Bees Knees Kombucha Mocktail
The Bee’s Knees Kombucha Mocktail, made with lemon kombucha, is a delectable, refreshing drink that is visually striking with its light yellow hue and frothy top. Its aroma is both zesty and sweet, with a citrusy tang and hints of sweet floral notes from the honey. The cocktail version originated in the Prohibition era and included honey to mask the flavors of the cheap gin uses. The name is derived from the slang phrase “bee’s knees,” which was commonly used at the time to describe something exceptional or remarkable.
The mocktail has layers of of flavors that are perfectly balanced: the complex, earthy flavors of the lemon kombucha is complemented by the tartness of fresh lemon juice and the subtle sweetness of the honey. A habanero tincture adds a touch of “burn” felt when drinking alcohol and some over-steeped tea simulates the tongue drying affect of alcohol.
What is a Kombucha mocktail?
A mocktail is similar to a cocktail, but without the alcohol. A Kombucha Mocktail features kombucha as a wash in the base of the mocktail.
There are several reasons people choose not to drink such as health, religious, or a personal preference. Kombucha mocktails are great option for those who want to enjoy a satisfying social beverage while abstaining from alcohol. Just because mocktails do not have alcohol doesn’t mean they have to be sweet, boring or unsatisfying.
Kombucha mocktails, in addition to being delicious and satisfying, also contain additional health benefits. Apart from omitting alcohol, additional benefits come from the probiotics and antioxidants in the kombucha, especially in fruit flavored kombuchas.
Click here to read more about how to make great mocktails.
Equipment to make a Bees Knees Kombucha Mocktail
Cocktail Shaker: A cocktail shaker or mixing glass to quickly and thoroughly combine and chill the ingredients. I have a basic 2-tin one, an upgrade to an OXO Insulated one and recently bought an Elevated Craft Shaker during their Kickstarter campaign (affiliate links ↗).
Cocktail Glasses: Cocktail glasses for serving your mocktails. For this recipe I used coupe glasses.
Ingredients to make a Bees Knees Kombucha Mocktail
Lemon Kombucha: Lemon Kombucha forms the base of the drink and provides a delicious, effervescent foundation on which to build your mocktail.
Honey: Honey add a natural sweetness and depth of flavor to the mocktails with its unique taste that complements the other flavors in the mocktail, including fruit juices, herbs, and spices. It can also provide a subtle floral or earthy aroma, depending on the type of honey used.It also balances out the acidity of citrus juices and adds complexity to the overall flavor profile.
Spruce Tip Extract: Spruce tip extract or tincture is a liquid preparation made from the young, tender tips of spruce trees. Spruce extract adds a unique, piney flavor to mocktails and often simulate the flavors found in gin. Here’s how to make your own spruce tip extract.
Lemon juice: Lemon juice adds a bright and tangy flavor with a subtle acidity and tartness to mocktails and is used to balance out the sweetness of the other ingredients and provide a refreshing finish. Lemon juice also adds a slight texture to mocktails, which helps make them feel more substantial and satisfying.
Over-steeped Tea: Over-steeped black tea mimics the “drying” effect and causes astringency of ethanol due to its naturally-occurring tannins. Over-steeped tea can also add bitterness to a drink, making it a readily-available alternative to cocktail bitters that use harder-to-find herbs. Here is the recipe for over-steeped tea.
Habanero Tincture: A habanero tincture, made from vodka or vinegar is used in mocktails to add a touch of heat which can create a similar sensation to the “burn” of alcohol. Habanero peppers contain capsaicin, a compound that stimulates the same nerves as alcohol, giving the drink a more complex and satisfying flavor profile. Here is the recipe to make a habanero tincture.
How to make a Bees Knees Kombucha Mocktail
Mix and Chill: Mix the main ingredients with ice until thoroughly and chilled.
Fill Glasses: Divide the chilled mixture evenly between the glasses and top with apple kombucha.
Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish each glass with piece of lemon rind. Cheers!
Bees Knees Kombucha Mocktail Recipe
Yield: 2 mocktails • Active time: 5 minutes • Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup lemon kombucha
1/2 oz honey, 3 tsp
1/2 oz fresh lemon juice, 3 tsp
4-5 drops spruce tip extract
3 drops over-steeped Tea
4-5 drops Habanero Tincture
Ice for mixing and serving
Lemon, for garnish
Instructions:
Mix: In a cocktail shaker over ice, combine lemon kombucha, honey and lemon juice. Add 3 drops each of spruce tip extract, over-steeped tea and habanero tincture. Shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until thoroughly combined chilled. Sample mixture and add more spruce tip extract and /or habanero tincture to taste, shaking and sampling after each addition. The mocktail should have a piney notes, similar to gin and a slight “burn” after swallowing each sip.
Fill: Strain the chilled mixture into a coupe glass
Garnish: Use fresh lemon to make a garnish for each glass. See tips & tricks below for detailed instructions
Variations:
Vegan Bees Knees Kombucha Mocktail: To make a vegan version, replace the honey with some simple syrup or muddle a sugar cube with the lemon juice until it dissolves.
Tips & Tricks:
Garnish: To make a mocktail garnish from a lemon peel, use a sharp paring knife to cut off a small strip of lemon peel, ensuring that you only take the colored part of the peel and not the bitter white pith. Take the strip of peel and gently twist it to release some of the lemon oils over the drink to enhance the flavor of your mocktail.
For a twist, use the paring knife to cut a small notch in one end of the peel and then twist it into a spiral shape. Or cut the into small strips, squares or other shapes. Place the garnish on the rim of your mocktail glass or drop it into the drink. The lemon peel will add a subtle citrus flavor and aroma to your mocktail and also adding an attractive visual element that makes your drink look more enticing.
Nutrition Information:
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Helping you learn to brew kombucha, find inspiration for new kombucha flavors and use kombucha to make kombucha mocktails
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