New Year is a holiday that many people like to celebrate with champagne, wine, vodka or other alcoholic drinks. However, not everyone wants or can drink alcohol for various reasons: health, religion, personal choice, etc. Luckily, there are plenty of alternative options to help you have a fun and safe New Year's Eve without a drop of alcohol. In this article we will tell you about some of them and give tips on how to make them tasty and interesting.
Non-alcoholic cocktails
One of the most popular and easiest ways to replace alcohol for the New Year is to make non-alcoholic cocktails. They can be varied in taste, color and composition, and can also be decorated with fruits, berries, umbrellas, straws and other decorative elements. Mocktails can imitate alcoholic drinks such as mojitos, pina coladas, margaritas, etc., or be completely unique and original. You can find many recipes for non-alcoholic cocktails on the Internet. You can also experiment with different ingredients such as juices, syrups, soda, milk, yogurt, ice cream, tea, coffee, etc. and create your own combinations. The main thing is not to forget about the balance of acidity, sweetness and carbonation, as well as about cooling the drinks before serving.
Non-alcoholic wine and champagne
If you want to maintain the tradition of drinking wine or champagne for the New Year, but do not want to drink alcohol, then you can choose non-alcoholic versions of these drinks. Today there are many different brands and varieties of non-alcoholic wine and champagne on the market, which are produced from natural grapes using special technologies that allow alcohol to be removed from the finished product. Non-alcoholic wine and champagne have a similar taste, aroma and color to alcoholic wines, but do not contain ethanol and have fewer calories. You can also make your own non-alcoholic champagne by mixing white grape juice with soda or mineral water and adding lemon juice and sugar to taste.
Kvass, fruit drink, compote and other folk drinks
If you want to try something more traditional and national, then you can replace alcohol for the New Year with folk drinks such as kvass, fruit drink, compote, sbiten, uzvar, etc. These drinks have a long history and are part of the culture of different peoples. They are usually prepared from water, sugar, fruits, berries, dried fruits, spices and other ingredients that give them a special taste and aroma. Traditional drinks can be hot or cold, sweet or sour, carbonated or still. They not only quench thirst, but also have beneficial properties, such as strengthening the immune system, cleansing the body, increasing tone and mood. You can buy traditional drinks in stores or prepare them yourself using recipes that can be found on the Internet.
Non-alcoholic mead recipe
Mead is an ancient Slavic drink that was traditionally made from honey, water and yeast. It had a slight strength and a pleasant honey taste. Today you can prepare non-alcoholic mead, which is not inferior in taste and aroma to alcoholic mead, but does not contain ethanol. This drink is quite suitable for the New Year's table, just like mulled wine. Here's an easy recipe for non-alcoholic mead that we recommend trying:
Ingredients
- 1 liter of water
- 300 grams of honey
- 1 teaspoon dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon citric acid
- 2-3 cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cardamom
Preparation
- Bring water to a boil in a saucepan, then remove from heat and add honey. Stir until the honey is completely dissolved.
- In a small bowl, mix the yeast with some warm water and leave for 10 minutes until bubbles appear.
- In a large glass or plastic jar with a lid, combine honey water, yeast mixture and citric acid. Add cloves, cinnamon, anise, nutmeg and cardamom. Close the lid and shake the jar well.
- Place the jar in a warm and dark place for 2-3 days. Every day, shake the jar and open the lid slightly to release excess gas.
- After 2-3 days, strain the mead through cheesecloth or a strainer and pour into a clean bottle. Place in the refrigerator for a few hours to chill.
- Enjoy your non-alcoholic mead! You can decorate it with fresh berries, mint or lemon if desired.
Conclusion
As you can see, replacing alcohol for the New Year is not as difficult as it might seem. There are many alternative options that will help you enjoy the holiday without risking your health, budget, or relationships. You can choose the drink that you like best, or try several different ones. The main thing is not to forget about moderation, water balance and compatibility with food. And, of course, do not forget about fun, joy and love, which are the most important ingredients of the New Year's mood. We wish you a happy new year!
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