Certain flavor combinations hold a special place in my heart (and my tastebuds). Many of these flavors include household names such as chocolate and peanut butter, caramel and sea salt, or apples and cinnamon. While all of these dynamic duos are undeniably delicious, my tastebuds have lately become infatuated with a lesser-known flavor combination—citrus and sage. Something truly magical happens when bright, mouth-puckering citrus comes into contact with peppery, earthy sage, and it’s no secret why this is!

Irresistible flavor combinations align with the “opposites attract” principle that an artist would use when choosing a paint palette of complimentary yet contrasting colors. This principle stems from color theory and a nifty tool many artists will be all too familiar with—the color wheel. When looking at a color wheel, the basic idea is to pick a color and then travel to the opposing side of the wheel to determine the ideal contrasting color. Think about how red goes great with green, spicy is suitable with sweet, purple pairs perfectly with yellow, and salty blends well with bitter; you get the idea!

With the unique earthy essence of sage and a pop of sour from citrus, this mocktail recipe was crafted using the tried-and-true opposites attract principle in mind. Although just about any citrus fruit will make for a delicious addition to this mocktail, I chose blood orange specifically for its slightly bitter qualities that harmoniously complement the woodsy nature of sage. To fully round out this recipe, I opted to use honey as the base for my infused simple syrup to add a touch of floral notes. The result is a well-balanced mocktail that can be enjoyed any time of year, rain or shine. Cheers!

Citrus & Sage Infused Honey Simple Syrup Recipe

Makes approximately 16 oz. simple syrup.

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. organic sage leaf
• 1 cup distilled water
• 1 organic blood orange or citrus of choice (juice + peel)
• 1 cup organic local raw honey

Directions

1. In a small saucepan, combine sage, water, and citrus juice + peels.
2. Stirring frequently, heat on med-high until mixture comes to a low simmer. Maintain a gentle simmer for 5 – 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 – 15 minutes. Once cooled, add the honey and stir until combined.
4. Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the solids out of the syrup into a jar or container of choice.
5. Label, date, and enjoy! Store syrup in the refrigerator for up to 1-2 months.
   
   

 Pro Tip: When incorporating citrus peels, you only want to use the very outer peel. Avoid the pith, (the fleshy light-colored part of the peels), as it may result in the syrup having a slight bitterness or “off” taste.

Citrus & Sage Mocktail Recipe

Makes approximately one 6 oz. – 8 oz. mocktail.

Ingredients

• 2 oz. citrus & sage honey simple syrup (see above)
• 1 oz. organic blood orange juice or citrus of choice
• 3 – 4 oz. seltzer water or sparkling water
• Citrus peels for garnish (optional)
• Fresh sage leaves for garnish (optional)
• Ice

Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker, combine simple syrup, citrus juice, and ice. Shake vigorously for about 15-20 seconds.
2. Pour filtered shaken mixture in a glass with some additional ice and top off with seltzer or sparkling water.
3. Garnish with citrus peels and/or fresh sage leaves. Cheers!

Pro Tips

• Other citrus fruits that pair well with this mocktail are grapefruit, lemon, lime, pomelo, etc. 
• If using lemons or limes as the citrus, I’d recommend using half the called for juice in the mocktail recipe (1/2 oz.) to avoid the drink being overly tart.
• In the mocktail/cocktail world, one fluid ounce is generally equivalent to about one standard shot glass.
  
  

Thirsty for more mouth-watering mocktail recipes?

Check Out Our Bee’s Knees Mocktail!

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