January is the time for diets, detoxes and all round dreariness in the food world.
The Telegraph reports that whether or not you’re embracing Dry January, this is the month when many of us try to give our livers a break after the excess of Christmas, and cut down the amount of alcohol we drink.
Banishing the booze doesn’t have to mean, however, that you’re reduced to sipping water every evening. We’ve rounded up some of the finest non-alcoholic tipples, from cans to cordials, which are guaranteed to delight your tastebuds.
Fever Tree Ginger Beer
There are few drinks more satisfying than a cold ginger beer. Fever Tree’s is one of the best, with a real spicy kick and none of the syrupy sweetness of some other brands. Enjoy with plenty of ice and a squeeze of fresh lime. You may not even miss that splash of rum. Widely available in supermarkets, £1.69
Seedlip Garden 108
‘The world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit’, according to the blurb. Seedlip Garden is light and fresh, made with distillates of peas, spearmint, hay, thyme, rosemary and hops. Very green tasting – you can really pick out the pea pods in it. Good with Fever Tree elderflower tonic. Tastes grown-up, with a price tag to match. The Whisky Exchange, £ 23.95 for 70cl
Norfolk Cordial Redcurrant and Grapefruit
doesn’t have to be dull. This jewel-coloured cordial marries the flavour of juicy redcurrants with tart grapefruit. There’s no artificial nasties in it, and it makes a lovely long drink with soda. Goodlifehomebrew.com, £4.50
Bittermilk No 2: Elderflower and Hops
Bittermilk is made with alcoholic cocktails in mind, but it mixes well with tonic, soda or in a more elaborate cocktail if you choose to try that. Marks & Spencer, £10 for 582ml
Cawston Press Sparkling Rhubarb and Apple
Why sip a boring old diet cola when you could have something as tart and refreshing as this? Rhubarb, sweet apples and carbonated water are blended together to create a zingy pick-me-up that is perfect for that 4pm office slump. Waitrose, 60p per can
Pukka Three Fennel Tea
Fennel is meant to be soothing for the digestive system, so this is a perfect choice for kickstarting a January detox. Sweet and aromatic, the drink is made with not one but three variations of the fennel plant – sweet Turkish fennel seeds, wild fennel and fennel leaf. Like having a hug in a mug. Alternatively, try the wellness brigade’s latest obsession turmeric, in the form of Pukka’s new Turmeric Gold tea. Widely available in supermarkets and from pukkaherbs.com, £2.39
(Story source: The Telegraph)
