Mango Mocktail Margarita (no alcohol)

Don't drink alcohol but want a festive, refreshing margarita mocktail? Try my mango non-alcoholic margarita recipe with a tangy secret ingredient. Blend up a batch and enjoy. Great for entertaining, guests that prefer not to imbibe, and kids!

Many people don't drink alcohol today. It may be for religious or spiritual reasons, for health reasons such as pregnancy or medication complications. It might be due to following a paleo or other diet. And it might be they just don't like the taste, not to mention, the effects of alcohol.  Frankly, it's a healthy choice.

But that doesn't mean you don't want to enjoy drinking something tasty and festive. Non-alcoholic drinks called mocktails or virgin cocktails are the answer.

What's in A Traditional Margarita?

Besides tequila, traditional margarita recipes use something called sweet and sour mix. The base of this mix is simple syrup, a combination of half water and half refined white sugar boiled down to a sweet syrup. Citrus juice is then added to to make the sweet and sour mix. Whether you buy it or make it, it's loaded with sugar. But without any sweetener, this virgin margarita is pretty tart.

Alternative Sweeteners

So what to use to sweeten it up a bit? Raw agave syrup works well, as agave syrup comes from the agave plant, where tequila is distilled from. A no-sugar option is lemon and orange Sweet Drops by Sweet Leaf. You can use the drops and agave to sweeten to your taste preferences and make the virgin margarita as sweet or as tart as you like. Another no-sugar alternative to simple syrup is this, ready made. A true sugar-free syrup.

Tropical Flavors: Lime, Lemon, Orange and Mango

Citrus is important for a good margarita. Start with limes. I use whole peeled limes to give the margarita more texture and substance than just lime juice. They way to peel them is using a chef-y term called supreming. 

Slice a thin piece off the top and bottom of the lime. Sit the lime flat on a cutting board. With a sharp knife, follow the curve of the lime, slicing off strips of peel until all peel is removed. See the video below for a quick tutorial. You can do them ahead of time if needed.

A few frozen mango cubes gives this margarita more flavor and texture, and they are easy to keep in the freezer.

Complete the Mocktail

Squeeze fresh lemon and orange juice, add ice cubes, the frozen mango, a cup of sparkling Pellegrino water, and that tangy secret ingredient? Apple cider vinegar. And don't forget your peeled whole limes. Blend away until frothy and enjoy!