Rachel Marwedel
Website Manager
Each Monday, I gather my roommates and taste-test mocktails. And this Monday, our editor-in-chief asked me to create a Valentine’s drink. Here’s how it went:
Romance
Equal parts sweet, bitter, and soothing – kind of like real romance.
Pomegranate juice
Rose Water
Lime Juice
Agave syrup
Cucumber or honeydew melon
Meltable Dark Chocolate
Edible Gold Glitter
(Optional) Sparkling Water
Melt dark chocolate, either in a microwave or on the stove. Dip glass in chocolate and let cool. On a piece of parchment paper, pour chocolate in the shape of a heart, leaving a gap on one side. While the heart is cooling, slice the cucumber or honeydew melon. In a cocktail shaker, muddle with either sparkling or still water. Set aside. In a cocktail shaker, mix together rose water, pomegranate juice, lime juice, and agave syrup. Pour into glass. Top up with cucumber or honeydew melon water. Sprinkle gold glitter on top and mix. Finally, peel heart off of parchment paper and slide onto rim.
This recipe is an original – I technically started with a recipe from Mocktail Magic by bonjour as my base, but it evolved far beyond that. You’ll notice that there are no measurements, because you have to measure with your heart (get it? Because it’s Valentine’s? …I’ll see myself out). Start with melting your chocolate – if you’re doing it in the microwave, make sure you pull it out every 15 seconds and stir it, or it will seize. Dip your glass in then let it cool. Now the fun part – edible arts and crafts! Dip a chopstick (or anything thin and stick-like. Except your pasty gamer boyfriend. Leave him alone) into the chocolate, and let it drip off onto your parchment paper in the shape of a heart. Dip into the chocolate as many times as needed. Important! Leave a gap on the side of the heart, where it will slip onto the rim. I’d do a couple of these, because these hearts can be easily broken. I feel like there’s a joke to make there…
Next, slice up either your cucumber or honeydew melon. I prefer the honeydew for taste, but it can make the drink kind of pulpy, so up to you. Place it in your cocktail shaker or a container that can tightly seal. Pour in either still (if you’re cheap) or sparkling (if you’re trying to impress your date) water. Muddle them together by vigorously shaking. Take out the fruit chunks, and set mixture aside.
In the cocktail shaker, mix the pomegranate juice, lime juice, rose water, and agave syrup. You’ll need more rose water than you think, but otherwise, mix to taste. Pour into glass until 2/3 full. Top up with the muddled water. Now, sprinkle on gold glitter. That’s not optional. Glitter is never optional. Finish with (carefully) peeling off the heart and sliding it onto the rim.
I don’t give 3/3 ratings lightly, but this drink is both enticing and leaves you wanting more. The presentation alone is dark and mysterious, yet speaks of careful preparation and care. The intoxicating scent of roses wafts up as you take a sip. Upon that first taste, a tart note of pomegranate grazes your senses, but is immediately soothed by agave nectar. Then, as if a fleeting wind passing by, the cooling taste of cucumber/honeydew rounds the experience out.
I know, I know, it’s a lot of work for one drink. But I promise it’s worth it – kind of like love itself.
Rating: 3/3
Photo by Rachel Marwedel.
