This pomegranate mocktail blends 100% pomegranate juice with fresh orange juice and mint for a refreshing holiday drink. Top it with sparkling water for festive bubbles, or skip it for a still version over ice. With its gorgeous ruby-red color and elegant presentation, it's perfect for Christmas, New Year's Eve, or any occasion worth toasting.
This pomegranate mocktail is our absolute favorite. Everyone always loves it, and it's a great option when kids or pregnant friends want to join in the cheering. Pomegranates are royalty among fresh fruit, and ancient Greek mythology regarded them as a symbol of life and good fortune, making this the perfect drink for toasting new beginnings. And because presentation is part of the celebration, I always add a few extra pomegranate arils to each glass for a beautiful finishing touch.
Planning a holiday toast? You might also like my Festive Grapefruit Mocktail With Ginger or Sparkling Pineapple Mojito Mocktail.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: Made with simple ingredients like pomegranate juice, orange juice, and fresh mint, this mocktail comes together in just 10 minutes with store-bought juice. Fresh juice takes 30 minutes.
- Balancing flavors: Fresh mint balances the fruit's sweetness and adds a touch of sophistication.
- Festive and elegant: The beautiful ruby-red color looks stunning in champagne glasses with a sugar rim and fresh fruit garnishes.
- A toast everyone can share: This non-alcoholic holiday drink is perfect for Christmas, New Year's Eve, and festive gatherings. Serve it in individual glasses or make a big batch for a crowd.
Ingredients & Notes
- Pomegranate juice: Go for unsweetened 100% pomegranate juice, not a blend. If you juice the fruit yourself, which I recommend, you'll need about 4 to 5 large whole pomegranates or the equivalent amount of arils. You'll appreciate the freshness and the infinitely better flavor.
- Fresh mint leaves: Don't skip this herb. It adds a bright flavor and a wonderful scent, and it cools down the sweetness of the citrus and pomegranate.
- Clementine or orange juice: You only need ¾ cup, which is the juice of two or three large oranges. Freshly juiced blood oranges are a great choice, too.
- Coconut sugar: Just a little for the rims of the glasses. Light brown sugar works too, but I find coconut sugar nearly as sweet with that hint of caramel.
- Garnishes: Extra pomegranate arils from one whole pomegranate, orange slices, lemon slices or lime wedges, frozen or fresh cranberries, extra mint leaves, and fresh rosemary. All great options to make it festive for a special occasion.
- Sparkling water: Gives the mocktail its fizz. Sparkling white grape juice with no added sugar is another option, but it makes the drink a bit sweeter.
How To Make A Pomegranate Mocktail
Step 1 - Blend the Juices and Mint: Place the pomegranate juice, orange juice, and mint leaves in a blender. Blend until well combined and the mint leaves are shredded to bits.
Step 2 - Check the Foam: The mixture will be covered with fruity foam. That is normal.
Step 3 - Skim and Strain: Skim off most of the foam and set a little aside. Pour the juice through a sieve into a large pitcher to catch any bits of mint.
Step 4 - Add the Sparkling Water and Serve: Stir in the pre-chilled sparkling water and, if desired, a little of the reserved foam for a champagne-like finish (optional, but I always do). Pour into prepared glasses, add your garnishes, and serve immediately.
How To Make A Coconut Sugar Rim
A coconut sugar rim gives the glasses a golden, fancy look, and it tastes delicious too. You can make this mocktail as festive-looking as you like for the occasion.
Step 1 - Wet the Rims: Place a thick slice of orange, lemon, or lime flat on a cutting board or small plate. Turn the glass upside down and dab the rim into the slice, turning the glass slightly so the whole edge gets wet. I recommend orange for its naturally sweet taste.
Step 2 - Dip in the Sugar: Keeping the glass upside down, immediately dab the rim lightly into the coconut sugar while slowly turning the glass to cover all the outer edges.
Step 3 - Shake Off the Excess: Shake off any loose sugar, turn the glass upright, and fill it gently so the drink doesn't splash the rim.
Note: Use an unrefined golden coconut sugar with fine crystals. If your sugar has large granules, blend or grind it finer before coating the rims.
Top Tips
- Strain out any mint pieces: Your blended drink shouldn't contain mint bits, but if it does, pour it through a sieve into a pitcher or serving bowl.
- Chill the sparkling water ahead: Refrigerating it in advance gives the drink an instant chill.
- Expect the color to vary: The drink's color and foam depend on the juice. Store-bought pomegranate juice gives a whiter foam, and fresh homemade juice gives a pinker foam, so use fresh pomegranates if you can.
- Keep your mint fresh: Store fresh mint in the fridge for up to one week or longer. Rinse the leaves and gently pat them dry before using.
Holiday Mocktail Garnish Ideas
- Drink out of elegant glasses: Champagne glasses or coupes instantly make it feel like a celebration.
- Add a sugar rim: See the coconut sugar rim steps above.
- Hide pomegranate seeds in the bottom: A few arils at the bottom of each glass are a cute little surprise with the last sip.
- Decorate the rims: Rest a third of an orange slice on each rim. Or cut a tiny opening at the bottom of a mint leaf with scissors and rest the cut side on the rim.
- Float garnishes in the glass: Citrus slices, cranberries, mint leaves, or rosemary all work.
- Use good stir sticks: Try stainless steel and crystal stir sticks. Good quality ones last forever and can be used for event after event.
- Explore your own ideas: Feel free to add your own creations.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this pomegranate mocktail right away to ring in the New Year or make your ritual toast. It's one of my favorite New Year's mocktails, very much loved by adults and kids alike, and a thoughtful drink for pregnant guests.
For a larger crowd, a non-alcoholic punch bowl, or extra refills, double or triple the recipe. Serve it from a beautiful large jug or shallow bowl and add the garnishes right into it.
I like to serve it with my Homemade Biscoff Cookies or Fennel Cucumber Bites With Creamy Tuna. For more ideas for your table, browse my Holiday Recipes.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, as an optional still version. Leave out the sparkling water and serve the drink over ice cubes or as-is. You'll have a bit less to serve, so you might need to make a little more. I prefer it with a little bubble.
Yes. Blend the pomegranate juice, orange juice, and mint leaves in advance and store the juice covered in the fridge. Stir in the cold sparkling water right before serving, then add the garnishes.
Yes. With store-bought juice, the drink comes together in about 10 minutes. Juicing the pomegranates at home takes about 30 minutes, but it's well worth the effort because fresh juice is sweeter, less astringent, and has so much better flavor.
You have three options. The Greatist has a great step-by-step process for deseeding a pomegranate using water, after testing various techniques. There are also affordable pomegranate deseeders that get rave reviews and are worth it if you eat this fruit regularly, although I don't own one myself.
Or, if dissecting pomegranates doesn't intimidate you, do it by hand. Count on about ½ cup of juice per pomegranate, and wear an apron or something you don't mind staining!
Place the peeled fruit on a flat surface, crown up, and use your fingers to gently open it. A very ripe fruit opens easily. Otherwise, use the tip of your knife to bore gently into the white part of the crown until the fruit begins to crack. Break it into segments, removing any large white pith or membranes. Hold one segment over a bowl and pop the seeds out by gently rolling your thumb over them, away from the pith, as you bend the segment open. Repeat.
📖 Recipe
Pomegranate Mocktail (Easy Holiday Drink)
Mariska RamondinoEquipment
Ingredients
For the pomegranate mocktails
- 2 ½ cups unsweetened 100% pomegranate juice 20 fl.ounces or 600 ml
- ¾ cup unsweetened fresh orange juice 6 fl. ounces or 187 ml, the juice of about 2 to 3 large oranges
- 6 to 8 large fresh mint leaves plus more to garnish
- 1 cup sparkling water 8 fl. ounces or 236 ml
For the sugar rim
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar or light brown sugar or enough to coat the rims of the glasses
- orange slices cut crosswise (for wetting the lip of the glasses and for decoration)
Garnishes (optional)
- pomegranate arils, fresh orange lime and lemon slices, frozen or fresh cranberries, extra mint leaves, and fresh rosemary leaves.
Instructions
Make the pomegranate mocktail
- Add the pomegranate juice, orange juice, and mint leaves to a blender.2 ½ cups unsweetened 100% pomegranate juice, ¾ cup unsweetened fresh orange juice, 6 to 8 large fresh mint leaves
- Blend until combined and the mint is shredded to bits.
- Skim most of the foam off the top with a slotted spoon. Set aside a little foam.
- Pour the juice through a sieve into a large pitcher.
- Right before serving, stir in the pre-chilled sparkling water and a little reserved foam (optional) to simulate the bubbles of champagne.1 cup sparkling water
- Add garnishes to the pitcher or punch bowl, or garnish individual glasses.pomegranate arils, fresh orange lime and lemon slices, frozen or fresh cranberries, extra mint leaves, and fresh rosemary leaves.
Make the sugar rim
- Cut a thick round slice from the orange. Use the rest for garnish.orange slices cut crosswise
- Place the orange slice on a cutting board or flat surface. Place the coconut sugar on a small plate beside it.1 teaspoon coconut sugar or light brown sugar
- Turn each glass upside down. Gently dip the rim into the orange slice, then immediately into the sugar, turning to coat the outer edges.
- Turn the glass upright. Add garnishes and fill gently without splashing the rim.
Decorate the glasses (optional)
- Rest ⅓ of an orange slice on each rim. Drop a few pomegranate arils into each glass.
- Or cut a tiny opening at the base of a mint leaf with scissors and rest the cut side on the rim.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
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Nutrition (% Daily value)
Disclaimer: This nutritional data is calculated using third party tools and is only intended as a reference.
Cristina says
I love pomegranates! I’ll have to give this mocktail one a try!
Oh, and I love your photos!
Becky says
This is absolutely beautiful, and I love fresh pomegranate. I have a little peeling experience because my uncle really liked them and used to bring one when we were kids every time he visited, so we would peel them together!
Kait | Slumber & Scones says
These look delicious! I love how they are fun and festive even without alcohol, but I probably would add a splash of prosecco to mine like you suggest. I've never tried to peel a pomegranate, but it looks like a fun challenge.
Ramona says
This is truly an elegant drink dear Mariska. It’s a must make this Christmas for my friends that gave up alcohol but not only. Beautiful presentation too! Thank you soo much for sharing this wonderful recipe ❤️
Mariska says
Thank you so much, Ramona. I truly appreciate that!