Best mocktail with fennel-rhubarb syrup

Cutting out alcohol, or drinking less, is a growing trend. Consequently, you see ideas for mocktails popping up in abundance on TikTok and Instagram. You can also make them with vegetables. Yes, you can! We’ll show you how with this rhubarb-fennel cocktail with ginger, chilli pepper and black pepper. A deliciously savoury drink with a sweet aftertaste – alcohol free!

For this mocktail, make a syrup of rhubarb and fennel and top it up with sparkling water. For extra spice, garnish the mocktail with chilli and black pepper. Delicious!

Preparation

• Cut the rhubarb into slices. Remove the green stems from the fennel and the outer leaves. Cut the rest into thin strips. Grate the ginger.
• Put the fennel strips, ginger, and rhubarb slices in a saucepan and add the vanilla sugar and water. Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes.
• Then pour the mixture through a sieve into a second pan. Add the 3 tablespoons of sugar to the liquid and bring to the boil again. Then turn the heat down and let the liquid reduce to at least half.
• Pour the syrup into a sterilized bottle and leave it to chill in the fridge.

To serve: pour the fennel-rhubarb syrup into a glass until 2/3 full and top up the remaining third with sparkling water. Sprinkle some chilli flakes and freshly ground black pepper over each glass and you have the best mocktail you have ever had!

Tips from the author

You should also try this non-alcoholic spicy tomato cocktail which, as the name already implies, will give you a spicy twist and also are a feast for the eyes!