Blueberry and Basil Tonic Mocktail Recipe
Blueberry and Basil Tonic Mocktail
Summer is just around the corner which means garden-fresh herbs and ripe blueberries will be ready for picking and for using in culinary delights. We’ve put together an easy way to add a little luxury to your evening without the dreaded next-day hangover.
Enter the Blueberry and Basil Tonic, an herbal aperitif created to soothe the digestive tract and elevate your mood.
Basil is an aromatic herb commonly added to pasta dishes and salads to elevate flavor and depth. But it is also filled with healthful compounds that can aid in several different ailments.
This tonic is a delicious mocktail that also contains some powerful healing properties.
- Hibiscus petals — Studies show that teas and tinctures made from hibiscus petals aid in weight loss, managing blood pressure, liver protection, fighting off anxiety and depression, and are filled with natural cholesterol-lowering compounds.
- Elderberry pieces — Elderberry has been used in folk medicine for centuries as a way to boost the immune system and is particularly helpful for cold and flu season. It is also beneficial at chasing the blues away and, in some studies, has shown to assist with helping fight depression in patients.
- Currant pieces — Filled with antioxidants, vitamin C, and a slew of other vitamins and minerals, currants have been known to help boost the immune system and soothe a sore throat. Some studies also show that black currants can lead to improved mental function and elevated moods.
- Cornflower petals — Not only beautiful with their bright blue hue, but cornflower petals have also been known to help treat urinary tract infections, and overall help stave off infection and can help reduce symptoms of the common cold.
- European and American blueberries — European blueberries, also known as bilberries, as well as their American blueberry cousins, are full of free radical-fighting antioxidants and compounds that aid in reducing inflammation and the risks of depression, as well as heart disease.
These ingredients come together to create our Bingo Blueberry fruit tea. Add in fresh muddled basil, and you have a delicious mocktail that also acts as a health tonic all the way down to a cellular level and back up to the brain, helping to fight off anxiety, improve your mental function, and brighten your mood.
No Alcohol Necessary
We aren’t aware of any alcoholic beverages that are also healthy for a variety of bodily systems. However, enjoying this tonic is refreshing, healthful, and it’s got bite.
This powerful reduction made from one of our Estero Bay fruit tea varieties sets the mood to luxurious and refreshing without the need to indulge in substances like alcohol.
Packed with antioxidants that are natural mood boosters, this tonic aids in digestion while elevating the environment and creating a relaxing and conversational vibe for you and your guests.
Basil: an Herbal Fighter for Your Overall Health
Basil is an easy to cultivate herb used for centuries in cooking across Asia and Europe, and some Latin American regions. It is robust and fresh in flavor and contains powerful and beneficial compounds that aid in everything from wound healing to itching to pain relief.
Some of these beneficial compounds are:
- Eugenol — found in sweet basil but also found in cloves. It is a natural anesthetic. It is commonly used to help treat tooth pain.
- Camphene — Typically found in Camphor and used as a herbal remedy to relieve pain, itching, inflammation, and itching.
- Cineole — Is also anti-inflammatory but can actually kill bacteria in the mouth and is typically found in mouthwash.
Blueberry and Basil Tonic Mocktail Recipe
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Yields: 2 servings + concentrate for several more servings
Course: Cocktail
Ingredients
- Bingo Blueberry Fruit Tea
- Fresh basil leaves for muddling
- 6 ounces of boiling water
- 1 bag Stevia in the Raw sweetener
- Preferred Tonic Water, we used Fever Tree
- Crushed Ice
Tools
- Cocktail strainer
- Glass cup or jar for brewing tea
- Rocks cocktail glass
- Four small skewers or cocktail picks
Directions
- Our first step is to steep a concentrated half cup of tea. Add four tablespoons of tea to a sturdy glass and cover with four ounces of boiled water. Allow the tea to steep no longer than five minutes for the best flavor.
- Strain your concentrate with a coffee filter over a fine-mesh strainer or use a cocktail strainer.
- Add one bag of Stevia in the Raw sweetener to warm concentrate and stir till dissolved. Allow this concentrate to cool completely. You can pop it in your freezer for five minutes to help cool it down.
- In a cocktail shaker, add your basil leaves and muddle. Add half a cup of ice, six ounces of your concentrate, and shake well.
- Pour 6 oz of the strained Bingo Blueberry tea into the glass and fill with 6 oz of tonic water. The tonic does a good job mixing the two liquids, but stir as necessary.
- Garnish with three or four skewered blueberries rolled in stevia and a basil leaf.
Maintaining Health While Maximizing Enjoyment
The possibilities of unique and delicious tea and food recipes inspired by our assortment of teas, balsamic vinegar, and olive oils are endless. Each week we offer you a taste of this variety through our carefully researched and curated recipes.
Join us in exploring all the ways Estero Bay products can go beyond average everyday use and create healthful, accessible, and easy to recreate memorable meals and mocktails.
Sources
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/266425#benefits
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/natural-therapies/bilberry-extract.html
https://www.healthline.com/health/health-benefits-black-currant#boosts-immune-system