzy mocktail.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
If you're after the creamy tropical drink then a virgin piña colada is the way to go. The classic is of course the piña colada with the pineapple, coconut and rum, but the virgin version is very much in the same league in terms of flavor, just without the alcohol. It's very rich and very refreshing and is absolutely delicious when served cold.
BBC Good Food's spiced version uses pineapple juice, coconut milk, lime juice and a house-made syrup which is infused with cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns and pineapple peel. Once the syrup has cooled it is combined with the pineapple/coconut mix and served over ice. The spices bring a real interest to the rather standard tropical flavors.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
The Virgin Mojito is one of the most iconic mocktails and for good reasons. It's a very simple combination of fresh mint, lime, a touch of sweetness and sparkling water which makes it extremely refreshing without being all that complex. It's also a very practical drink to have at a party as the ingredients are readily available and you can easily make it on the spot for individuals.
Gently muddle the mint with the lime and sugar (or sugar syrup). Fill the glass with ice, add the sparkling water and stir. Garnish with a few more mint and lime leaves before serving. If you're serving a large group you can actually prepare the mint and lime mixture in advance and then just add the sparkling water when the guests are ready.
A summer cup mocktail is quite different from the standard citrus drink. It's inspired by the character of a fruit cup and consists of berries, cucumber, mint and sparkling lemonade. It's a light, fruity drink and is particularly good when served in a large pitcher.
The recipe is to steep the cucumber and mint in hot water, add the berries to make a flavor infusion, strain and cool it, then mix with the sparkling lemonade and serve over ice. The glasses can be garnished with cucumber, mint and/or berries.
Love cocktails but skipping alcohol? Discover drink.sober's ready-to-drink non-alcoholic Picante and what makes this new launch exciting.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Kokum sharbat is a traditional drink from India (particularly popular in Goa and the Konkan) and is made from the kokum fruit. It's a very tangy drink which has a very distinct sourness that cuts through the sweetness. It's a light drink as opposed to a creamy festive drink and would be a good addition to a well rounded drinks menu.
From Dassana's Veg Recipes: kokum sharbat is made with kokum, sugar, water and spices (cardamom and roasted cumin). The kokum is reduced to a very concentrated syrup which is then diluted with chilled water prior to serving. It's a very attractive drink in its own right with its deep reddish purple color and doesn't really need any fancy garnish.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Rose milk is a well known Indian drink, milk mixed with rose syrup. It's a soft pink drink with a sweet flavor and is very much the drink of choice for families at get togethers (particularly for the guests who are after something simple and not a fizzy mocktail).
The preparation is simple really. Chilled milk with rose syrup and a touch of rose water (to taste). Dassana's version also has soaked sabja seeds in it which give it a bit of body. It's served cold and you can optionally add some rose petals or some chopped nuts.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Thandai is one of India's most iconic festive drinks, traditionally linked to Holi and Mahashivratri. The non-alcoholic version is a perfectly viable option for other celebrations too given the depth of flavor that comes from the milk, nuts, seeds and fragrant spices. It's a very different proposition to a fruit based mocktail.
A traditional recipe calls for milk, almonds, pistachios, fennel, cardamom, saffron, rose petals and various other things (melon seeds, poppy seeds etc). The ingredients are soaked and then blended into a paste which is then mixed with milk and sweetened. Serve chilled with a saffron or nut on top. For Navratri you'll need to check that the ingredients are appropriate in the light of the fasts of your guests.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Not every festive drink has to be served over ice. Mulled apple juice is a warm, cozy drink which is essentially apple juice with all the good spices. It's traditionally a winter drink but can be just as good for a relaxed evening.
To make it simply heat some apple juice with a bit of cinnamon, some cloves and a bit of citrus peel. Warm it rather than boil it. Allow the spices to infuse the juice a bit then strain and serve in your heatproof glasses or mugs. It's a very handy drink to make in a large batch if you're after something like that.
Curious about alcohol-free beer? Explore Coolberg, its refreshing flavors, and why this Indian non-alcoholic beer brand is gaining popularity.
For those who like their drinks tea based, blueberry and mint iced tea is a good alternative to a sweet mocktail. The blueberry fruit notes go well with the refreshing quality of peppermint tea making it a much lighter drink than the milk based options and a good one to have throughout the evening.
BBC Good Food's recipe is a blueberry and peppermint tea infusion. The tea is made and then cooled before being mixed with the fruit and served over ice. It should be noted that tea isn't necessarily part of every Navratri fast so this is more of a drink you could have at a general festive occasion.
.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
Fruit punch is the go to for parties really as it's so visual, it's so easy to make and it's so easy to serve to a group. You don't have to go to the trouble of making a mocktail for each individual, you just have a large pitcher of punch and the guests can help themselves to the various fruit flavors.
BBC Good Food's alcohol free fruit punch is pineapple juice, orange juice, lemonade, strawberries, citrus and mint. Simply mix the juices and fruit and then chill until you're ready to serve. Add the lemonade just before your guests arrive as it will lose its fizz otherwise. Serve in glasses with ice and garnish with some fresh fruit.
If you're having a Navratri celebration or a festive house party then a drinks station can make serving a lot easier. Rather than make each drink individually you can simply have a range of chilled juices, sparkling water, fresh fruit, mint, citrus and all the necessary garnishes all in one place. The guests can then go and pick their own drinks.
It's also worth offering a variety of beverage styles rather than multiple similar mocktails. A pitcher of fruit punch, a classic kokum sharbat and a creamy drink such as rose milk would all be good options. Prepare the concentrates and fruit mixtures in advance, keep the dairy-based drinks chilled and add the carbonated elements just before serving. Obviously it's important to label the ingredients clearly for those with allergies or dietary requirements.
Zero alcohol drinks don't necessarily mean low in sugar or calories. Sweetened syrups, packaged juices, lemonade and flavored milk are all potential sources of significant added sugar. If you're making your own drinks then you do have the option of controlling the ingredients and hence the level of sweetness.
Fresh mint, lime, cucumber, berries and a goodly dose of aromatic spices can go a long way to producing interesting flavors without necessarily relying on sugar at all. The point is not to eliminate sweetness, but to offer a menu of drinks that provides a range of tastes.
All ten drinks can be made without alcohol, although that doesn't necessarily make them appropriate for everyone. Fasting is such a variable thing from household to household, from community to community and from region to region. Some people will have milk, fruit, and certain nuts as part of their diet; others will be far more restrictive about what they allow themselves to eat such as spices, seeds, tea, packaged goods, etc.
If you're having guests who are fasting, then it's best to check their diets in advance. A drink made with permitted fruit, milk, or coconut water is likely to be much easier to adapt than a more complex mocktail with several ingredients.
Looking for a lighter beer alternative? Discover Heineken's new zero-calorie, alcohol-free beer and what makes it different from regular Heineken 0.0.
For this article, I referred to recipes published by BBC Good Food and Dassana’s Veg Recipes to put together a selection of non-alcoholic drinks. The research covered a variety of mocktails, traditional Indian beverages, and fruit-based refreshments. The objective was to present a diverse collection of easy-to-prepare drinks suitable for different tastes, preferences, and occasions.
You can absolutely celebrate without the alcohol and still have a very interesting range of drinks. A pomegranate mojito, a virgin piña colada (tropicalness all round) and all the traditional stuff like kokum sharbat, rose milk and thandai are all very good non-alcoholic options.
Whether you're organizing a Navratri gathering, hosting friends for dinner, or planning a larger celebration, these 10 zero-alcohol drinks offer a mix of familiar flavours and modern mocktails. With a little preparation and thoughtful presentation, they can become an enjoyable part of the festivities.
