This post may contain affiliated links. If you click a link and make a purchase, assume we make a commission.
This is the ultimate relaxing Kava Mocktail! It contains kava tea, tart cherry juice, a touch of honey, and maraschino cherries for garnish!
Jump to:
Happy dry January! Or maybe you’re not drinking alcohol, trying to quit, or just want something *special* to sip on?
Well, this is it! Kava is a great alcohol alternative and widely used for its relaxing properties. Kava has a unique taste that some people find pleasant (and some people really don’t!). However, when it’s made into a mocktail, it can be quite enjoyable and fun to drink!
Why you'll love this alcohol-free kava mocktail
- Relaxation: It contains kava and tart cherry juice! Two very relaxing ingredients making it the perfect alcohol-free night cap!
- Alcohol-free social tonic: Kava is a great social tonic! Kava has been known to promote a relaxed state and atmosphere. The people who love kava often describe it as being “buzzy”, mildly tranquilizing, and stress-relieving!
Ingredients + substitutions
To make this Kava Mocktail recipe, you’ll need:
- Kava Stress Relief® Tea - you can get it here. It’s hard to describe the taste, the closest that it is to anything else would be chai tea.
- Honey - for a touch of sweetness to balance out the bitterness of the tea. You could also use brown sugar or agave to sweeten.
- Tart cherry juice - tart cherry juice is incredibly relaxing and fruity. I think this is the perfect way to balance out the kava tea and give it some sweetness. If you’re going to substitute the juice, the other options I recommend are pomegranate juice, or apple cider.
- Maraschino cherries - these are just for fun and to snack on to give it more of a cocktail feel!
Step-by-step
- Brew the Kava Stress Relief® tea at 120-140 degrees F and steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the honey to the tea as it brews and give it a stir.
- Pour the tea into a glass over ice.
- Then add the tart cherry juice and garnish with cherries.
Where to get kava?
This recipe simply uses Yogi Stress Relief® Tea. You can get it here.
What is kava?
Kava beverages are made from the roots of the Piper methysticum plant, that’s common in the Pacific Islands. It’s famous for its relaxing, buzzy effects. People drink it socially for its calming properties, which are similar to actual booze.
What is the best temperature to brew kava/kava tea?
120-140 degrees F. You don’t want to brew it in boiling water because this can degrade the compounds, so definitely avoid boiling the water! Use warm water, this will allow for a more effective extraction of the active compounds (kavalactones) in the kava root tea.
Additionally, only brew the tea for 3-5 minutes so that it doesn’t taste bitter.
FAQs
Is kava totally safe?
Well, take what I’m saying with a grain because I'm not a doctor–but generally speaking, when not abused, it is safe. Children and pregnant women shouldn’t consume kava.
Excessive consumption or combining it with medications may pose some health risks to the liver and otherwise. Best to consult a doctor if you’re concerned about it!
What does Kava taste like?
It has a slightly spicy, deeply earthy, bitter flavor. If you can read between the lines: it tastes a bit like dirt.
Does Kava give you a “euphoric” feeling?
It’s been reported to do so, most people use it for the feeling that you get when you drink it. It will not give you an “intoxicated” feeling like alcohol, but it’s very relaxing!
More relaxing mocktail recipes
Kava Mocktail
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Kava Stress Relief® Tea
- 1 tsp honey
- ¾ cup tart cherry juice
- 3 maraschino cherries for garnish
Instructions
- Brew the Kava Stress Relief® tea at 120-140 degrees F and steep for 3-5 minutes.
- Add the honey to the tea as it brews and give it a stir.
- Pour the tea into a glass over ice.
- Then add the tart cherry juice and garnish with cherries.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin it for later + let's connect?
Be sure to Pin this recipe (click on the image below) and follow me on Pinterest!
Leave a Reply