Last updated on October 28th, 2024
Are you tired of making the same old mocktail?
Try this lemon ginger mocktail – straight from Italy!
I have been based in Florence since 2012, giving me plenty of time to sample the non-alcoholic aperitivo menus in Italy.
This lemon ginger mocktail comes up time and again at any good bar here. It’s not your typical limonata or fruit juice cocktail but rather, it’s a complex, spicy non-alcoholic Italian drink that always hits the spot.
Try your hand at making this Italian lemon ginger mocktail, one of my favorite Italian mocktails I’ve had during my time in Italy.
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What Is A Lemon Ginger Mocktail?
An Italian lemon ginger mocktail is a refreshing non-alcoholic Italian drink made from sparkling Italian lemonade (sometimes called lemon soda or limonata) spiced up with fresh ginger muddled with lemon.
For a full rundown of my favorite Italian mocktails, check out Italian Mocktails We Actually Drink in Italy.
What Does A Lemon Ginger Mocktail Taste Like?
A lemon ginger mocktail tastes somewhat of a hybrid between a lemon soda and ginger tonic or ginger beer. Muddling the raw ginger with the lemon in the bottle of the glass cuts the sweetness of the limonata, giving the mocktail a slight spicy bite.
Keep In Mind: An Italian lemon ginger mocktail is perfect for minors. Read more about drinking in Italy in The Legal Drinking Age In Italy + Advice From A Local.
Lemon Ginger Mocktail Ingredients
- ¼ lemon lemon
- 3 small slices fresh ginger
- 1 bottle or can of limonata (Italian sparkling lemonade) or homemade limonata
I Recommend: They aren’t always easy to find overseas but in Italy, Lurisia and Lemon Soda are my two preferred limonate to try. If you are in the USA, I recommend this one.
How To Make A Lemon Ginger Mocktail
Cut the lemon into four small pieces and add it to a long drink tall tumbler glass with 3 small slices of ginger.
Muddle well with the back of a wooden spoon, breaking up the ginger and releasing the juice and oil of the lemon peel.
Fill the glass with ice and finish with the Italian limonata, which you can either make with my recipe or use commercially produced varieties, which work equally well in this non-alcoholic cocktail.
Finish with a twist of lemon (a lemon peel) and serve immediately.
Notes and Tips For Making A Lemon Ginger Mocktail
- Chill all your ingredients before using, including the glass.
- Use real lemons. Avoid replacing the lemon pieces with pre squeezed lemon juice
- Use Meyer lemons, if you like.
- Be sure to wash your lemons very well before muddling them.
- Try muddling the ginger and lemon with a sprig of mint for extra flavor.
How To Serve A Lemon Ginger Mocktail
A lemon ginger mocktail is most commonly enjoyed as an aperitivo in Italy, which is why I suggest pairing it with any of the following popular nibbles:
- peanuts or other nuts
- wedges of cheese
- pieces of schiacciata, focaccia or bread
- chips or crackers
- pizzette
- olives
- grissini
Of course, this non-alcoholic Italian drink can be enjoyed as a soft drink and enjoyed with any other foods you might pair normally with a soda such as sandwiches or grilled food.
Check out some Italian mocktails we actually drink in Italy:
Italian Cedrata Long Mocktail
Apertass Italian Mocktail
Italian Lemon Ginger Mocktail
Italian Limonata
Aperol Spritz Mocktail
Crodino Spritz – Italy’s Non-Alcoholic Spritz Made Easy
You may want read My Favorite Mocktail Books That I Use to Make Non-Alcoholic Italian Drinks.
Italian Lemon Ginger Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1/4 lemon
- 2 small slices fresh ginger
- 1 bottle or can limonata (Italian sparkling lemonade) or homemade limonata
Instructions
- Cut the lemon into four small pieces and add it to a long drink tall tumbler glass with 3 small slices of ginger.
- Muddle well with the back of a wooden spoon, breaking up the ginger and releasing the juice and oil of the lemon peel.
- Fill the glass with ice and finish with the Italian limonata, which you can either make with or use commercially produced varieties, which work equally well in this non-alcoholic cocktail.
- Finish with a twist of lemon (a lemon peel) and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chill all your ingredients before using, including the glass.
- Use real lemons. Avoid replacing the lemon pieces with pre squeezed lemon juice
- Use meyer lemons, if you like.
- Be sure to wash your lemons very well before muddling them.
- Try muddling the ginger and lemon with a sprig of mint for extra flavor.