Quick answer: A great sugar-free mocktail needs four things: a flavour base (here, 4-6 ml of a sugar-free syrup), fresh acidity (lime or lemon), aromatics (mint, basil, citrus peel) and lots of ice, topped with still or sparkling water. Every recipe below is alcohol-free, has no added sugar and takes under two minutes.
Brunches, majlis evenings, pool days, birthdays, iftar gatherings: in the UAE, alcohol-free drinks are part of almost every get-together. These ten mocktails use one ZERUP flavour each, plus fresh ingredients you probably already have. All are made with halal-certified, vegan ZERUP, contain no alcohol, and the syrup adds 0 g sugar.
Your mocktail toolkit
- Glasses: tall highballs for long drinks, wide tumblers for crushed ice.
- Ice: cubes for sparkling drinks, crushed ice for "frozen" style.
- Fresh: limes, lemons, mint, basil, rosemary, cucumber, frozen berries.
- Water: chilled still and sparkling.
- Tools: muddler (or a wooden spoon), measuring spoon (1 teaspoon ≈ 5 ml), long spoon.
Golden rule: syrup first, then ice, then water. For sparkling drinks, pour the water slowly down the side of the glass and stir once to keep the bubbles.
1. Virgin Mojito with Dragonfruit Passionfruit
- 5 ml ZERUP Dragonfruit Passionfruit
- 8-10 mint leaves, half a lime cut into wedges
- Crushed ice, 300 ml sparkling water
Gently muddle mint and lime in the glass, add syrup and crushed ice, top with sparkling water and stir from the bottom. Garnish with a mint sprig.
2. Peach Iced Tea Spritz
- 5 ml ZERUP Peach Iced Tea
- 2 slices fresh peach or nectarine (optional), a sprig of rosemary
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
Add syrup, peach slices and ice, top with sparkling water and garnish with rosemary.
3. Lemon Mint Slush
- 6 ml ZERUP Lemon Iced Tea
- A handful of mint leaves, 1 cup ice, 200 ml cold water
Blend everything until slushy. Serve immediately with a straw. A sugar-free take on the region's beloved lemon-mint.
4. Mango Chilli Cooler
- 5 ml ZERUP Mango
- Juice of a quarter lime, a pinch of chilli flakes or chilli-lime seasoning for the rim
- Crushed ice, 300 ml still water
Wet the glass rim with lime and dip in chilli-salt. Add syrup, lime juice and crushed ice, then top with water.
5. Blue Lagoon
- 5 ml ZERUP Blue Raspberry
- Juice of a quarter lemon, lemon wheel
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
Build over ice and garnish with a lemon wheel. Its bright colour makes it a party favourite.
6. Blackberry Basil Smash
- 5 ml ZERUP Blackberry
- 4-5 fresh blackberries (or frozen), 3 basil leaves, juice of a quarter lime
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
Muddle blackberries and basil, add syrup, lime and ice, top with sparkling water.
7. Green Apple Cucumber Fizz
- 5 ml ZERUP Green Apple
- 4 thin cucumber ribbons, a few mint leaves
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
Line the glass with cucumber ribbons, add ice, syrup and mint, then top with sparkling water. Fresh, sour, spa-like.
8. Orange Blossom Sunrise
- 5 ml ZERUP Orange
- 2 drops orange blossom water, orange slice
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
- Optional: a few frozen raspberries for the "sunrise" colour at the bottom
Add raspberries and syrup, then ice and sparkling water, then orange blossom water on top.
9. Cola Lime
- 5 ml ZERUP Cola Orange
- Juice of half a lime, lime wheel
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
The simplest drink here and one of the most satisfying. Squeeze lime over ice, add syrup and top with very cold sparkling water.
10. First Heaven Berry Rush
- 5 ml ZERUP First Heaven
- A few frozen mixed berries, lemon wedge
- Ice, 300 ml sparkling water
Build over ice and berries; squeeze in the lemon. For anyone who loves that energy-drink flavour without the sugar, and without caffeine: like every ZERUP flavour, First Heaven is caffeine-free.
Party quantities
For a 2-litre jug (about 6-8 glasses):
| Recipe | ZERUP | Water | Fresh extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin mojito | 30 ml Dragonfruit Passionfruit | 1.8 L sparkling | 1 bunch mint, 3 limes |
| Peach spritz | 30 ml Peach Iced Tea | 1.8 L sparkling | 2 peaches, rosemary |
| Blue lagoon | 30 ml Blue Raspberry | 1.8 L sparkling | 2 lemons |
| Cola lime | 30 ml Cola Orange | 1.8 L sparkling | 3 limes |
Add sparkling water just before serving. For a buffet, set out a "mocktail bar": three ZERUP flavours, bowls of fruit and herbs, ice, and still and sparkling water. Guests build their own.
Make-ahead ice cubes
Mix a stronger batch (about 10 ml ZERUP per 500 ml water), pour into ice-cube trays, add a mint leaf or berry to each and freeze. Drop the cubes into plain sparkling water: the drink gets more flavourful as they melt.
A note for families
These recipes are designed for adults and older children. For pre-school children, health advisers recommend water and milk rather than sweetened drinks. For older kids, use a lighter mix (about half the syrup). Read our guide to kids and water.
Frequently asked questions
Are these mocktails halal?
The recipes contain no alcohol, and ZERUP is halal certified. Check any other ingredients you add, such as flavourings, if you need to be sure.
How do I make a sugar-free virgin mojito?
Muddle mint and lime, add 5 ml of a sugar-free syrup such as ZERUP Dragonfruit Passionfruit, fill with crushed ice and top with sparkling water.
Can I make mocktails ahead of time for a party?
Mix the syrup, fruit and herbs in jugs ahead of time and add sparkling water just before serving to keep the fizz.
How much syrup do I need for a jug?
About 30 ml of ZERUP for a 2-litre jug, or 40 ml for 5 litres if you prefer a lighter taste. Adjust to taste.
Do these mocktails contain sugar?
The syrup adds 0 g sugar. Fresh fruit adds a small amount of natural sugar.
Host with three flavours: any 3 for AED 49
0 g sugar per glass · 8+ litres per bottle · Halal & vegan · Delivered within 12 hours across the UAE, free over AED 200
Keep reading
Sources
- SACN (2025). SACN statement on the WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners: summary. GOV.UK. www.gov.uk
- NHS. Drinks and cups for babies and young children. www.nhs.uk
- LUVA Nutrition. ZERUP product information (halal certification, vegan, nutrition). luvanutrition.ae
This article is general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, dietitian or other qualified professional. Last reviewed: October 2026.