How to make a cucumber mocktail refresher
Are you one of those people who hear cucumber and immediately think salad? Wondering what on earth it’s doing in a mocktail of all things? When we at mainelove first heard of the cucumber mocktail, that’s what we thought too until we tried it ourselves, and boy were we pleasantly surprised.
Cucumber has a mild, fresh flavor that works really well with lime and mint, which makes it a particularly good choice for a refreshing summer drink. If you want a little heat to your drink, all you need to do is add a little ginger or jalapeño. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves here. Before we get to our cucumber mocktail recipe, we won’t be using sparkling water or soda for this one. To keep it light and clean (and also because we might be just a little bit biased!), we’re using mainelove with Bubbles. Other than that, we’re pretty much sticking with the classics for our take on a cucumber mocktail.
The case for cucumber in drinks
As we mentioned before, cucumber might seem like a slightly odd ingredient in a drink, but hear us out. Apparently, cucumbers have been hanging around the drinks bar for ages! In fact, ancient Egyptians made a fermented brew from liquified cucumbers, and Roman physicians used cucumber juice in vinegars and elixirs they used to treat fevers and skin irritations. However, it was the British who made it more mainstream, with James Pimm and his famous gin-based digestif, Pimm's No. 1 Cup way back in the 1840s. In the 21st century, cucumber-based drinks found their way to spas and savory cocktails. We’re leaving alcohol out of this version so everyone can enjoy it without counting the calories.
Ingredients you'll need to make a cucumber refresher
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½ cucumber
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1 tbsp fresh lime juice
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6 to 8 fresh mint leaves
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8 oz mainelove with Bubbles
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Ice
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Cucumber slices and lime wedges for garnish
Note: You can include simple syrup or sugar to taste if you’d prefer a sweeter version.
How to make a cucumber mocktail refresher
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Wash the cucumber and cut it into chunks. You can leave the skin on unless it seems a little too tough.
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Add the cucumber, lime juice, and mint leaves to a blender.
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Run the blender until the cucumber is completely liquified.
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Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a glass or small pitcher. You can press the cucumber pulp gently with the back of a spoon to get as much juice out as you can.
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Fill a tall glass with ice and pour in the cucumber mixture.
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Top with chilled mainelove with Bubbles.
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Stir very gently; you want to retain the fizz.
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Garnish with a cucumber slice and lime wedge and serve immediately.
Tip: If you want to change things up a little, you could add a few slices of fresh ginger when you blend the cucumber or even muddle in some jalapeño if you like your drinks spicy. You can also swap the mint for basil or add a splash of coconut water for a slightly more tropical version of the cucumber mocktail.
What drinks can I make with cucumber?
There are quite a few cucumber drinks you can make, from a simple cucumber lime mocktail to cucumber ginger drinks, cucumber spritzes and cucumber mock-a-ritas. Cucumber goes well with elderflower, jalapeño, orange, mint and coconut water.
What is the best cucumber cocktail?
We think cucumber and lime make a pretty hard-to-beat combination for a refreshing drink. If you want to turn it into a cocktail, cucumber also works particularly well with gin.
What should you not mix with cucumber?
As far as we know, there isn't really a particular ingredient that you should never mix with cucumber. The bigger problem is using too much of something with a stronger flavor. Cucumber is fairly delicate, so too much ginger, jalapeño, or a strong herb can easily take over the drink.
Which is cucumber good for?
Cucumber is a good choice when you want to add a fresh, light flavor to a drink without making it overly sweet. It's also naturally very juicy, which makes it useful for mocktails, infused water, and summer drinks.
What pairs well with cucumber in a drink?
Lime and mint are two of the easiest pairings for cucumber, but ginger, jalapeño, elderflower, orange and coconut water work well too. Cucumber and ginger are particularly good if you like a little heat, while cucumber and elderflower make a softer, sweeter drink.
