On my recent trip to Mexico, nothing made me happier than sitting down at the pool or beach and immediately finding a tropical mocktail in my hand (the resort had REALLY good service). There's just something so relaxing about sipping on a chilly, hydrating tropical drink on a hot and humid sunny day. Garnished with kitschy umbrellas and fresh fruit, nonalcoholic tropical drinks are just as delicious as those with booze, and they won't dehydrate you or make you sleepy. Whether the flavors are Jamaican, Hawaiian, Caribbean, or another tropical paradise, these nonalcoholic tropical mocktails will make you feel like you're on a beach with your toes in the sand and a drink in your hand. And friends, isn't that what life's all about?
Nonalcoholic Tropical Drinks for Everyone
Nonalcoholic tropical mocktails are usually sweet, fruity delights. These nonalcoholic fruit cocktails may have tropical fruit juices, zero-proof spirits, or carbonation, and they're almost always beautifully garnished with fruit. Heck, I consider these tropical mocktails a serving of fresh fruit, so I feel especially virtuous about drinking them. Create a summer oasis in your backyard with some of these appealing nonalcoholic drink recipes with a tropical twist.
1. Afterglow
You know how being in the sun makes you feel all glowy inside and out? This tropical sunrise cocktail will just add to that glow.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces orange juice
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 1 ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Orange slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a highball glass, add ice and stir in the orange and pineapple juice.
- Pour in the grenadine syrup but don't stir.
- Garnish with paper umbrellas and orange slices.
2. Fruitloops
Looking for a nonalcoholic tropical drink that isn't quite as sweet? Tart cranberry juice balances out the sweetness of the grenadine and pineapple.
Ingredients
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 ounces orange juice
- 1 ounce cranberry juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Citrus twists
- Maraschino cherry
- Ice
Instructions
- In a chilled poco grande glass, add ice and stir in the juices.
- Add the grenadine syrup and garnish with citrus fruit and maraschino cherries.
3. Fuzzy Navel Mocktail
What do you get when you take the fuzz out of a fuzzy navel? Orange juice. So we're leaving the fuzz in, but adding it as peach nectar instead of peach schnapps.
Ingredients
- 5 ounces orange juice
- 2 ounces peach nectar
- ¼ ounce orgeat syrup
- Orange slices
- Ice
Instructions
- Combine juice, syrup, and ice in a cocktail shaker.
- Shake to chill and pour into a chilled martini glass.
- Add crushed ice and garnish with orange slices.
4. Piña Colada Mocktail
I can never think of a piña colada without singing the piña colada song (actually called "Escape"). But I'd be lying if I told you I didn't hum it happily while sipping on a PC mocktail as tasty as this.
Ingredients
- ¾ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1½ ounces zero-proof rum
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- 2 ounces cream of coconut
- 2 cups crushed ice
- Maraschino cherries
- Pineapple, sliced spears
Instructions
- In a blender, add lime juice, zero-proof rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and crushed ice.
- Blend mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a poco grande glass and garnish with cherries and pineapple.
Want to keep your drink from being watered down by ice? Make the ice from coconut water!
Related: 18 Simple Nonalcoholic Drink Recipes to Add to Your Menu
5. Virgin Chi-Chi
Okay, here's the truth: the main difference between a piña colada and a chi-chi in the cocktail world is the booze you use. Since we aren't using booze, we're replacing the usual vodka in a chi-chi with coconut water. Hydrating! And we promise, it's still going to be ahhhh-mazing.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pineapple juice
- ¾ ounces freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 ounces coconut water
- 2 ounces cream of coconut
- 2 cups crushed ice
- Pineapple wedge for garnish
Instructions
- In a blender, add pineapple juice, lime juice, coconut water, cream of coconut, and crushed ice.
- Blend the mixture until smooth and creamy.
- Pour into a poco grande glass and garnish with pineapple slices.
6. Nonalcoholic Coconut-Lime Water
Having a pool party? Put the lime in the coconut and shake it all up! This lime mocktail is refreshing and perfect for a crowd. It serves 6.
Ingredients
- ½ cup juice from fresh limes
- 6 cups coconut water
- Dash of bitters (optional)
- ½ cup simple syrup (or more to taste) made with demerara sugar
- Ice
- Mint sprigs and lime slices for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pitcher, combine the lime juice, coconut water, bitters, and simple syrup. Stir to mix.
- Chill for at least three hours.
- Serve poured over ice and garnished with lime slices and mint sprigs.
7. Mint-Pineapple Hawaiian Fauxjito
The first time I tried this tropical virgin mojito on a family trip to Kauai, I was hooked. Who knew pineapple and mint went so well together? Earn tropical bonus points by serving it in a hollowed-out pineapple topped with an umbrella.
Ingredients
- 10 mint leaves
- 1 ounce simple syrup
- Juice of 2 limes
- 3 ounces pineapple juice
- Club soda
- Ice
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, muddle the mint leaves and simple syrup.
- Add the lime juice and pineapple juice, along with ice.
- Shake well to chill and mix.
- Pour into a highball glass or a hollowed-out pineapple, half-filled with ice. Fill to the top with club soda.
- Garnish with an umbrella.
8. Nonalcoholic Bahama Mama
When this mama longs for a trip to the Bahamas (which happens a lot more often than you'd think), this is my go-to tropical mocktail.
Ingredients
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup pineapple juice
- ½ cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Club soda
- Orange slice for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, add the orange juice, pineapple juice, grapefruit juice, and grenadine.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
- Top off with club soda. Stir.
- Garnish with an orange slice
9. Planter's Punch Tropical Mocktail
When I'm not in the tropics (which happens a lot more than I prefer), I dream of the flavors of planter's punch. This helps me get through until the next time I can jet off on a tropical adventure.
Ingredients
- ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
- ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 ounces pineapple juice
- 1½ ounces zero-proof rum
- ½ ounce grenadine
- Ice
- Pineapple wedge and cherry for garnish
Instructions
- In a cocktail shaker, combine the orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, zero-proof rum, and grenadine.
- Add ice and shake to chill.
- Strain into a hurricane glass filled with ice.
- Garnish with a pineapple wedge and a cherry.
Tips for Mixing Nonalcoholic Tropical Mocktails
Most tropical and citrus juices blend really well, so you have many options for making tropical-themed mocktails that'll knock your socks off.
- Try experimenting with exotic juices or juice mixes, such as guava, papaya, and passion fruit juice.
- Rather than combining juices with soda water or carbonated beverages, experiment with mixing nonalcoholic sparkling wines, sparkling water, coconut water, flavored sparkling water, or sparkling apple juice.
- Other delicious nonalcoholic mixer ideas include cream, ice cream, yogurt, or herbal teas (I love chilled hibiscus tea in a tropical mocktail both for its vibrant color and pleasing pucker).
- Coconut milk and coconut cream add a creamy, tropical element. Coconut cream is much sweeter than coconut milk, so adjust sugar levels accordingly.
- Evoke the tropics with fun and interesting garnishes, such as tropical fruit skewers, edible flowers, or tiny umbrellas.
- Serve in glasses with fun shapes to up the vacation in the tropics vibe.
Umbrella Drinks Without the Alcohol
You don't need alcohol to enjoy a taste of the tropics. With tropical juices, fun garnishes, and, of course, paper umbrellas, you can feel like you're experiencing a Caribbean breeze any time you want with a timeless alcohol-free taste of the tropics.
