When we talk about fruit punches, we are immediately reminded of summer vacations, ice cubes and homemade drinks with pre-mix sachets. Its tangy freshness soothes the heated body after a long day in the sweltering sun. We wouldn’t miss that any day, but what if we said you could one-up that same magic from the comfort of your home? The perfect companion to your midday lulls is this chilled fruit punch mocktail. It is refreshing, delicious and irresistible. What more do we want from our mocktails? Take a deep dive into the recipe with us and discover how to make this mix fruit punch mocktail from scratch.
Essentially, a fruit punch mocktail is a homogenous blend of your favourite fruit juices. They beautifully complement each other with their unique flavour profiles. The mocktail can be seen often paired with fresh slices of fruit and other flavourings. Its delicate floral notes and tanginess make it a household favourite among children and adults of all ages. The fruit punch mocktail ingredients' stark yellowish-orange hue catches the light quite well, adding a splash of colour to your brunch table.
We all love a little inside scoop on why certain ingredients and combinations just work—no questions asked. The trick to this is a careful selection and a keen balance of ingredients. Here are some key elements to this fruit punch mocktail recipe that pack a punch:
Orange Juice: A true backbone of all summer citrusy drinks is the mighty orange. The pulp of an orange is sweet, with a slightly tangy body that does wonders when added to a mocktail. It is vibrant yet finely balanced without losing its own identity amongst the sea of other fruit juices in this recipe. You may mix and match a variety of oranges, such as blood oranges, to add a burst of colour to the punch.
Pineapple Juice: Another aromatic ingredient after orange is your fun (not-so) little pineapple. Being a juicy fruit with a wonderful flavour profile, pineapples make for a great addition to your homemade beverages. When juiced, unlike its rough, prickly rind, the extracted juice allows for a smooth drink that one cannot get enough of. The sweet notes with the zing of tart complement the citrusy oranges beautifully. If you are in the mood to experiment, mango juice or even passion fruit juice can be delightful substitutes in this recipe.
Lemon Juice: We’ve got something sweet; we’ve got something tangy; all we need is a contrasting sharp acidity to cut through these. Lemon juice is a perfect contender to do so. It is sour, acidic and tart. It holds the essence to balance the notes of the juices and allows for a complex portfolio of flavours so that you can have a glass or two of this fruit punch mocktail without getting tired of it.
Add some freshly sliced fruits to the glass and serve fresh with a sprig of mint leaves for garnish.