The Art of Garnishing: Elevating Your Fruit Drinks to the Next Level

The first thing you do when a tall glass of mocktail is set on the counter before you is take in its beauty, garnish and vibrant colours. The next step is to sip the drink slowly to savour it leisurely. In the realm of fruit juices (beverages or drinks), garnish ideas and presentations hold the key to creating something magical. If you are eager to know more about this art of adding finishing touches to your fruit drink or mocktails, then these ideas illustrated below can be just what you need to make sure your sips are as pleasing to the eye as the tongue. 

5 Garnishing Techniques You Must Try At Home

Ready to unleash your inner artist? Here is a list of mocktail garnish techniques you can try at home to transform your drinks into masterpieces: 

1. Citrus Twists

An excellent example of a citrus twist used in mainstream drinks is the infamous "martini". Here, a vegetable peeler is used to cut a slice of the citrus peel and then twist it with hands into shape. In some cases, the peel is also slid over the rim of the glass to deposit the citrus oil and zest into the drink. The colour of the peel and oil gives body to the drink and can be perched on the rim as a garnish or added to the drink itself.

2.  Fruit Wedges and Skewers

If you ever wonder what to do with orange pulp after juicing, consider incorporating it into baked food like muffins or pancakes for added flavour and moisture. The natural sweetness of the orange pulp can enhance the overall taste of your breakfast treats. You can also try adding some zest from the orange peel for an extra burst of citrus flavour. Experiment with different fruit pulp leftovers in a wide range of baking recipes.

3. Herbs & Spices

Herbs can be more than just muddle-able ingredients in your fruit juices and beverages; they can be a ticket to a multitude of presentational ideas. While we are familiar with the ubiquitous mint sprig, some other herbs and spices you may experiment with are rosemary, basil, thyme and lavender, as well as anise, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and cardamom. 

4. Edible Flowers

Who doesn't love a flower bouquet? Well, we won't be using an entire bouquet here, but mocktail garnishes that pair well with fruit juices are irrevocably flowers. Their vibrancy and subtle flavour add an air of elegance to your drinks. Some food-safe flowers you can incorporate into your fruit drink ideas are pansies, hibiscus, borage, violets, roses, lavender, carnations, honeysuckle, chamomile, marigold and nasturtium. 

5. Sugar & Salt Rims

While we are familiar with the common salt rims at the edge of your glasses, when experimenting with garnishing ideas, always think beyond them. Some cool options include using flavoured sugars with spices like cinnamon and cardamom to add a pop. For a savoury touch, try incorporating kosher salt, spiced with lime, chilli, citrus and more. 

How to Match Garnishes to Your Drinks

The trick to garnishing your fruit drinks is to ensure a harmonious balance between your flavour and aesthetic ideas. Here are a few ways to achieve that:

● Flavour enhancer: Garnishes that either complement or contrast can enhance them by bringing harmony and complexity to your drink.

● Colour coordinate: If your drink is simple lemon juice or a translucent lychee mocktail, adding cucumber slices or a bright red raspberry can make it more visually appealing.

These rather simple elements, such as a zesty lime wedge or plump mango cube, on their own, can truly elevate your homemade drinks to a restaurant-style experience. This act of garnishing your fruit juices with visually striking garnishes or ideas will surely make your parties a buzz-worthy affair. Try BNatural Juices, made from real fruits with no preservatives, for a refreshing taste and a natural glow in every sip!, made from real fruits with no preservatives, for a refreshing taste and a natural glow in every sip!

Why Should You Garnish Your Drinks?

Garnishing is a well-known method to add an ornamental touch to a drink or food and enhance its appeal. However, the art of garnishing goes beyond just adding a decorative frill; it engages an individual to add a boost of aroma and taste to the drink. Think of a simple and fizzy lemon-based drink. Rimming its tall glass with a mix of paprika and salt crystal not only elevates the visual appeal but also adds a layer of tart complexity to the mocktail. Such is the beauty of garnishing.

A few tools that you may find employed to craft these masterpieces are citrus peelers, zesters, knives and skewers. These can be seen used for creating orange twists, lemon zest, fruit wedges and long cucumber slices, respectively.

FAQs

 
How can I make my fruit drink look more appealing with minimal effort?

Simple garnishing ideas you can incorporate in your drinks to make them appealing are citrus twists, citrus zests, food-safe flowers as well as aromatic herbs such as mint, basil, lavender, rosemary and more. 

 Can you eat the garnishes used in fruit drinks?

Yes, most garnishes used in fruit juice drink ideas are edible, especially if they are fruits or food-safe herbs and flowers. However, it is best to ensure that they have been washed, cleaned and are fresh before consumption. 

How do you keep fruit garnishes fresh for longer?

A trick to keeping your fruit garnish designs fresh for longer is by storing them in the refrigerator, in an airtight container or on a damp paper towel. You may also freeze your herbs with water in the ice cube tray to use them in your drinks with ease in the next few days.