Bedtime Mocktail Series: Grapefruit Lemon Lullaby

Crafted with rest and relaxation in mind, this delicious, calming mocktail offers the perfect balance of bitter, sweet and spicy. Each ingredient has been chosen for its natural properties that help promote restfulness and prepare your body for sleep.

Lemon balm is a renowned herb in the world of relaxation and is well recognised for its ability to help reduce stress and promote calm. In this recipe we use chilled lemon balm tea, which is easy to prepare and has a delicate and soothing flavor profile.

It pairs beautifully with ruby grapefruit which is rich in an antioxidant called lycopene, also known for its ability to help with sleep. The bitter flavor profile pairs beautifully with the spicy ginger and sweet honey (which can also be swapped out for maple syrup or your choice of sweetener if you wish!).

Our last hero ingredient is warm and slightly spicy ginger. Ginger works perfectly in mocktails because it adds that bit of heat and spice that often go missing when we remove alcohol from a drink. It’s also a natural anti-inflammatory that aids digestion and reduces stress, making it a perfect addition to this evening mocktail.

Cheers to your health!

Photo courtesy of Natalie Battaglia.

Read more: Bedtime Mocktail Series: Pineapple Passion

Ingredients

2 oz (30 ml) grapefruit juice
3 oz (90 ml) chilled lemon balm tea
1 inch (thumb) of ginger, peeled and grated
½ tablespoon honey or maple syrup

Method

Add the grapefruit juice, lemon balm tea, ginger and honey/maple syrup to a shaker with some ice and shake well.
Add a little ice to your glass and strain the mixture in. Note: if you use your shakers strainer, the holes will likely be big enough for a few ginger pieces to slip through. I actually love ginger in my drink (it adds to the health benefits!), but if you prefer your drink without, just double strain it by placing a small strainer underneath the shaker as you pour the mocktail into the glass.
Garnish with an extra slice of grapefruit and serve.

Handy tips:

Freshly squeezed grapefruit will also have a superior flavor compared to bottled but bottled is absolutely fine if that’s all you have.

You can replace the honey or maple syrup with your choice of sweetener if you wish.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Battaglia.

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Natalie is the founder of the mocktail recipe blog The Mindful Mocktail. She creates sophisticated, nourishing non-alcoholic cocktails and encourages readers to explore a life with less alcohol. Referred to as a thought leader in the alcohol-free space, Natalie has a passion for making non-alcoholic drinks exciting and delicious.