As the weather heats up and the days get longer, the last thing anyone needs is a round of something that’ll leave you dehydrated by 9 p.m. For river days, picnics in the sun or dinner parties with friends, here are two THC-infused mocktails to get your summer rolling. Mango spritzer to lift you up, and lavender lemonade to wind you down.
The mango spritzer is a bubbly, refreshing drink for a morning or mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Mango juice breaks out the sweetness, the lime keeps it sharp and bright, and the mint makes the whole thing feel more complex than it is. For this mocktail, I picked out a THC syrup by Fruit Lust, the obvious choice being the mango flavor. If you don’t want to be locked in your fold-up chair by the river, I’d recommend picking up a sativa-dominant syrup or tincture. Either way, at 20 mg per serving, it’s a gentle lift to start your high.
Mango Spritzer
Ingredients – 4 servings:
- 2 cups Mango Juice
- 2 cups Sprite or Sparkling Water
- 2 limes
- 2 tbsp. simple syrup
- ¼ cup mint leaves
- 2 tsp. THC Syrup = 80mg (20mg/serving)
Process:
- Muddle the limes and ½ the mint leaves
- Mix all ingredients, serve over ice
When the conversations have long been flowing, and the sun starts to set, it’s time to dive into something more relaxing. The lavender simple syrup takes a bit more time, but it’s worth every minute (and stores well for 2-4 weeks in the fridge). The light floral taste cuts through the acidic lemonade, keeping things tart without being overbearing. For this one, I picked out another THC syrup by Fruit Lust, and since they didn’t have a floral flavor, marionberry does the trick.
For this mocktail, it’s crucial to highlight lavender’s historical and cultural significance to LGBTQIA+ individuals. In the 1950s and 60s, gay men were taunted for possessing a “dash” or “streak” of lavender. The phrase stems from Carl Sandburg describing one of Abraham Lincoln’s close male friendships as containing “a streak of lavender, and spots soft as May violets.” By 1969, lavender had become a symbol of empowerment for LGBTQIA+ individuals, reclaimed for resistance. So, pour with intention. Each sip carries a little history.
There’s something beautiful about making things for the people you love, whether it be muddling limes or simmering lavender on the stove. Like chosen family or pride itself, cannabis has never been about excess. It’s about presence, inviting people to be exactly who they are and enjoy who they’re with.
Whether mixing for a crowd or pouring one yourself, keep the golden rule in mind: start low and go slow. 20 mg is a reasonable dose for anyone newer to cannabis, so dose at your own pace and don’t overpour.
Lavender Lemonade
Lavender Simple Syrup Ingredients – 4 servings:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup dried lavender flowers
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- Lavender Simple Syrup Process:
- Add sugar, water, and lavender buds to a saucepan
- Over medium heat, bring to a boil
- Turn down to a simmer, and cook for 10 minutes
- Remove pot from heat, let sit for 20 minutes
Mocktail Ingredients:
- 6 oz. lavendar simple syrup
- 6 oz. lemon juice
- 24 oz. water or sparkling water
- 2 tsp. THC Syrup = 80 mg (20 mg/serving)
Process:
- Mix all ingredients, serve over ice
