The Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail is made with a handful of good-for-you ingredients like charred juicy lemons, ginger tea, and fresh thyme. The subtle difference in flavor from charring the lemons creates these mellow, toasty notes that really add dimension to the mocktail.

If you love a bright, fresh mocktail, you’ll also want to try the Passionfruit Ginger Mocktail and Morning Glow (Healthy, Collagen Mocktail)!

Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail with ice, grilled lemon slice, chamomile flowers, and fresh herbs in a stemmed glass.

I love tart, citrusy drinks all year round, but for some reason bright lemon-forward recipes feel extra springy to me. I think it’s the childhood connection between lemonade stands and that special feeling of the weather starting to turn warm on the east coast.

This Charred Lemon Mocktail gives me all those good feelings. The bright, citrus notes paired with the zingy ginger tea is so perfect. It could possibly be the ultimate first-trimester pregnancy mocktail. Ginger is typically so good for nausea (that’s been my experience, for sure). This recipe also gives in to my tart cravings, so I’ve been making it on repeat! The subtle difference in flavor from charring the lemons is amazing. It’s mellow and toasty – you’re going to fall head over heels for it.

Recipe Ingredients

See the recipe card for quantities

  • Lemons: Use medium-sized, juicy ripe lemons.
  • Avocado oil: For charring lemons. Another neutral oil would work as well!
  • Thyme: Use fresh, not dried, for this recipe. 
  • Ginger tea: You’ll need chilled, brewed ginger tea. I used the Organic Ginger Tea from Traditional Medicinals Tea.
  • Honey syrup: Combine 1 part honey with 1 part warm water to make honey syrup.
  • Sugar: For rim. Raw, coconut, granulated all work.
  • Chamomile: For garnish.

Tools & Equipment List

Check out my favorite glasses here!

How to Make It

Charred Lemon Juice 

Step 1: Char the lemons – Cut your lemons in half. Warm a sauté pan over medium heat and lightly grease it with avocado oil. Place the lemon halves, cut-side down, in the pan. Cook for 3–5 minutes until the flesh is golden and caramelized. Char until golden on one side for the rounds, then flip and cook the other side.

Step 3: Let the charred lemons cool slightly. Once cool, extract the juice using a citrus squeezer or reamer.

For the Mocktail

Step 1: Prepare ginger tea according to package directions and chill.

Step 2: Make the mocktail – Add charred lemon juice and thyme leaves from 2 sprigs to a cocktail shaker. Muddle to release oils from the thyme. Add ginger tea, honey syrup and ice. Shake until well chilled.

Step 2: Prepare rim – Combine sugar and thyme leaves in a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of your glass with honey or citrus. Dip in the sugar mixture until coated.

Step 3: Strain the mocktail mixture into the glass. If you like, garnish your Lemon Ginger Mocktail with a charred lemon slice, thyme and chamomile. Sip away!

Watch How to Make This Recipe

@thesocialsipper

this charred lemon mocktail is my new favorite 🍋 to make this beauty, i charred lemons to golden brown with my @Caraway Home non-stick sauté pan and paired with zingy ginger tea, fresh thyme and honey one of my spring cleaning projects has been upgrading my kitchen with 100% non-toxic products like my caraway sauté pan! use code CAROLYN for 10% off at caraway #friendsofcaraway #mocktails🍹 #drinkstagram #mocktailsofinstagram #mocktailsandcocktails

♬ original sound – The Social Sipper

Tips for Making the Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail

  • Choose juicy lemons: Look for lemons that feel heavy for their size—these will yield the most juice and flavor when charred.
  • Char with care: Don’t walk away while the lemons are charring—believe me, friends. They go from golden to burnt quickly! A nice, caramelized surface adds complexity, while over-charring can taste bitter in your Lemon Ginger Mocktail.
  • Storage: Store the charred lemon juice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavor will mellow slightly over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can this Lemon Ginger Mocktail be made warm? 

Yes! Skip the ice and shake—heat the mixture gently in a saucepan, muddle in the thyme, and serve in a mug for a cozy twist.

Why do you char lemons?

Charring lemons caramelizes the sugars in the fruit which adds sweetness and mellows the acidity. This gives them more depth and complexity by adding a warm, toasty flavor. Heating the lemons also makes them easier to get more juice.

How to make a batch of Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail?

Scale the recipe below and multiply it by the number of portions you’d like to make. Add all ingredients to a pitcher with ice. Divide into glasses over fresh ice and garnish.

Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail with ice, grilled lemon slice, chamomile flowers, and fresh herbs in a stemmed glass.

More Lemony Cocktails and Mocktails to Try

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Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail with ice, grilled lemon slice, chamomile flowers, and fresh herbs in a stemmed glass.
5 stars (1 review)

Charred Lemon Ginger Mocktail

Servings: 1
Prep: 15 minutes
Here’s a totally luscious, lip-smacking Lemon Ginger Mocktail that’s a serious thirst-quencher. Made with a handful of good-for-you ingredients like juicy lemons, ginger tea, and fresh thyme, it comes together in 15 minutes.
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Ingredients
 

For the charred lemon juice (yields about 1/2 cup juice)

  • 3 medium size lemons
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil

For the mocktail

  • 1/2 oz charred lemon juice
  • 2 thyme sprigs, plus more for garnish and rim
  • 3 oz ginger tea, chilled
  • 3/4 oz honey syrup
  • Sugar, for rim
  • Charred lemon, for garnish
  • Chamomile, for garnish

Instructions
 

For the charred lemon juice

  • Cut the lemons in half. If you’d like to use charred lemon slices for garnishing, slice a lemon into rounds as well.
  • Heat a saute pan over medium heat. Lightly oil the pan. Place the lemons, face down on the pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the lemon slices are golden brown and juicy. For the slices, cook until golden brown, then flip.
  • Allow to cool then juice using a citrus squeezer.

For the mocktail

  • Add charred lemon juice and thyme leaves from 2 sprigs to a cocktail shaker. Muddle to release oils from the thyme. Add ginger tea, honey syrup and ice. Shake until well chilled.
  • Prepare rim: Combine sugar and thyme leaves on a shallow dish. Moisten the rim of your glass with honey or citrus. Dip in the sugar mixture until coated.
  • Strain mocktail mixture into the glass. If desired, garnish with a charred lemon slice, thyme and chamomile.

Notes

  • Choose juicy lemons: Look for lemons that feel heavy for their size—these will yield the most juice and flavor when charred.
  • Char with care: Don’t walk away while the lemons are charring—believe me, friends. They go from golden to burnt quickly! A nice, caramelized surface adds complexity, while over-charring can taste bitter in your Lemon Ginger Mocktail.
  • Storage: Store the charred lemon juice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavor will mellow slightly over time.
Did you Make this Recipe?Let me know what you think in the comments below, or tag @thesocialsipper on Instagram!