Just in time for Easter, here are four great non-alcoholic drink recipes perfect for the entire family, adapted from a post on beverageuniverse.com:

Virgin Mojito

 Who can resist a refreshing and delicate mojito cocktail? The non-alcoholic, or virgin option offers a one of a kind experience that will convert any skeptic and will leave them savoring this energizing spring beverage. Here’s the famous mocktail recipe:

 Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of sugar; 
  • fresh minty leaves;
  • lime;
  • Syfo Original Seltzer
  • A handful of crushed ice;

Preparation: 

  1. Muddle the minty leaves and a wedge of lime. You’ll sense the great refreshing aroma all around you. 
  2. Add the sugar (you can use agave instead, or any other sweetener of your choice, I prefer brown sugar) and mash it up. 
  3. It’s time to freeze the aroma – fill the glass with crushed ice.
  4. Finally, add seltzer and stir your Easter elixir. 

Virgin Sangria

Are you warming up? Here’s another shortlisted mocktail for your Easter celebration: a Virgin Sangria! Sangria lovers, behold, here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of water;
  • 2 black tea bags;
  • 2 cinnamon sticks;
  • ½ cup of sugar;
  • 3 cups of pomegranate juice
  • 1 cup of orange juice;
  • 1 medium orange, sliced into thin rounds;
  • 1 medium lemon, sliced into thin rounds;
  • 1 medium lime, sliced into thin rounds;
  • 1 medium apple, cored and cut into 1/2-inch chunks;
  • 3 cups Syfo Original Seltzer.

Preparation: 

  1. Boil the water and pour it over the tea bags and cinnamon sticks. Let them steep for a few minutes and remove the teabags. 
  2. Add sugar and stir so that it could dissolve quicker; 
  3. Use a pitcher to mix in the tea, cinnamon sticks, pomegranate juice, orange juice, and sliced fruits. Place it in the fridge to cool down for at least an hour. 
  4. Before serving add the carbonated water. And don’t forget to add ice to your Easter beverage. 

 Shirley Ginger

 Shirley Temple is a classic non-alcoholic cocktail. But to spice it up a bit we’ve picked a recipe that modifies this famous mocktail into a Shirley Ginger- an ideal option for all the ginger beer aficionados at the Easter celebration. 

Here’s how to make it. 

Ingredients:

Preparation: 

  1. Mix all liquid ingredients – the ginger beer, the club soda, the lime juice, and the grenadine in a pitcher and stir well.  
  2. Put ice cubes in tall glasses and pour the mixture in.
  3. Garnish with lime slices and/or maraschino cherries and enjoy. 

Rhubarb-Lime Mocktail

 Have you ever tried a rhubarb? How about rhubarb bitters in a mocktail? The final recipe on our Easter Mocktails list will help you catch up with the trends. If you cannot find fresh rhubarb you can use a frozen one, your drink will still be just as delicious as refreshing, no worries there. 

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice;
  • 4 tablespoons of basil syrup;
  • 3 dashes of rhubarb bitters; 
  • 1 cup of Syfo Original Seltzer;
  • Ice cubes;
  • Rhubarb stems for decoration;

Preparation:  

  1. In a shaker add the ice cubes, lime juice, basil syrup, and rhubarb bitters and shake vigorously. 
  2. Strain the cooled liquid in a rock glass and top with the seltzer. 
  3. Garnish with the rhubarb stems. 

 

Warm wishes for a very peaceful, healthy and Happy Passover from everyone at Syfo Beverages!

 

A new study published in the journal Psychological Science indicates that simple rituals make food or drink taste better. Researchers believe that these rituals – such as a toast,  saying or special way of serving a food – heighten awareness of what you’re eating or drinking by bringing you into the moment.

Researchers from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Harvard Business School in Boston conducted four experiments about rituals before eating. They tested whether rituals influence the perception and consumption of chocolate (sweet), lemonade (tart) and baby carrots (healthy).

In the experiments, the researchers devised simple rituals for each food type – breaking and unwrapping a chocolate bar, rapping knuckles on a desk before nibbling carrots and stirring and pouring lemonade. Participants who performed rituals reported that they savored the items more than those who did not engage in rituals. The study also found that performing a ritual enhanced the sensory experience and enjoyment more than just watching a ritual.

Many Syfonatics tell us they have special rituals that help them enjoy Syfo even more. Some have a special glass; some put it on their nightstand, sipping it before bedtime to help them get a good night’s sleep and of course Syfo has been a big part of holiday celebration rituals such as Passover, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah.

What’s your ritual? If you have a special method, saying or ritual that involves drinking Syfo, we’d like to know. Click here to share it with the Syfo community and we’ll publish them in a future news post.

You can learn more about how rituals help us savor food in this article on the Greater Good website.

The start of the New Year is traditionally a time of renewed focus and new beginnings, so that makes it a perfect time to refocus on your health, especially this year. Here are a few simple steps you can take, gathered from sources around the Web, that can help you get off to a healthy start in 2025 and help to put the stress of 2024 behind.

Get a good night’s sleep — According to the American Sleep Foundation, about two-thirds of Americans say their sleep needs are not being met during the week with 15 percent reporting less than six hours per night. Between 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night is considered optimal for good health.

Eat protein for breakfast – When you rise from that restful sleep, try having a protein-rich breakfast. According to a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating a protein-rich breakfast may help control appetite and curb the urge to snack in the evening. It can also improve alertness, energy and performance throughout the day.

Take time during your day to release stress – According to the Mayo Clinic, simple meditation exercises during the day that can be done practically anytime and anywhere can bring both a sense of calm and balance. This can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.

Exercise for at least 90 minutes a week – According to this article on Discovery Health, you don’t need to exercise for hours a day or run a marathon to get the weight loss, cardiovascular and overall heath benefits. Studies have shown that walking as little as 10 minutes a day increases the heart’s oxygen consumption rate by more than 4 percent while helping to reduce weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Make the switch to healthy beverages – Sugary soft drinks have been associated with weight gain, diabetes, heart disease, dental problems and even depression. A move toward healthy beverages can improve your overall health and keep you hydrated. We recommend Syfo of course.

Continuing our holiday tradition, here are three delicious sparkling water drink recipes for Christmas and Hanukkah.

Glow Water

 

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups of Syfo Original Seltzer
1 cucumber, cut into 1/2″ rounds
3 sprigs mint
1 lemon, thinly sliced
1 peach, sliced
Ginger, skin removed and sliced into round
1 cinnamon stick
3 strawberries, halved plus 1 lime, thinly sliced

 

 

 

Preparation:

Combine seltzer water with the ingredients of your choice. Stir (and muddle, if desired) your ingredients to release more flavor. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator until ready to drink.

Acknowledgement: Photo and recipe from https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/recipes/a54179/glow-water-recipe/

Cranberry Pomegranate Bellini

 

Ingredients:

For the syrup:

1/2 cup unsweetened 100% cranberry juice
1/2 cup unsweetened 100% pomegranate juice
1 cup sugar

For each Bellini:

1 ounce simple syrup
3 to 4 ounces Syfo Original Seltzer
Squeeze of fresh lime juice
Whole cranberries and slices of lime for garnish, optional

 

 

 

Preparation:

TO MAKE SIMPLE SYRUP:

In a small pot, stir together fruit juices and sugar.
Set pot over medium-high heat and bring to a boil.
Turn to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring until sugar completely dissolves.Pour syrup in a jar and cool completely. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.

TO MAKE A BELLINI:

Pour 1 ounce of cranberry-pomegranate simple syrup into a champagne flute. Top with 3 to 4 ounces of Prosecco. Squeeze a wedge of lime into the bellini. For a garnish, use a toothpick to skewer a whole cranberry and half slice of lime, if desired.

Notes:

If your cranberry and/or pomegranate juice is already sweetened, reduce the amount of sugar in the simple syrup to 1/2 cup.

Acknowledgement: Photo and recipe from https://www.fivehearthome.com/cranberry-pomegranate-bellinis-with-lime/

Sparkling Pear Hanukkah Sangria

 

Ingredients:

1 (750-milliliter) bottle prosecco, cava, or other dry white sparkling wine, chilled 
1 1/2 cups pear liqueur, chilled
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons)
3 medium green pears, such as D’Anjou or Bartlett, cored and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups Syfo Peach Pear Naturally Flavored Sparkling Water
Ice (optional)

 

 

 

Preparation:

Combine the prosecco, pear liqueur, lemon juice, and pear slices in a large pitcher. Top with the seltzer. Pour into glasses with or without ice.

Notes:

Pear liqueur substitution: Use St. Germain elderflower liqueur if pear liqueur is unavailable.

Acknowledgement: Photo and Recipe from https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-sparkling-pear-hanukkah-sangria-252498