Saudi Champagne … Mocktail

CHAMPAGNE..AND SAUDI ARABIA SEEMS TABOO TO APPEAR IN THE SAME SENTENCE, BUT THIS SIMPLE AND REFRESHING MOCKTAIL, HAS ABSOLUTLEY NO ALCOHOL, AND SAFE TO BE ENJOYED BY MUSLIMS AND NON-MUSLIMS, ANYTIME OF THE YEAR.

Aah now I’m sure that title had caught your attention, and you were wondering just how can Champagne be had in Saudi Arabia, right?  Well then just like I was 1st surprised to hear about this refreshing ‘Mocktail’ a few years back, when Imran had attended his company year end function.  Imran had called that night to let me know about his day and this drink his colleagues had ordered in Saudi Arabia. Thousands of miles away, in South Africa, I sat wide eyed and worried about just what may have been in this drink that Imran had been raving about.  So the next time I went to Bahrain, in 2014, Imran treated me to dinner one evening at a restaurant and surprised me by ordering that very same ‘Saudi Champagne’.  Being me, and skeptical at 1st, until I was assured this drink is totally free from alcohol , I took my 1st tentative sip…and since then, I’ve become a big fan of this particular Mocktail, and I can assure you that YOU too will start enjoying this drink at any occasion.

Now Legend has it, that this drink was created by the folks in Saudi Arabia, after they were saddened to see their Western Expats/colleagues , missing their alcohol, since alcohol is strictly not allowed in Saudi Arabia.  It is the perfect refreshing drink to be enjoyed in the blisteringly hot climate of Saudi Arabia.  Saudi Champagne is now featured at almost all Saudi Functions and served at good restaurants, including Bahrain.

This is a very simple to make mocktail, and I needed no extra reason to make this over this weekend in Johannesburg,  South Africa, as the mercury levels began climbing.  Great weather to be outdoors, in the coolness of the shade off course, and enjoying a glass of iced chilled ‘Saudi Champagne’.

Saudi Champagne...Mocktail

• Servings: makes 2 Litres
• Difficulty: Easy
• Print

SAUDI CHAMPAGNE

Makes 2 Litres

Difficulty: Easy

AUTHOR : Foodeva Marsay (@foodeva_marsay)

INGREDIENTS

1 medium Red Apple

1 large Orange

2-3 slices Lemon

4 Strawberries

Sprig of Mint Leaves

1 Litre Clear Apple Juice (Liquifruit or similar brand)

1 Litre White Grape Juice (Ceres or similar any brand)

750 ml – 1 litre Sparkling Grape Juice (any brand)

.

https://marriamsayed.com/2016/10/24/saudi-champagne-mocktail/

INSTRUCTIONS 

~ Slice OR Chop the fruits, leaving the skins on.

~ Slice the lemons into rounds.

~ Add these into 2 separate, 1 litre pitchers.

~ To each Pitcher, Add 1 and 1/2 cups of each of the mentioned fruit juices.

~ Now add the Mint leaves into each pitcher.

~ Allow this to stand in the fridge for 20 minutes or more, so the flavours of the fruits and juices can be enhanced.

~ Just before Serving, Top the Fruit Juices in pitcher with a good quality Sparkling Grape Juice.

~ Add some Crushed ice, and serve immediately.

~ The fruits are to be left in the pitchers, and makes for an attractive appearance, but you may strain off the fruits if your don’t like them in your glass.

~ Top each serving glass with a whole strawberry on the rim, and a mint leaf.

YOUR ‘SAUDI CHAMPAGNE’ IS READY TO BE ENJOYED, ONE TINY SIP AT A TIME?

RECIPE NOTES (@foodeva_marsay)

• Use a clear glass pitcher for this mocktail, so the effect of the fruits and bubble from the sparkling juice can be seen.
• You can opt to slice or chop the fruits.
• You can also top up the pitchers with a sparkling Lemonade fizzy drink instead of the Sparkling Grape Juice.

*Kindly share on my recipes as posted, or with a link to www.marriamsayed.com*

Facebook comments

comments