Description
A refreshing lychee drink mocktail that’s quick and easy to make, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 large lychees, peeled and deseeded, about 3 1/4 ounces, divided
- 1/4 cup cold water
- 1/2 cup calamansi-flavored sparkling water, chilled, divided
- 1 tablespoon diced pink pineapple, optional
Instructions
- > Blend Lychee & Water: Start by adding fresh or canned lychees into a blender with some cold water. You want to blend until it is nice and smooth, with a creamy consistency. This step is crucial to getting that refreshing lychee flavor, so do not rush it. If it is not blending well, just add a splash more water.
- > Strain Mixture: Pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl or pitcher. Let it sit for a moment to catch all the liquid while leaving the pulp behind. This gives you a silky drink. If you skip this step, your mocktail might be a bit gritty, which is not fun.
- > Add Sparkling Water: Gently mix in sparkling water for that bubbly, refreshing touch. You will hear it fizz and see some lovely bubbles forming. This brings the whole drink to life, making it oh-so-refreshing. Go easy though; if you mix too vigorously, you might lose a lot of carbonation.
- > Garnish & Serve: Pour your lychee drink into glasses and garnish with a lychee fruit or a slice of pineapple for an extra tropical twist. It will look picturesque and inviting! Just make sure the garnishes are secure; no one wants them slipping into the drink unexpectedly.
Notes
- Storage Tips: Enjoy this drink right away. Blended lychee can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for up to one day; freeze the lychee water mixture in ice cube trays for up to 3 months.
- Expert Tips: If the lychee mixture becomes too thick, adding a splash of cold water can help achieve a smoother consistency.
- When using canned lychees, if the drink turns out sweeter than desired, a bit more sparkling water can cut the sweetness nicely.
- If peeling fresh lychees is tricky, a pairing knife can be used to make a ring cut around the lychee, simplifying the peeling process.
- For a fun twist, adding flavored sparkling waters can introduce exciting variations to your mocktail experience.
- When garnishing, using small bamboo skewers to hold lychee and pineapple pieces can add visual appeal and enhance the drinking experience.
- Serving Suggestions: Serve in elegant coupe glasses for a sophisticated look.
- Garnish with fresh mint or edible flowers for added flair.
- Pair with light Asian appetizers for a themed gathering.
- Recipe Variations: Replace calamansi sparkling water with ginger ale for a spicier twist.
- Add a splash of coconut cream for a tropical touch.
- Mix in some fresh mint leaves for an herbal flavor.
- Ingredient Notes: Use fresh or canned lychees depending on availability.
- For a less sweet drink, leave out the syrup if using canned lychee.
- Regular pineapple can be substituted for pink pineapple.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 drink
- Calories: 0
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg