Moc-ijto- Non Alcoholic Recipe

Prepare fruit and mint

Rinse strawberries and mint. Hull the strawberries and roughly quarter them. Pick 10 fresh mint leaves from the stems and set aside 1 small sprig for garnish.

Muddle

In a sturdy mixing glass or cocktail shaker, add the quartered strawberries, 8 of the mint leaves (reserve remaining leaves for final stir), 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, 15 ml simple syrup and 30 ml fresh lime juice. Using a muddler, gently but firmly muddle until the strawberries are broken down and have released their juices and the mint aroma is evident — about 15–20 gentle presses. Avoid over-muddling the mint to prevent bitterness.

Strain (optional)

If you prefer a smoother drink, double-strain the mashed fruit and mint through a fine mesh strainer into a separate container, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. For a more rustic, textured mocktail, skip this step and leave the pulp in the glass.

Prepare glass

Fill a highball or Collins glass with crushed ice about three-quarters full. Add 4 ice cubes if you prefer larger ice.

Combine and top

Pour the muddled strawberry-mint-lime mixture (strained or unstrained) over the ice. Gently add 240 ml chilled coconut soda to the glass. Stir once or twice gently with a bar spoon to combine without losing too much carbonation. If you want a lighter sweetness or less coconut intensity, top with up to 30 ml club soda or replace part of the coconut soda with club soda.

Adjust and finish

Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness: add up to 15 ml extra simple syrup for more sweetness or 5–10 ml fresh lime juice for more brightness. If using a non-alcoholic rum alternative, add 15 ml now and gently stir to incorporate.

Garnish and serve

Garnish with the reserved mint sprig, a lime wheel on the rim, and a strawberry slice on the glass. Serve immediately with a straw and an accompanying muddler or spoon if you left pulp in the drink.

You can prepare the muddled fruit base up to 2 hours ahead and store it chilled in the refrigerator. Do not add the coconut soda until just before serving to preserve carbonation and freshness.