Licorice Root and Star Anise Mocktail
A non-alcoholic, anise-forward mocktail built on a licorice root reduction, soda water, and lime — a sophisticated sipper with zero alcohol and zero added stimulants.
Because licorice root tea is naturally sweet and caffeine-free, this cocktail slot goes fully non-alcoholic — a mocktail designed to feel just as crafted and complex as a spirit-based drink, without the alcohol or any stimulant.
The base is a concentrated licorice root syrup: a strong-brewed tea reduced with a touch of sugar and a whole star anise, which echoes and deepens the tea's own anise-like character into something layered and almost spiced.
Lime juice is essential here — its sharp acidity keeps the drink from tasting like dessert and gives it the structure a good sour-style drink needs, balancing the syrup's roundness with a clean citrus snap.
Top with soda water for effervescence and serve over plenty of ice. The combination of deep licorice sweetness, bright lime, and bubbles makes this a satisfying choice for an evening when you want something that feels special, with neither alcohol nor caffeine in the glass.
Ingredients
- 60 ml licorice root syrup (recipe below)
- 20 ml fresh lime juice
- 1 whole star anise (for syrup)
- 3 tbsp dried licorice root (for syrup)
- 1/4 cup sugar (for syrup)
- 1 cup soda water
- Lime wheel and star anise pod for garnish
- Ice cubes
How to make it
- 1Make the syrup: brew 1 cup strong licorice root tea (3 tbsp root steeped 12 minutes in hot water). Strain into a small saucepan, add sugar and star anise, and simmer 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Cool completely.
- 2Fill a tall glass with ice.
- 3Add 60 ml of the cooled licorice syrup and the fresh lime juice.
- 4Top with soda water and stir gently.
- 5Garnish with a lime wheel and a star anise pod. Serve immediately.
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