Sparkling Mint Cran-Ginger Punch

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This year some of my closest friends and I decided to abandon new years’ resolutions. Instead, we made short term goals in five domains (food, work, working out, spiritual, and misc.) that we plan to reevaluate every few months and tweak accordingly. In preparation for my first set of goals, I decided to do a ‘detox’ from New Years to Chinese New Years (I am very much looking forward to the year of the rabbit!!!). One aspect of this detox is no drinking. Sigh.

I made version 2 of this punch on Sunday because I wanted something fun to drink during my first big dinner while detoxing. (I made version 1 on Christmas so that my brother, who doesn’t drink, wouldn’t feel left out as I drank wine with dinner).

Also, just because I’m in the mood to share today… another aspect of my detox is daily self-affirmation that I say while looking at myself in the mirror. Last week’s was “I trust in the process of life.” And this week’s is “I am courageous.” Soooooo, if you are detoxing or just want a fun drink, definitely try this punch. The muddled mint adds freshness and the ginger brings some kick.

Sparkling Mint Cran-Ginger Punch (Version 1)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup ginger simple syrup (see recipe below)

2 1/2 cups sparkling cranberry juice

1/4 cup mint (loosely packed)

ice

slices of orange, lemon, and lime

Method:

*Add mint to bottom of a pitcher. Bruise mint by hitting it (I used the back of a spoon). Add ice, slices of citrus, simple syrup, and sparkling cranberry juice. Stir and enjoy!

Sparkling Mint Cran-Ginger Punch (Version 2)

Ingredients:

1 cup ginger simple syrup (see recipe below)

2 cups sparkling water (I used orange flavored)

1 cup cranberry juice

1/4 cup mint (loosely packed)

ice

slices of orange, lemon, and lime

Method:

*Add mint to bottom of a pitcher. Bruise mint by hitting it (I used the back of a spoon). Add ice, slices of citrus, simple syrup, and sparkling water, and cranberry juice. Stir and enjoy!


Ginger Simple Syrup

Ingredients:

4 cups of water

1 cup of sugar

3 tablespoons of agave

juice of one tangerine, reserve peel (optional)

fresh ginger peeled and sliced (3-5 inch piece)

Method:

*Add water, juice, and prepped ginger to medium saucepan. Heat over medium heat for twenty minutes. (The second time I made this syrup, I also included the peel from the orange. I really liked the subtle bitterness from adding the orange peel, but this is a personal preference!)

*Add sugar and agave. Stir to dissolve and reduce to approximately one cup of syrup. The reduction occurs slowly, but it’s worth the wait to extract all of that great ginger flavor (and it will make your house smell amazing!). (Save the ginger and sprinkle with sugar for a great snack!). I use the syrup for all sorts of purposes–obviously, it’s great in this punch, but it would also be great in tea, coffee, or a cosmo. Sigh. 😀

Written by

Tiffany M. Griffin is the woman behind Como Water, Washington DC’s premiere veg-centric cuisine consulting company. Through cooking classes, demonstrations, catering, and consultations, Como Water gives people the opportunity to learn how to prepare veg-centric cuisine that boasts maximum flavor, with minimal effort. Tiffany is quickly becoming a go-to expert on the future of veg-centric cuisine, and is a regular contributor to Como Water, the blog, as well as to vegetarian and vegan sites across the Internet. For over a decade, this self-taught, entrepreneurial expert has developed a set of tried and true techniques for making simple, delicious, and sometimes decadent veg-centric dishes. Featured on the Steve Harvey Show and other leading media outlets, Tiffany was born and raised in Springfield, MA. She then earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Communications from Boston College and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan. She now resides in Washington DC, where she has worked in the US Senate and at a federal agency on issues around health, food, nutrition, and international food aid/development, and of course, as the owner of Como Water. Tiffany gets culinary inspiration from the food she grew up eating, and from her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is dedicated to sharing her wealth of knowledge on veg-centric cuisine with others and to help others live by her mantra—love life, live long, and eat veg-centric cuisine!

Comments

  1. Wow! these sound incredibly good!

  2. Tiffany,
    This beverage punch with the ginger syrup made with agave is wonderful! It’s 40 degrees outside but I would still love a glass of this punch!

  3. I’m not detoxing but I am so thirsty right now looking at your photos and recipes. It sounds and looks amazing. Definitely a keeper!

  4. I can definitely smell the fragrance already! Truly divine drinks. Your pictures are stunning.

  5. Yummm, I love drinks with ginger. Must be really refreshing specially after a day like today 80 degrees. Yep…. 80 I live in La.la.la land. lol

    • I thought I was lucky! It was 60 degrees in NC the other day and I was twirling around like a school girl!

  6. Ooh this sounds awesome! Looks very refreshing

  7. A beautiful, refreshing beverage!

  8. These look fabulous! I wouldn’t miss the alcohol if I had this to drink!

  9. wow great i love ginger and this drink i’ll definately try, thanks sharing.

  10. Oh wow that’s an awesome punch! It’s freezing out here, but I’d still take a glass or two!

  11. Sounds and looks like a fabulous punch!!!

  12. Looks and sounds like a refreshing drink. I will save this one for warmer weather! Well done!

  13. This sounds delicious…anything with mint and ginger is a winner in my book! Good luck with your detox/not drinking…I should probably do the same, but the only time I succeeded in doing that was the month before my wedding (good motivation!).

    • Thanks! It’s kind of amazing how much of my social life revolves around alcohol! LOL! Luckily in Durham, the bartenders have good memories … they’ve had Shirley Temples waiting for me for me at the bar, the last two times I’ve gone out 😀

  14. I hope you don’t need to detox to enjoy this gem of a drink 😉 Love the flavours and the fact that it’s got a little fizz to it!

  15. Wow, this sounds wonderful and refreshing. It mixes so many things I love…mint, cranberries, ginger, it’s just brilliant!

  16. Looks so refreshing and delicious!

  17. This looks amazing! I am so glad I found your blog! I am going to the store today and pick up some fresh ginger and then I look so forward to making this.

  18. Wow this looks so tasty and refreshing!!

  19. WOW what a great punch, I must try this!

  20. What a lovely drink, does not feel like you are cutting back on anything too, and the ginger syrup is inviting

  21. Hello. Thank you for commenting on my blog. You asked me what is Turkish delight.
    It is also called Lokum,. It is a bit difficult to explain, but you can find something here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_delight

    Have a nice day.

    • THANKS! This was super helpful! 😀

  22. I really like this! Beings that I don’t drink it is difficult to find anything like this. The mint and cranberry would be so refreshing together!

  23. I have been growing my own mint leaves and i am so happy i can finally use them in this drink which btw sounds so cool and refreshing on a hot, sunny day! hehe

  24. MMM! This sounds so delicious. I love bright, tart flavors like cranberry and ginger. I am definitely going to make this for my next family event!

  25. This looks so yummy, and refreshing… I will seriously be making this soon! Now I’m thirsty… 😉

  26. This sounds wonderful – refreshing and a great combo of flavors! I wouldn’t miss the alcohol at all with this drink. Good luck with your detox!

  27. Oooo, the ginger simple syrup is a GREAT idea!

  28. Very refreshing and flavorful drink! Love the combination you have used..

  29. I like the thought of short term goals rather than resolutions….much more likely to stick to them. 😉 The punch looks delightful.

  30. I need to detox too! This looks great!

  31. Several of my favourite flavours in there. How lovely to have a non-alcoholic cocktail with a ginger kick.

  32. Thanks everyone for your kind words about the punch! Also, thank you to those who wished me luck in the detox. Just a bit longer now … 😉

  33. Oooooh! This sounds wonderful! I could totally use a detox, too. Trying to get over this awful cold that my family and I seem to be passing back and forth to each other!

  34. Tiffany,
    Love your site. That bev looks as freshing as it looks beeeeutiful!! Though I may add a little Rum to mine. 🙂 Jenny