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One of the best things about spring is watching the world come back to life around us. Flowers unfurl, pollinators buzz about, and we find ourselves craving fresh greens, berries, and lighter foods.
This Flora Forager Collins spring mocktail recipe, shared with us by our friends at the Herbal Academy, is a celebration of the season’s herbal abundance. Light, floral, and uplifting, it brings together calming lavender, immune-supportive elderflower, and heart-opening rose. A splash of citrus bitters ties it all together, inviting the digestive system to wake up and tune in—something herbalists have leaned on for generations, especially during spring.*
A Closer Look at What’s in Your Glass
Each ingredient in the Flora Forager Collins spring mocktail recipe (shared with us by our friends at the Herbal Academy) offers gentle support for body and mind. If you’re looking to reduce alcohol consumption, but maintain the fun of a fancy drink, this is a unique option that still feels special–without the negative side effects that can accompany cocktails.
Lavender (Lavandula spp.) is one of the herbs we rely on to help take the edge off when things start to feel a little much. It’s one of those herbs that simply makes life a bit easier, whether you’re feeling tense, having trouble winding down, or just need a moment of calm. It adds a relaxing note to this mocktail that helps bring the whole drink into balance.*
Elderflower (Sambucus nigra) blossoms are light and fragrant, and they’ve got a reputation for supporting the immune and respiratory systems.* We love adding them to teas and tonics, but in this mocktail, they bring a gentle floral sweetness that feels just right for the season.
While lavender and elderflower help calm and ground, rose (Rosa spp.) adds a bit of brightness. It has a longstanding tradition in herbalism of elevating the emotional heart and is often used when we’re feeling a little tender or out of sorts. In this recipe, rose brings tonifying tissue support and a light floral taste.*
And finally, we have bitters. Just a few drops of bitters can go a long way when it comes to digestion.* They help the body start releasing all the digestive juices—we need to break down food and absorb nutrients.* We especially like our Citrus Bitters in drinks like this. The orange peel gives it a bright, citrusy flavor that pairs well with floral herbs, while also offering aid to the digestive system.
Flora Forager Collins: Spring Mocktail Recipe
This recipe is a sneak peek into the Botanical Mixed Drinks Recipe Book, written by our friends at the Herbal Academy.
This ode to foraged late spring florals is a perfect botanical mocktail for garden parties. It is light, fragrant, and refreshing. Enjoy in a Collins glass over ice and garnish with fresh flowers, sprigs of culinary herbs, sweet berries, and a citrus twist.
Note: This is a low-alcohol recipe with the addition of citrus bitters. For a completely alcohol-free version, replace the citrus bitters with Cider Vinegar Bitters.
Ingredients:
- 2 fl oz (60 mL) cooled lavender (Lavendula spp.) tea
- ½ fl oz (15 mL) elderflower (Sambucus nigra) glycerite
- ½ fl oz (15 mL) rose (Rosa spp.) petal syrup
- ¼ fl oz (7 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 dash (10 drops) citrus bitters
- Carbonated water, to taste
- Fresh edible flowers, sprigs of culinary herbs, and/or sweet berries for garnish
- 10 drops hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) syrup (optional)
- Fresh citrus twist for garnish (optional)Directions:
- Fill a Collins glass with ice. Tuck fresh edible flowers, berries, and/or herb sprigs between the ice and the glass, and set it aside.
- Combine the lavender tea, elderflower glycerite, rose petal syrup, lemon juice, and bitters in a glass canning jar.
- Fill the jar ⅔ full of ice, cap, and shake hard for 20 seconds. Strain the liquid off the ice and pour into the Collins glass.
- Add a citrus twist on top of the ice and any remaining berries or edible flowers you can to float on top of the drink, if desired.
- Slowly pour carbonated water over the ice.
- Using a pipette, place a small amount of hibiscus syrup in the bottom of the glass to give it a bold red coloring at the bottom, if desired.
Learn More About Bitters!
If you’ve been feeling inspired to bring more bitters into your life, then you’ll love the Herbal Academy’s Herbal Bitters Mini Course. It’s an online, self-paced introduction to the history, benefits, and everyday uses of bitters, and it’s created by some of the most trusted herbalists in the industry. It’s perfect for both beginners and seasoned herbalists alike.
Plus, if you enroll by May 16, you’ll receive a FREE 2 fl oz bottle of Urban Moonshine Citrus Bitters, as well as a 30% off coupon for your next Urban Moonshine purchase!
A Toast to Spring
As herbalists, we’re always looking for ways to align with the seasons. In spring, that often means leaning into the fresh plant energy around us. An elegant, seasonal drink, like this Flora Forager Collins, can be a small, yet lovely part of that process.
We hope this spring mocktail recipe inspires you to pause, connect with the herbs that are blooming near you, and enjoy the refreshing support they offer. Here’s to vibrant health, good digestion, and the joy of working with plants in everyday ways!
