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I’m very excited to share this Classic Margarita Mocktail because it’s really fantastic! It tastes like a real Margarita!
Disclaimer: kombucha is fermented and has trace amounts of alcohol because it is fermented tea. If that kind of thing worries you, please look into it before making this recipe.
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Sipping on margaritas and biting into delicious tacos is something we can all agree is awesome!
Often, I find margarita mocktails to be lacking. Not that any kind of margarita isn’t delicious, but many of the margarita mocktails that i’ve tried are missing that oomph that makes you think: now THAT’S a margarita!
This one isn’t like that. It has all of the classic margarita flavors, and thanks to the addition of kombucha. It’s really something special! It has that bitterness to it (so that you can sip it slowly), and it’s sweet while also having some complexity and nuance.
Much like my other mocktails that are super popular on this site (like this one and this one), you can customize this to fit your preferences. We’ll talk more about that below.
Ingredients + substitutions
The margarita is going to be made by first making a simple syrup, then assembling the drink. The ingredients are simple and easy to source.
Orange-Infused Simple Syrup:
- Orange peel - peel your orange, and use the peel. Orange peels are packed with flavor and this will contribute to the complex flavor of your margarita.
- Sugar - white sugar is best. Equal parts sugar and water make simple syrup.
- Water - if you can, use filtered water for the best flavor.
The Margarita:
- Orange-Infused Simple Syrup - once it cools, you’ll have a nice, flavorful simple syrup (and extras to make more margaritas). If you don’t want to make the orange infused simple syrup, truthfully you don’t need any sweetener, the drink is sweet on its own. Or you can swap it for agave or honey at a 1:1 ratio.
- Orange juice - freshly squeezed orange juice is the best option here, it’ll taste fresh and bright. I used navel oranges but blood oranges are also great. Tangerines work, too. You can use store-bought OJ, too.
- Lime juice - use fresh lime juice, you can’t beat the flavor and it just isn’t a margarita without lime juice!
- Kombucha - raw kombucha has the best flavor. “Pure” kombucha without any extra flavoring is preferable. But this can be difficult to find so stick with margarita flavors if you’re getting a flavored kombucha (like lemon, lime, orange, tangerine, or even strawberry).
The process
First make the orange-infused simple syrup by combining the orange peels, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk it until the sugar dissolves then remove it from the heat. Don’t let it simmer, just whisk it until it dissolves - if it simmers for too long it’ll get too thick.
You’ll have extras, so let it cool and store it in the fridge (you’ll have leftovers for more margaritas).
I like to measure out my ingredients before I assemble the margarita, it helps the process go more smoothly.
Next, to make the margarita, fill a cocktail shaker or a mason jar with ice. Then add the simple syrup, orange juice, and lime juice. Give it a good shake.
Then strain into a glass filled with ice, and top with the kombucha. Don't add the kombucha to the cocktail shaker because it is carbonated, and you don't want to shake a carbonated drink.
That's it! Now go enjoy some tacos or this fajita salad with your margarita mocktail! Cheers!
Variations
- Make it spicy - you can make this a spicy margarita by simply adding a few Jalapeno slices to the drink. OR you can add some Jalapeno slices to the simple syrup.
- Add flavor - instead of raw, unflavored kombucha, use a flavored kombucha such as mango, strawberry, mint, or hibiscus.
- Add fresh herbs - add a little minced cilantro to your cocktail shaker! This adds even more complexity to your drink!
- Rim your glass - I talk about what to use and how to rim your glass below, but you can certainly add this touch to make it a little more special!
How to rim a margarita and what to use
Rimming a margarita is easy, but take a lime wedge and run it along the outside of your glass. Then dip your glass into a flat plate with coarse sea salt and/or a little chili powder, or Tajin Chili-Lime seasoning.
Expert tip: I find that it’s best to only rim ½ of your glass, so that you don’t end up having a mouth full of salt with every sip.
More mocktails like this one
I love mocktails and I could sing their praises all day long! They’re a much better choice, for a number of reasons (one of my favorites being you can enjoy them without any terrible consequences or headaches), but they’re also just as delicious!
One of my favorite things to do is to make mocktails that are not only functional, but also tasty (they have to have some bitterness and complexity to them).
If this sounds like something you’d like more of, you’ll love these mocktail recipes:
Classic Margarita Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 orange peel
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp orange-infused simple syrup
- 1 tbsp orange juice
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- ½ cup Kombucha *pure
Instructions
- Make the orange peel simple syrup by combining the orange peels, sugar, and water in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk it until the sugar dissolves then remove it from the heat. Let it cool and store it in the fridge (you’ll have leftovers for more margaritas).
- To make the margarita, fill a cocktail shaker or a mason jar with ice. Then add the simple syrup, orange juice, and lime juice. Give it a good shake and strain into a glass with ice.
- Top with kombucha.
Notes
Nutrition
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