Lemon Kava Tonic Recipe

It’s July. It’s hot. And you’re looking for a way to cool down and relax without getting sloshed.*

Well, I’m right there with you.

So here’s my favorite new non-alcoholic summer cocktail recipe: the lemon kava tonic. It’s bright and relaxing, and only takes a couple minutes to throw together.

LEMON KAVA TONIC

Prep time: 3 minutes

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• ½ tsp kava extract
• 12 oz tonic water (plain or flavored)
• 2 tsp lemon juice
• Lemon twist
• 2 cups ice

Equipment

• 2 highball glasses (or whatever you’ve got)
• Handheld frother (see notes if you don’t have one)

Directions

1. Add a splash of tonic water to each glass.
2. Add ¼ tsp kava extract to each glass. Use the frother to combine.
3. Split ice and tonic water between the glasses.
4. Garnish with your twists.

Kava Tonic Recipe Notes

• Frother alternative: If you don’t have a frother, then it’ll be easiest to mix your kava tonic before you put any of it in glasses. It’s also easiest to get the kava extract to disperse in a warm liquid instead of a cold one. Add 2 tbsp warm water (or coconut water or juice) and your extract to a bowl. Using a small whisk, stir vigorously for about 20 seconds. Let sit 30 seconds and whisk again to break up any remaining clumps.
• Make it a double: add ½ tsp kava to each glass for stronger kava effects.
• Swap the citrus: switch out the lemon juice and twist for lime or orange.

*Important note on kava’s effects: while kava won’t make you feel drunk the way that alcohol will, it’s not really a “mocktail” base. In our view, kava drinks are cocktails—they can provide a mental buzz and bodily relaxation.

So if you’re trying to avoid all drinks with psychoactive effects, we don’t recommend having kava. You can make the recipe above into a true mocktail by combining lemon juice, tonic water, and a lemon twist—and just leave out the kava extract.

More NA Cocktail Recipes

If you’re celebrating Dry July (or what we like to call Dry-ish July) and you’re looking for more alcohol-free cocktail recipes, give one of these kratom or kava drink recipes a try:

• Kava Cream Soda
• Kratom & Coke
• Kratom Tea Mojito
• Sparkling Green Kratom Tea Cocktail

Cheers!