Whether planning a shower, a brunch or if you just need to drink something pretty with an umbrella in it, these virgin drinks are as gorgeous as they are delicious. Mocktails have become a popular alternative not just among Muslims but are easily found in most restaurants. Perfect for those who don’t drink alcohol but want something more interesting than a coke or for if you’re pregnant. Fellow bloggers, Fehmz, Cooked.inc and my buddy Hafsa have shared recipes to make your summer parties unbeatable.

Mocktails from Fehmz…supplying ready to drink mocktails, cordial mixes and Monin cordial. Fehmz used to offer classes as well to learn how to make mocktails. It’s an art.

Strawberry Lemonade: (makes 1-2 jugs)
Two lemons (peeled)
1/2 cup sugar (more to taste, if required)
1 litre water
Blend the above in a blender and strain into a bowl.
Now add:
1/4 cup cranberry juice
1/4 cup Monin Strawberry cordial (alternatively, you can blend 1 punnet of strawberry when blending the lemon mixture above)
Add a handful of torn mint leaves and quartered strawberries
Let the mint infuse well with the lemonade.
Taste to check flavour, it should’ve be too sweet or too tart. If the lemon flavour is too strong you can water it down but bear in mind that you will be adding ice to your jug before adding the lemonade.
To serve, fill a jug halfway with ice cubes, pour over lemonade and garnish with the strawberries and mint, as well as slices of lemon.
Unused lemonade can be frozen in cubes and used at your next event.
Turn it up a notch by freezing into ice cubes, filling a jug to the top with the ice cubes and topping with Schweppes Lemonade.

Blue Crush
1/4 cup Monin Blue Curacao (if you don’t have Monin cordials, then leave this out entirely)
1/2 cup Dias Bubblegum milkshake syrup
1/4 cup Blueberry Energade concentrate
2 litres of lemonade
500ml soda water/sparkling water
Mix all the cordials together and divide between two jugs.
Top with 2 cups ice per jug
Slowly pour over the soda water and lemonade (to create the ombre effect)
Garnish with edible flowers.

Cooked.inc offers wholesome healthy meals, delivered to your home or office. They give you back your time usually spent on prepping, shopping and fretting over what to eat. Contact them 021 591 0969. Cape Town based. Mariam from cooked.inc shared her recipe:

Strawberry Ginger Cocktail
1 punnet of strawberries
4 tbsp sugar (can omit if you strawberries are very sweet)
1 tsp freshly grated ginger
1 liter ginger beer or sparkling water
Fresh limes
Ice
Blend strawberries (keep a few whole strawberries for decorating), sugar and ginger.
Add strawberry mixture to a jug, top with ginger beer/sparkling water, lots of ice, slices of fresh lime and slices of strawberries

My friend Hafsa makes the bestest virgin Pina Colada ever.

Non-Alcoholic Pina Colada

1 (570 g) can pineapple in syrup (should yield 10 slices)

1 ¼ cups coconut cream (can use coconut milk)

3-4 tablespoons sugar (to taste)

1 ½ cups ice cubes

• Drain the pineapple slices and set the syrup aside.
• Set aside 2 of the pineapple slices and freeze the remaining 8 slices until firm.
• Blend together the frozen pineapple slices, pineapple syrup, sugar and coconut cream until smooth.
• Add the ice and continue blending till you reach the desired consistency.
• Pour into serving glasses and garnish each glass with toasted coconut and pineapple slices.
• Serve chilled.

Virgin Mojitos – for 1 glass

fresh mint leaves
1 lemon or lime
Ice cubes as desired
200 ml Sprite or lemonade
Fresh mint leaves to garnish

Chop the mint leaves. Cut limes into small wedges and remove the seeds carefully. Keep one aside for garnish.
Crush mint leaves, sugar and lemon wedges in a tall glass using a wooden spoon for lemons to release all their juice and to blend in the flavors. Crushing of mint and lemon is referred to as muddling and is generally done with a muddler.
Add ice and top up with Sprite or Lemonade and mix well. Garnish with lemon slices and mint leaves. Serve chilled.