This Paloma Mocktail is bright, tangy, and refreshingly fizzy. It’s a non-alcoholic take on the classic Mexican drink, which is often made with grapefruit soda. In case you can’t find that, this version uses fresh grapefruit juice, lime juice, and sparkling water for a similar effect.
If you can afford it, use freshly squeezed grapefruit juice. However, store-bought juice works too. Just make sure it is 100 percent grapefruit juice and not from concentrate for the best flavor. The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of simple syrup, but feel free to adjust the amount to your taste. Since grapefruit soda is usually quite sweet, you might want a little more or less depending on the tartness of your juice.
If you happen to find grapefruit soda, preferably Jarritos brand, you can replace the grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and sparkling water with that. It simplifies the recipe to just three ingredients.
For a decorative touch, garnish your glass with a grapefruit wedge or a lime wheel. You can also rim the glass with salt or sugar for extra flavor and presentation.
Paloma Mocktail
Ingredients
- 2 small limes, juiced (about 1-1.5 oz)
- 2 oz grapefruit juice
- 2 Tbsp simple syrup adjust to taste
- pinch of salt
- 2 oz sparkling water
- ice
- salt or sugar for rimming the glass optional
- grapefruit or lime wedge for decoration, optional
Instructions
- Optional: For a fun twist, run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip it in salt or sugar.
- Add the lime juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and a pinch of salt to a glass. Stir to combine. Add ice and top with sparkling water.
- Alternatively, if you have a cocktail shaker, combine the lime juice, grapefruit juice, simple syrup, and a few ice cubes. Shake well for 10–15 seconds, then strain into a glass filled with fresh ice. Top with sparkling water and give it a gentle stir.
- Garnish with a lime wheel or grapefruit wedge, if desired.
