Mocktail with Lemongrass and Ginger
Happy 2014
More and more I enjoy celebrating the transition from one year to the next. There is something soothing in looking back nostalgically. There is something powerful in visualising the coming year. But what I enjoy most, is the grounding realization that New Years Eve really is like every other night; there is no pause, no mark in time – this night feels significant because we make it so.
So on December the 31st 2013 I did not work on any New Year’s resolutions, instead I just decided to have a lovely afternoon in the kitchen making nibbles for a relaxed and happy evening.
And a perfect day of cooking for me just has to start with a lazy cup of coffee and browsing foodie blogs. As I already had my menu planned out, I started looking at ideas for drinks. And because I realized that I was chilling two bottles of bubbly a head and that these would – well, go to our head – I decided to try this non-alcoholic mocktail.
This drink tastes fabulous! A bit of sweetness a hint of spice and tons of moreishness. An amazing mocktail – and it gets better: when we came in from watching the fireworks and we were frozen to the bone, my friend JvP had the fabulous idea of using hot water to turn it into a tea.
So here I am, 1st of January 2014 sipping on some more of these fabulous bubbles.
I hope that right at this moment you are sitting there enjoying a happy New Year – my wishes are with you!
Ingredients
(from the blog ‘Girl Cooks World’)
30g (¼ cup) ginger
2-3 (¼ cup) stalks of lemongrass
200g (2 cups) sugar
150ml (¾ cup) water
(Thai) basil leaves
optional: ice
Sparkling water
a few limes
Recipe
- Peel and then thinly slice the ginger.
- Cut the lemongrass stalks into very thin slices (only use the bottom part of the stalks not the woody top section).
- Combine ginger, lemon grass sugar and water in a small saucepan.
- Cover and bring to the boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes without a lid.
- Allow to cool 30min or even 1 hour.
- Pour through a sieve into a clean bottle or jar.
- Allow to cool and use immediately or refrigerate for a few weeks.
- To finish the drink:
- Add some basil leaves to a glass.
- If using add ice.
- Top with sparkling water.
- Serve with some lime wedges and a spoon to smash the basil leaves and stir.
afra cooking 
This is awesome 🙂
Aw, thank you so much! 🙂
Ah Lovely 🙂
You are so lovely to come and visit!
🙂 xx
Big hug right back to you! My best wishes to you for the New Year!
Thanks a bunch sweetheart 🙂 xx
Mmmmm’ so fresh and crisp.
As we didn’t have a single snow flake for christmas (quite unlike were you are) we had to resort to baking up a storm 😉
This is perfect in so many ways! I don’t like alcohol so mocktails are sooo my thing 😀 Happy New Year! xx
Oh I can totally see you sitting there sipping a mocktail whilst smiling at the new year that is ahead of you! Wishing you a fabulous 2014!!
This mocktail sounds delicious 🙂
I have to admit I had my doubts, but it really is just the right combination of sweet and tangy…..with bubbles 🙂
Love a bit of sparkle and especially when it’s to welcome in the new year! I hope 2014 brings a lot of happiness, yumminess and wonderment in the new year. Happy cooking!
Wishing you a year full of sparkle! A year full of beauty, health, joy and many delicious bits of food! x
With lemongrass and ginger, this sounds like such a delicious beverage. Thank you for sharing Afra and all the best in this new year.
Welcome to 2014, Karen! My best wishes to you for the New Year – inspiring travel, tasty food but most of all heartfilling happiness! 🙂
Thank you for your sweet wishes. 🙂
Refreshing!
Happy New Year!
Thank you! Best wishes to you for a beautiful New Year!
I love this tasty non alcoholic recipe! Yummmmm! Very fesfreshingly tasty too!
A happy 2014 to you & your loved ones too. 🎅🎅🎅
I hope you had a lovely holiday season – I certainly noticed you have been enjoying cooking up some amazing dishes! Wishing you all the best!! Have a fabulous 2014!
😃😃🎄🎄🎅🎅
This sounds and looks so fancy! Next time I have people to impress I’m definitely making some of this 🙂
As I still had a bit left after NYE I thought I could serve some for my next dinner party. Uhm, but somehow it is “magically’ vanishing 😉
Love this nonalcoholic ginger drink. What a wonderful way to start the new year! Have great 2014 ahead!
I hope that you also had a wonderful start to the New Year! Wishing you and all your loved ones all the best!!
My new year resolution no alcohol except in food so this recipe is timely as I expect my 2014 to be full of healthy non-alcoholic drinks. Thanks for sharing and how I love it that you add ginger and lemon grass. I’m taking lemon tea right now!!!
A very healthy resolution! I have to say I enjoy a glass of red wine too much to go that far – although I have stared the New Year with being a little more healthy So I am on the hunt for more fabulous mocktails . If you come accross any I hope you will blog about it!