Glow & Ground, An Easy Citrus Kava Mocktail
Consider this your grown-up orange soda.
Glow & Ground is bright, juicy, bubbly, and just sweet enough, with fresh orange and lemon juice, honey syrup, and an orange-flavored sparkling water or prebiotic soda. Kava Haven gives it a spirit-like base without adding alcohol, making this one of my favorite options when I want the ritual of mixing a cocktail without the cocktail itself.
It’s also a nice change from the super-sweet orange mocktails out there. Fresh lemon keeps the orange juice from taking over, while honey rounds out the citrus without making the drink feel heavy.
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Why You'll Love This Citrus Kava Mocktail
First: it’s ridiculously easy.
There are just five main ingredients, and you don’t need to make anything more complicated than honey syrup. The fresh orange juice gives it that sunny, juicy flavor, lemon adds tartness, and the sparkling finish keeps everything light.
I also love that this works year-round. It’s refreshing enough for warm weather but still feels right at home during citrus season in the middle of winter. Basically, she’s versatile.
Ingredients You'll Need
Serves: 1
Ingredients:
- 1½ oz Kava Haven (code ONTHEMOCKS15 for 15% off)
- 1½ oz fresh orange juice
- ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz honey syrup
- 1½-2 oz orange-flavored sparkling water or prebiotic soda
- Ice
Instructions:
- Add Kava Haven, orange juice, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until very cold.
- Strain into a martini glass or coupe.
- Top with 1½-2 ounces of orange-flavored sparkling water or prebiotic soda.
Garnish:
- Dehydrated orange or lemon wheel.
Tips for Making the Best Citrus Kava Mocktail
Fresh Citrus Is Worth It
Orange juice is doing a lot of work in this recipe, so fresh is my first choice whenever possible. You only need 1½ ounces, which means you don’t have to stand around juicing an entire bag of oranges. One orange should give you plenty for the drink and leave you with enough for another round.
Don’t Skip the Lemon
It may only be a quarter-ounce, but lemon is what keeps this drink balanced. Orange juice and honey can both lean sweet. That little hit of fresh lemon wakes everything up and gives the drink a cleaner, brighter finish.
Adjust the Bubbles to Your Taste
Orange-flavored sparkling water will give you the driest, lightest version of this drink. An orange prebiotic soda generally brings a little more sweetness and a stronger orange flavor. Both work. Pick your bubble personality.
Easy Variations
For a slightly more complex citrus flavor, swap some of the orange juice for fresh grapefruit juice.
You can also replace the honey syrup with agave or simple syrup, although I love the subtle floral flavor honey adds here. (If honey and citrus is your thing, try the Hot Honey Mandarin Mocktail next.)
Want a longer, more casual drink? Serve it over ice in a tall glass and add a little extra sparkling water.
For an extra herbal note, add a sprig of rosemary or a few basil leaves to the shaker.
Disclaimer: Kava is a natural, zero-proof root — not a supplement to replace other relaxation strategies or a full-time alcohol substitute, and it can become habit-forming if used heavily. Enjoy responsibly alongside other stress-relief habits (250mg kavalactones is the recommended daily limit).
Glow & Ground Orange Kava Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1½ oz Kava Haven
- 1½ oz fresh orange juice
- ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz honey syrup
- 1½-2 oz orange-flavored sparkling water or prebiotic soda
- Ice
- Dehydrated orange wheel or lemon wheel for garnish
Instructions
- Add Kava Haven, orange juice, lemon juice, and honey syrup to a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake until very cold.
- Strain into a martini glass or coupe.
- Top with 1½-2 ounces of orange-flavored sparkling water or prebiotic soda.
- Garnish with a dehydrated orange or lemon wheel.
Notes
- Fresh orange juice gives this drink the brightest flavor.
- Use sparkling water for a drier drink or prebiotic soda for a sweeter version.
- Serve it over ice with extra bubbles if you prefer a longer mocktail.
