Nonalcoholic Negroni

This recipe is excellent. I made it for a get together and everyone loved it, both the drinkers and non-drinkers. I used raspberry hibiscus tea because that was all that was available at the store. I was worried it would make it too sweet but the balance mimicked a negroni perfectly. So you don’t need to be too picky with the tea type.

I'm excited to try this as I make hibiscus tea all the time with dried hibiscus blooms. If you live in Texas or have access to a Mexican market, they are sold already dried and are inexpensive and make delicious tea. I also steep fresh Stevia leaves with it and omit sugar. I planted it on a whim and it pretty much has quadrupled in size....which is saying something in a gulf coast Texas garden in the summer (ie...inhospitable lol). So this weekend I'll be trying this!

I’m sure this tastes alright, but there’s no way this tastes like a Negroni. For one, Negronis aren’t carbonated, and this won’t be bracingly bitter like a Negroni. San bitter and Phoney Negronis are premade and pretty solid if you want something closer. Or, if you’re feeling froggy and want to spend a little time with it, try this… Juice some grapefruits, drink the juice for breakfast. Throw grapefruit rinds in water (1 part by weight rinds to 2 parts water) up to a simmer and simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and press the rinds. Add some lemon peels, orange peels, rosemary, hibiscus (this will give you the color and also some body, and a small amount of gentian root (very small, you can get it online or at local co-op or tea shop) to the strained grapefruit stock and simmer for about 5-7 minutes. Strain, add simple syrup, amount 35% per volume, and some salt. Salt rounds the sweetness and bitterness out. You can also add a little glucose if you truly want some of the viscosity that Negronis have. If grapefruit messes with your meds or you have an allergy, use orange.