Zero Waste Festive Drinks

The Christmas season is an opportune time to indulge in some fruity, fizzy drinks. I have selected a few of my favourite for you to try. They are nutritious and non-alcoholic and I have chosen ingredients that I was able to find with no landfill waste.

1. Cranberry Fizzle

Cranberries are really high in antioxidants and vitamin C which we need for our body to stay healthy. This drink uses oranges also and sparkling water which is easy to buy in glass bottles.

First make some fresh cranberry juice.

For this you will need 1 lb of fresh cranberries.

Place them in a pot and add 1 litre of water.

Bring to the boil and reduce heat and simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the cranberries have burst.

Remove from the heat and allow the mixture to cool before transferring to a bowl via a sieve and some muslin cloth.

Squeeze out all the excess juice. Put the left over cranberries on your compost.

Chill the juice. This will make about 1 litre of juice and should last a week in the fridge.

Next step...Freshly squeeze about 3 oranges. Chill.

Get your glass and add 1 cup of cranberry juice to 1 cup of orange juice.

Add about 1/2 cup of sparkling water.

Garnish with some fresh cranberries and slices of orange.

You can add ice for extra coolness.

2. Pink Supreme

Pink grapefruit is also really high in antioxidants and Vit C and also Vit A which is needed for healthy vision, skin and bones.

For this drink we are going to start off by making a rosemary syrup.

For this place 1 cup of water with 1 cup of coconut sugar in a pot and heat on medium until the sugar has dissolved. Make sure you don't let it boil.

When the sugar is dissolved, add 3 springs of rosemary and take off the heat.

Allow to steep for about an hour.

Remove the rosemary. Place in a bottle in the fridge.

It will keep for up to 10 days.

Next step....squeeze about 3 pink grapefruits. Chill in fridge.

Get your glass and add 1 cup of pink grapefruit juice to 1 tbsp rosemary syrup.

Fill the rest of the glass with sparkling water.

Garnish with fresh sprigs of rosemary and slices of pink grapefruit.

3. Ginger Zing

Ginger is great for a healthy immune system and lime is high in Vit C so this drink is a winner.

First juice about two limes.

Next to make the drink add 1/2 cup sparkling water to a glass.

Add 1 1/2 cups ginger beer and approx 3 tbsps of lime juice.

Garnish with fresh slices of ginger and slices of lime.

There you have it. Three very different but seriously delicious drinks for you to enjoy over the festive season.

Thanks for reading.

May your New Year be filled with laughter and joy.

References for recipes:

1. http://www.frugalmomeh.com/2015/12/cranberry-orange-spritzer.html

2. http://www.thecasualcraftlete.com/2015/04/28/grapefruit-and-rosemary-mocktail-2/

3. https://naturallyella.com/ginger-lime-fizz-non-alcoholic/