Can't get enough of the bright and zesty flavors of gin and tonic? Want to indulge in a non-alcoholic beverage any time of day? If so, you’ll love this faux gin and tonic with kombucha recipe! This gluten-free mocktail substitutes liquor for a sweet-tart kombucha base, creating a heavenly mix that's simultaneously familiar and new.
Non-alcoholic drinks are often a hit or miss, but this spin on the standard gin and tonic is a real crowd-pleaser. It features everything we know and love about the cocktail—the piney juniper berries, the fizzy tonic water, the zesty lemon peel and lime juice, and a generous sprinkling of cool ice cubes.
Table of Contents
Faux Gin and Tonic With Kombucha
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 Servings 1x
Description
This recipe takes alcohol-free drinks to another level. It delicately balances all of the flavors, while imitating a gin flavor. The added kombucha provides a unique tartness and ample health benefits.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 tbsp dried juniper berries
- 1 strip fresh lemon peel
- Juice of 2 fresh limes, divided
- 2 cups tonic water, divided
- 2 cups jasmine tea kombucha, divided
- 20 ice cubes
- Lime wedges
Instructions
- Add juniper berries and lemon peel to the kombucha and allow it to steep overnight in the fridge.
- Strain the kombucha to remove the berries and lemon peel.
- Take out four serving cups. Add five ice cubes and 4 oz kombucha into each. Then, add a quarter of the lime juice to each glass.
- Fill each glass with 1/2 cup of tonic water.
- Garnish each glass with a lime wedge, herbs, and fruit (optional).
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Jasmine and white tea are the ideal tea bases for this drink due to their light and bright flavors, but you can also use black tea kombucha if that’s what you’re brewing.
If you prefer a sweeter drink, add your sweetener of choice. Simple syrup, maple, cane sugar, or honey are good options.
I don’t recommend using club soda instead of tonic water because it doesn’t mesh well with the mixers. While they’re both sparkling water, tonic water carries a distinct bitter and sweet flavor thanks to the quinine and sugar, whereas soda water is more neutral and subtly salty.
Want to turn this zero-proof recipe into one of the good, old-fashioned cocktail recipes? Add a shot of gin to each glass in step #4.
You can substitute lime-based ingredients for grapefruit equivalents.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
What Does Faux Gin and Tonic With Kombucha Taste Like?
Faux gin and tonic with kombucha take on a good balance of citrusy, floral, and herbal notes. The juniper berries provide the refreshing pine flavor typically associated with gin. At the same time, the tart kombucha, sour lime juice, and the fizz from the tonic water all blend seamlessly well in this booze-free concoction.
And just like the real deal, this mocktail is light and peppy. The kombucha adds a bit of tartness but is not too bold to overpower the rest of the flavors.
If you want to indulge in a taste reminiscent of liquor, try alcohol-free gin. Non-alcoholic spirits, like the cardamom-infused Seedlip, have .5% or less ABV.
Does a Faux Gin and Tonic With Kombucha Have Any Health Benefits?
Kombucha is an excellent source of probiotics, which help facilitate the body’s digestive functions. This beverage also contains antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, this drink also helps improve liver function, reduce the risk of heart disease, and regulate sugar levels in the body.
- Are rich in vitamins A and C.
- May help to prevent arthritis and diabetes.
- Can be helpful for GI issues.
- Have antibacterial and antifungal properties.
Lemons and lime juice are rich in vitamin C and help fight viral infections.
The only ingredient without clear health benefits is tonic water, but its hydrating properties are still worth a mention.
How Much Caffeine Is In a Faux Gin and Tonic With Kombucha?
With only 4 ounces of jasmine tea kombucha per serving, a faux gin and tonic with kombucha has approximately 4 mg of caffeine. If you change the tea base of your kombucha brew, the caffeine content will likely increase. However, homemade kombucha doesn’t contain enough caffeine to affect most adults negatively.
How Many Calories Are In a Faux Gin and Tonic With Kombucha?
There are about 80 calories in one serving of faux gin and tonic with kombucha. Here’s a caloric breakdown per serving to help you see where the calories come from more clearly:
- Jasmine tea kombucha: 18 calories
- Tonic water: 40 calories
- Juniper berries: 10 calories
- Lime juice: 6 calories
- Lemon peel: 1 calorie
- Lime wedge: 5 calories
Should You Make This Recipe with Young, Sweet Kombucha or Older, Sour Kombucha?
I recommend using young, sweet kombucha. Like other non-alcoholic cocktails made from kombucha, the light and sweet flavors of newly fermented kombucha perfectly complement the rest of the ingredients.
If you have older kombucha, consider repurposing it as a starter tea instead. This way, you can maintain a continuous flow of fresh kombucha that you can enjoy.