This non-alcoholic martini has several gut-friendly ingredients and tastes delicious!

When you want to enjoy a cocktail-type drink, but don’t want to feel the negative side effects of an alcoholic beverage, then this “mocktini” is a good one to try. Alcohol is a gut irritant and promotes inflammation, so removing alcohol from the recipe makes this beverage easy on the digestive tract. It also eliminates a hangover!

How can this delicious mocktini be gut-friendly?

Here are some health benefits of the ingredients!

• Pomegranate juice:
  • provides polyphenols which have a prebiotic effect by feeding the healthy microbes in the gut
  • polyphenols from pomegranate juice may also support a healthy intestinal barrier and have an anti-inflammatory effect
• Ginger kombucha:
  • ginger is soothing to the digestive tract
  • kombucha is a fermented tea-based beverage that is a source of probiotics
• Bitters:
  • bitters may help relieve gas, bloating, and upset stomach

Recipe for Ginger Pomegranate Mocktini

Ingredients (serves 2):

8 ounces chilled ginger kombucha (GT’s Gingerade is widely available)
3 ounces chilled pomegranate juice (POM brand pomegranate juice is 100% juice)
5 ounces chilled sparkling water (or lemon infused water if sensitive to carbonation)
3 dashes orange bitters (alcohol-free preferred)
Ice cubes
Garnish with pomegranates, blueberries, or green herb (rosemary sprig, mint leaf, etc.)
Sugar-rimmed glasses are optional for visual appeal (skip the sugar for a healthier drink)

Directions:

• Combine the kombucha, pomegranate juice, sparkling water, and bitters in a glass pitcher.
• Stir gently until well mixed.
• Pour into two 12-ounce martini glasses.
• Add ice cubes.
• Garnish if desired.

Sip and relax!