29/12/2025
The weather is perfect for sipping on a refreshing Rooibos Red Mocktail.
Don't be caught off guard this summer, have some homemade Rooibos cordial ready in the fridge to whip up a delicious summer sipper for when friends and family come over! The natural amber colour of Rooibos adds extra flair to this refreshing mocktail.
Rooibos Red Mocktail
Recipe by Heleen Meyer, Food Consultant
Makes about 250 ml syrup, enough for about 8–10 glasses
3 plain Rooibos bags
1 small cinnamon stick
200 ml white sugar
200 ml water
crushed ice or small ice cubes
ginger ale or soda water, chilled
seasonal fruit like pomegranate arils, strawberries and cherries
fresh mint leaves for garnish
1. Place the Rooibos bags, cinnamon, sugar and water in a small saucepan and heat over a medium temperature. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and the Rooibos has infused. Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until it starts to thicken and form a syrup.
2. Remove the bags and allow the syrup to cool down completely.
3. Add spoonfuls of ice into glasses and pour the syrup over (use 30 ml if using ginger ale, or 45 ml with soda water). Top with ginger ale or soda water. Serve with seasonal fruit of your choice and garnish with mint leaves. Refrigerate any remaining syrup in a sterilised glass jar.
Tips:
1. This Rooibos syrup will be delicious as a cordial in a gin and tonic.
2. Use flavoured Rooibos bags if preferred, like berry, lemon, floral, citrus, buchu or vanilla for a different flavour.
3. This syrup will be delicious drizzled over plain yoghurt for breakfast, over ice cream or even on a pavlova with fruit as a dessert.
The combination of Rooibos, cinnamon and ginger ale is really amazing and so refreshing. Have some of this homemade Rooibos cordial in the fridge to quickly ...