Celebrate the 4th of July with a burst of color and flavor with this special red, white, and blue mocktail. Layers of lemonade, blue hawaiian punch, and hibiscus tea create this patriotic 4th of July Mocktail. This fun mocktail is not only visually stunning but also refreshing and perfect for everyone at your gathering.
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The Best Layered 4th of July Mocktail
Nothing is more fun than a festive patriotic beverage that everyone can enjoy and this drink fits the bill! With fun red, white, and blue layers making a festive drink like this is way easier than anticipated! Great for any of the patriotic holidays like July 4th or Memorial Day.
It is also a kid-friendly drink which makes it a great option for family gathering because it is perfect for all ages. It is one of those drinks that is also super refreshing and tastes good because of the way the unsweetened tea mixes with the lemonade and punch, a total crowd pleaser and the perfect drink for a hot summer day.
The best part is that it is also easy to prepare. With just a few simple ingredients you will be making the stunning layered drink in a matter of minutes! The bottom layer is lemonade, the second layer is blue punch, and the last layer is hibiscus tea.
For serving at a party a good idea is to even let everyone make their own drink. Show everyone how to layer using an upside-down spoon and watch as everyone gets excited to make their own patriotic drink! It will be the hit of the summer barbecue!
Equipment Needed
- Large glass
- Regular spoon
- Mason jar or pitcher (for making hibiscus tea)
- Fine mesh sieve (for straining hibiscus tea)
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- Cold Unsweetened Hibiscus Tea - To make cold brew hibiscus tea, add 4 tablespoons of loose leaf hibiscus tea Affiliate Link or 4 tea bags to a large mason jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups of cool, filtered water over the tea. Cover and refrigerate for 8-12 hours. Strain the tea through a fine mesh sieve before using.
- Cold Lemonade - Ensure you use true lemonade (not a low-sugar variety) to maintain the proper weight for layering. Low-sugar lemonades can blend into the Hawaiian punch and ruin the layered effect.
- Cold Blue Hawaiian Punch Affiliate Link - You know the kind I am talking about with the silly surfer on the front. I think it is technically "Polar Blast" flavor.
- Ice - To keep your drink chilled make sure you fill the cup with ice! So make sure to get plenty of ice.
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Instructions
Prepare the Glass: Add ice to a large glass.
Layer the Lemonade: Pour lemonade into the glass, filling it about one-third of the way.
Add the Blue Hawaiian Punch Affiliate Link: Using a regular spoon, turn the spoon upside down over the glass so the back of the spoon is facing up. Slowly pour the blue Hawaiian Punch onto the back of the spoon so it drizzles gently into the glass on top of the lemonade. Continue until the glass is two-thirds full.
Top with Hibiscus Tea: Using the same spoon and method, gently pour the hibiscus tea over the back of the spoon until the glass is nearly full.
Enjoy: Step back and admire your colorful creation. Enjoy your mocktail!
Why does the Layering Work?
What keeps liquids in layers when it comes to beverages is sugar content. Sugar content plays a big role in the weight of the liquid and when you layer the liquids in order of highest sugar content to lowest sugar content you are essentially layering the liquids from heaviest to lightest. If the layers are different enough in sugar content they will stay separate from each other. (Using the back of the spoon does help disperse the stream of liquid so it isn't accidentally mixing from the weight of being poured.) So in this recipe lemonade has the highest sugar content, then the blue hawaiian punch Affiliate Link, and last with the unsweetened hibiscus tea.
Tips, Tricks and Questions
Can I use sweetened hibiscus tea?
No it is best to use unsweetened hibiscus tea to maintain the proper layering. Don't worry the drink will still be sweet once the tea mixes with the punch and lemonade.
What if my layers mix together?
Luckily it will still taste good. To help with the layering ensure all ingredients are cold and pour slowly over the back of a spoon to help maintain distinct layers. (If the drinks are all different temperatures it also might cause it to have trouble layering, try to ensure all the drinks are cold.)
Can I prepare this mocktail in advance?
It’s best to prepare and serve this mocktail immediately to preserve the visual appeal of the layers. However, you can pre-make the hibiscus tea and keep it refrigerated until ready to use.
What other drinks can I use for layering?
Because of the delicate balance of sugar weight you need to make sure you look at the sugar content of anything you might try to substitute. I have not tried any of the following but here are a few idea that might work. White Grape Juice might work for the white layer. Blue Gatorade might work for the blue layer. I also have no clue how these substitutions might taste together.
If you like this 4th of July Mocktail you might also like:
Blackberry Mojito Mocktail
Strawberry Smash Mocktail
Cucumber Lime Aqua Fresca
Violet Lemonade
4th of July Mocktail
Enjoy this red white and blue mocktail in layers of colorful lemonade, blue hawaiian punch, and hibiscus tea!
Ingredients
- Cold Unsweetened Hibiscus Tea*
- Cold Lemonade**
- Cold Blue Hawaiian Punch
- Ice
Instructions
- Add ice to a large glass. Pour in lemonade ⅓ of the way into the glass.
- Using a regular spoon, turn the spoon upside down over the top of the glass so the back of the spoon is facing up. Slowly pour the blue Hawaiian Punch onto the back of the spoon so it drizzles into the glass on top of the lemonade. Pour the blue Hawaiian Punch until it is ⅔ of the way up the glass.
- Using the same spoon and method gently pour the hibiscus tea over the back of the spoon. Pour until it is close to the top of the glass. Stand back and check out your handy work, the mocktail should be in colorful layers! Enjoy!
Notes
*You will most likely be making the hibiscus tea yourself from tea bags or loose leaf hibisucus tea. Note that the hibiscus tea can be flavored (like with berries) and still work great as long as it remains unsweetened. To make cold brew hibiscus tea add 4 tablespoons loose leaf hibiscus tea or 4 tea bags to a large mason jar or pitcher. Pour 4 cups of cool filtered water over the dried flowers and screw on the lid or cover. Shake or stir to combine. Refrigerate overnight or about 8 to 12 hours. Place a fine mesh sieve over a pitcher and pour the tea through the sieve to capture the hibiscus flowers. Discard the flowers.
**Make sure you use true lemonade not a low-sugar variety. If you were to use a low-sugar variety the weight of the lemonade changes and the layering affect won't happen the lemonade and Hawaiian punch will blend right into one another.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
1Serving Size:
1 drinkAmount Per Serving: Calories: 191Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 29mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 0gSugar: 50gProtein: 0g
Nutritional data is automated and might not be 100% accurate, final nutritional information will depend on ingredients used and any changes made.
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