Virgin Mojito (Nojito Recipe)

Why This Mojito Mocktail Will Be Your New Summer Drink

Because we can’t sip on cocktails all day, everyday, this nojito recipe comes in handy when you want to sip something a little bit fancy without a lot of sugar or high fructose corn syrup. Here’s why I’ve been loving it and why you will too.

• Light and refreshing. Just like the alcohol-based version, this virgin mojito is super refreshing on a hot day. The combination of light fizziness, fresh mint, and tart lime really knocks it out of the park!
• Just sweet enough. So many mocktail recipes are heavy on syrups, juices, and sodas, making them total sugar bombs. But my nojito recipe is only lightly sweetened with agave, and you can adjust the amount to your liking or even skip it altogether.
• Simple to make. Muddle the mint with the lime and agave, then stir in the juice and water. If other mocktails seem like they take more effort than they’re worth (and have a long list of pricy ingredients like alcohol-free spirits!), you’ll appreciate the simplicity of the nojito.

What You’ll Need

If you’ve got mint growing in your yard, you will love this recipe as an easy way to use it up! Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Lime – You’ll need lime wedges and limes for juicing.
• Mint leaves – Spearmint (which is what is sold at most grocery stores) is best or, if you make a LOT of nojitos, you might want to see if your garden store sells mojito mint, which is what authentic Cuban mojitos are made with.
• Agave nectar – Or simple syrup, if you prefer.
• Sparkling water – You can use a flavored water to change up your nojito, but make sure it’s a flavor that would pair well with mint and lime!

How to Make Nojitos

You’re just minutes away from a fresh and flavorful nojito! Here’s what you’ll need to do.

• Muddle. Add the mint, lime wedges, and agave nectar to a glass. Muddle with a muddler or the end of a wooden spoon.
• Add the juice and water. Add ice to the glass and pour in the lime juice and sparkling water. Stir to combine.
• Garnish. Add lime wedges and mint leaves for garnish, if desired.

Tips and Variations

Here are some pointers for a perfect nojito mocktail!

• Don’t muddle too much. You want to muddle just enough to release the oils of the lime rind and mint. If you crush them too much, the flavor will be bitter.
• Make it fruity. You can add a splash of fruit nectar and/or drop in some fruit for garnish. Summer fruit like peaches and strawberries are so good in a nojito!
• Scale it up. You can scale up the recipe in a pitcher, but you’ll need to serve it right away so it doesn’t go flat. 

What to Serve With These Mojito Mocktails

Mojitos (and nojitos) pair well with Caribbean and Mexican dishes like Shrimp Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa and Caribbean Grilled Salmon Kabobs. And their light flavor also makes them awesome with seafood. Since they’re so summery, I love serving them with grilled dishes like Grilled Shrimp Salad with Honey Lime Vinaigrette and Grilled White Fish with Mango Jalapeno Coleslaw.

More Mocktail & Non-Alcoholic Drink Recipes

• Pineapple Ginger Beer Mocktail
• Chia Raspberry Lemonade Spritzer
• How to Make Iced Chai Tea Latte
• Homemade Raspberry Peach Lemonade