Dry January is here again and with it, the hunt for cocktail alternatives. Luckily, there’s no shortage of tasty mocktail recipes in 2025. With the right ingredients, you can even transform your non-alcoholic drink into a kind of elixir, also known as a functional drink. This type of drink has health benefits beyond hydration – and taste a lot better than plain water.
We’ve put together a list of mocktail ingredients that can maximize the health benefits of your drinks. Whether you give up alcohol for January or you are sober year-round, these soft drink components can potentially help everything from your immune system to your stomach.
1. Ginger
Ginger has several health benefits, especially for your gut. Gingerol, a component of fresh ginger, helps your body digest food faster and may relieve nausea. Johns Hopkins Medicine points out that ginger can also reduce the amount of bloating and gas you experience. Additionally, ginger contains many anti-inflammatory compounds.
Among the more than 400 natural compounds contained in ginger, some of them prevent oral bacteria from growing. While a ginger mocktail can’t replace your mouthwash, using this ingredient may be better for your teeth than many high-sugar mixers.
Ginger is famous for flavoring mule drinks, but it can also be combined with many ingredients. Consider adding a pinch of ginger to your cocktail with some of the following:
- Hibiscus
- Lime
- Lemon
- Cucumber
- Mint
- Cranberry
2. Elderberry
Elderberries are dark purple berries that grow on several continents. Before adding them to your mocktail, it is essential to know that they should not be eaten raw. They must be cooked to reduce toxic compounds called cyanogenic glycosides which can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems, dizziness and weakness. However, once your elderberries are cooked and safe to eat, they offer a number of potential health benefits and a tart flavor profile.
Mount Sinai says elderberry can help with congestion and is often used to treat cold and flu symptoms. It can also lend itself to upper respiratory health. These the berries are filled with everything from vitamin C and vitamin A to potassium and fiber. If you don’t want to buy and cook the berries themselves, you can also get elderberry in liquid, syrup, capsule, or gummy form.
Elderberries are tart but can be offset by other ingredients to round out the taste. These berries are often associated with:
- Blueberry
- Litchi
- Mint
- Ginger
- Apple juice
- Spearmint
3. Coconut water
Coconut water comes from the center of a coconut. It’s not only sweet and perfect for a mocktail, but it’s very hydrating. Coconut water is full of electrolytesincluding sodium and magnesium. These electrically charged minerals help your body retain water and can rehydrate you after a workout or if you’re sick.
Although data is currently limited, some older studies suggest that the potassium present in coconut water may be enough to help you manage high blood pressure. Potassium also helps your body eliminate excess sodium and reduce pressure on your blood vessels.
Coconut water would be great in a mocktail with other ingredients like:
- Pineapple juice
- orange juice
- Mint
- Lime
- Raspberry
- Basil
4. Pure cranberry juice
Pure cranberry juice is different from cranberry cocktail because it contains no added sugar. While this makes the drink quite tangy, it has several health benefits that make it a good addition to your next mocktail. On the one hand, pure cranberry juice is beneficial for your urinary system. Cleveland Clinic says that while cranberry juice can’t cure a urinary tract infection, it can help you prevent one in the first place. Cranberry prevents E. coli from attaching to your bladder, which often leads to a more serious infection.
Additionally, type A proanthocyanidins found in pure cranberry juice may reduce harmful microbes in your colon and improve your digestive health. This type of juice can also prevent bacteria from forming in your mouth.
The next time you make a new mocktail recipe, consider combining your pure cranberry juice with some of the following:
- orange juice
- Mint
- Rosemary
- Elderflower
- Apple juice
- Ginger
5. Raw honey
If you’re looking for a way to sweeten a mocktail without sugar, consider raw honey. This is honey coming directly from a hive, filtered and bottled. It does not go through the pasteurization (heating) process like regular honey does. Although raw honey may contain bacteria, it is still safe for most healthy adults and contains plenty of it. more nutritional value than regular honey.
Raw honey is full of vitamins and mineralsincluding calcium, magnesium, zinc, potassium and riboflavin. It’s a good source of antioxidantswhich help protect your body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals. Raw honey also has antibacterial properties.
You may want to add raw honey to your drink along with these complementary ingredients:
- Tangerine
- Wise
- Agave
- Blackberry
- Mint
- Lemon
6. Green tea
It turns out that green tea isn’t just good for breakfast. You can also add it to a mocktail at any time and enjoy a caffeine boost along with many potential health benefits. According to Cleveland ClinicGreen tea can help you with everything from inflammation to high cholesterol. The amino acids found in green tea may even support brain health, improving your memory and concentration.
Green tea is high in L-theanine, which may help some people prevent type 2 diabetes. This amino acid is also known to decrease stress and anxiety, making your mocktail experience even more relaxing.
If you are I don’t drink at the momentGreen tea makes an excellent base for a variety of mocktails. The refreshing drink can be accompanied by ingredients such as:
- Passion fruit
- Coconut water
- Basil
- Pineapple juice
- Dear
- Blueberries
7. Tart cherry juice
Tart cherries don’t taste as good as sweet cherries when eaten raw, but they can be made into a healthy juice packed with nutrients. Tart cherry juice contains iron, zinc and calcium and also contains anti-inflammatory propertiesthanks to its anthocyanin compounds.
If you decide to make a cocktail after a workout, adding tart cherry juice might help you recover faster. It can reduce your muscle pain and facilitate blood circulation. You may also want to enjoy a cherry mocktail in the evening. Tart cherry juice has been shown to increase sleep time by increasing your melatonin production.
You can combine tart cherry juice with sweet ingredients to balance its tangy flavor. Also try adding a few to your next drink:
- Dear
- Maple syrup
- Pineapple juice
- Vanilla
- orange juice
- Chamomile tea
The essentials
Mocktails offer a way to socialize or relax at home without consuming alcohol. They allow you to recreate some of your favorite cocktails with nutrient-rich ingredients, and you can even create something better than your favorite Paloma. The healthy ingredients on this list are just the beginning. You can play with a myriad of whole foods, from grapefruit juice to crushed blueberries, until you find the perfect recipe.