Ginger No-jito (Temperance Ginger Mojito)
Churn ∙ 3 min ∙
The Ginger No-jito is a non-alcoholic mojito riff of lime juice, sugar syrup, fresh mint, and ginger ale, churned over crushed ice. Crushed ice keeps every sip cold and dilutes it just enough, while a spicy fizz builds under a bright, herbal snap on the finish.
Ingredients
1
Servings
Garnish
Instructions for 1 serving
- Pre-chill a glass
- Pour the first 2 ingredients: Lime juice 25 mlSugar syrup 15 ml into the glass and half fill with crushed ice
- Add Fresh mint leaves 12 pcs
- Churn
- Fill the glass with more crushed ice and top with Ginger ale
- Briefly churn to combine
- Garnish with a mint sprig
Tips
- Churn, don't muddle hard — bruise the mint gently so it releases aroma without turning bitter or grassy.
- Add the ginger ale last and churn only briefly to combine, preserving its carbonation.
- Pack the glass with crushed ice in two stages, as the build directs, so the drink stays cold without over-diluting.
History
The Ginger No-jito, also called the Temperance Ginger Mojito, is a modern non-alcoholic riff that swaps in ginger ale and omits the rum entirely, keeping the lime, mint, and sugar of its namesake. It has no independently documented creator or bar of origin; the closest documented lineage traces it to a ginger-spiked mocktail served on casual restaurant-chain menus in the 2010s, with the "No-jito" name later attached to that style of drink.
Its parent, the Mojito, is a Cuban highball built from rum, lime, sugar, mint, and soda that is generally traced to Havana, with its exact creation story disputed among several claimants and its name and precise origins not firmly settled. The Ginger No-jito's single defining change is replacing the rum with ginger ale, turning the cocktail into an alcohol-free "temperance" version while keeping the same lime-mint backbone.
FAQ
How do you make a Ginger No-jito?
Pour lime juice and sugar syrup into a pre-chilled glass, half-fill with crushed ice, add fresh mint, and churn. Then fill the glass with more crushed ice, top with ginger ale, briefly churn again to combine, and garnish with a mint sprig.
What is in a Ginger No-jito?
Fresh lime juice, sugar syrup, mint leaves, and ginger ale, churned over crushed ice in a highball glass. It has no spirit, making it a non-alcoholic take on a mojito, and it comes in at about 89 calories per serving.
What does "no-jito" mean?
A "no-jito" is a non-alcoholic mojito, replacing the rum with a non-alcoholic base while keeping the lime, mint, and sugar structure. This version replaces the rum with ginger ale, which also brings its own spice and fizz to the drink.
What is the difference between a Mojito and a Ginger No-jito?
A Mojito is built on white rum with lime, mint, sugar, and soda water, while the Ginger No-jito removes the rum entirely and swaps the soda water for ginger ale, so it carries no alcohol and a spicier, gingery character.
What are common mojito-style mistakes to avoid?
Over-muddling the mint is the biggest one, since crushing rather than bruising the leaves releases bitter, grassy compounds. Skipping crushed ice or churning too long after adding the ginger ale are the other two, since both waste the fizz that should carry the drink.
