Spiced Apple Kombucha Mocktail
This Spiced Apple Kombucha Mocktail recipe is the perfect fall sipper! It’s made with apple cider, harvest apple kombucha, and features hints of spiced rum–without any rum. It’s a refreshing and slightly tart drink that is perfect for sipping on a cool autumn evening campfire or at fall gatherings with friends and family.
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 Spiced Apple 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 ↗).
Rocks Glasses: Two rocks glasses for serving your mocktail creation.
Ingredients to make a Spiced Apple Kombucha Mocktail
Harvest Apple Kombucha: Harvest Apple Kombucha forms the base of the drink and provides a delicious, effervescent foundation on which to build your mocktail.
Apple Cider: Apple cider is an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples. It’s typically called just “cider” in the United States and should not be confused with hard cider, which contains alcohol. If you can’t find any fresh cider, you could substitute a pure apple juice or even sparkling (non-alcoholic cider)
Spices: The clove and vanilla are used to emulate the flavors found in spiced rum:
Cloves: Cloves are a pungent warm spice with an intense flavor and aroma. The flavor comes from the compound eugenol (also known as clove oil.) Cloves have a taste of sweetness, bitterness, and astringency (dryness), with a noticeable amount of heat. Similar spices with this warming sensation include nutmeg, cinnamon, and allspice which is why they are commonly combined in a pumpkin spice blend; however, cloves have a much stronger flavor and therefore less is typically used.
Vanilla: There are several types of vanilla, typically named for where they are grown. Each type of vanilla bean has a very unique flavor.
Madagascar is the most popular type and Indian is a consistent favorite. Each type is slightly different:
- Madagascar Vanilla – rich and creamy. The most popular vanilla and most widely available
- Mexican Vanilla – bold, dark, smoky notes.
- Indian Vanilla – full bodied, chocolate notes. One of the favorites among vanilla lovers.
- Indonesian Vanilla – mild, well balanced. A good choice for kombucha.
- Tahitian Vanilla – floral, notes of cherries and chocolate.
How to make a Spiced Apple Kombucha Mocktail
Mix and Chill: Mix the main ingredients with ice until thoroughly and chilled.
Rim glasses: Rim the serving glasses with a cinnamon sugar mixture and fill with ice.
Fill: Divide the chilled mixture evenly between the glasses and top with apple kombucha.
Garnish and Enjoy: Garnish each glass with an apple slice, cinnamon stick and anise pod. Cheers!
Spiced Apple Kombucha Mocktail Recipe
Yield: 2 mocktails • Active time: 5 minutes • Total time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup apple kombucha
1/2 cup apple cider or pure apple juice
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
dash of vanilla
1 whole clove or pinch of ground cloves
Cinnamon sticks (for garnish)
Apple slices (for garnish)
Anise Pods (for garnish)
Cinnamon and Sugar (for rim)
Instructions:
Mix: In a cocktail shaker over ice, combine ½ cup apple cider, 2 tsp lemon juice, dash of vanilla and clove. Stir or shake vigorously for about 30 seconds until thoroughly combined chilled.
Rim: Rim two rocks glasses with cinnamon-sugar and fill with large ice cubes.
Fill: Strain the chilled mixture into the rimmed glasses.
Add Kombucha: Add 1/2 cup of apple kombucha to each glass.
Garnish: Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick, apple slice and star anise pod.
Variations:
Apple Pie Kombucha Mocktail: Add a pinch of cinnamon and ginger for an Apple Pie Kombucha Mocktail
Tips & Tricks:
Presentation affects taste: The way a drink (or dish) is presented known to affect the way its taste is perceived. Use your best cocktail glassware and don’t skimp on the garnish.
Cinnamon Sugar Rim: To make the cinnamon sugar rim, combine 1/4 C. sugar and 2 tsp. cinnamon in a bowl large enough to put the rim of the glass into. Gently run a fresh wedge of lemon (you may even use the piece that was juiced) around the rim of the inverted glass to get about 1/8″ of the top of the glass coated with citrus juice. Next gently dip the rim of the glass into the cinnamon-sugar mixture, lift and gently tap the glass to remove any excess.
Nutrition Information:
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The materials contained on this website are intended to be used for educational purposes only, and the website’s use is solely at your own risk. It is important to use good judgment when consuming kombucha. Never consume kombucha that looks, tastes, or smells unpleasant. Further, before consuming kombucha or any other fermented or cultured food, you should receive full medical clearance from a licensed physician. Author and publisher claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the use, application, or interpretation of the material on this website.