Pear Ginger Fizz
A refreshing and lightly spiced mocktail combining fresh pear juice with the warming punch of ginger, balanced with honey and topped with sparkling water. Serve chilled over ice for a sophisticated drink that works equally well at brunch or dinner.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- —
- Wait
- 5 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Makes
- 2 drinks (about 10 oz each)
Steps
Before you start
- Chill two drinking glasses in the freezer for at least 15 minutes, or fill with ice to chill while you prepare the drink
- Have sparkling water chilled and ready to pour
- Use fresh pears or high-quality pear juice (not from concentrate if possible)
Infuse ginger in honey
- In a cocktail shaker or mason jar, combine the sliced ginger (1.5 tablespoons or 12 g) with the honey (1.5 tablespoons or 22 ml).
- Let sit for 3–5 minutes, gently stirring once halfway through.
- This allows the ginger warmth to infuse into the honey, creating a more cohesive flavor.
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Ready when: Honey becomes slightly warmed and fragrant with ginger aroma
Tip: Don't skip the infusion—it distributes ginger flavor evenly rather than leaving chunks in the drink.
Build the base mixture
- Add the pear juice (1 cup or 240 ml) and lemon juice (½ tablespoon or 7.5 ml) to the shaker with the ginger-honey mixture.
- Stir gently to combine and dissolve the honey completely.
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Ready when: Honey is fully dissolved and ingredients are evenly mixed
Tip: Stir thoroughly to ensure honey doesn't settle on the bottom—it should be evenly distributed.
Fill glasses with ice
- Remove the chilled glasses from the freezer (or discard ice used for pre-chilling).
- Fill each glass three-quarters full with fresh ice cubes.
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Ready when: Glasses are filled with ice to just below the rim
Tip: Using fresh ice prevents any residual flavors from pre-chilling water from diluting your drink.
Strain and divide
- If you prefer a smoother drink without ginger particles, pour the pear-ginger mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into each glass, dividing it evenly (about ½ cup or 120 ml per glass).
- If you like texture and don't mind ginger pieces, simply pour it directly into the glasses.
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Ready when: Both glasses are filled equally with the pear base
Tip: Straining creates a more elegant presentation and smoother texture, but it's optional depending on your preference.
Top with sparkling water
- Top each glass with ⅜ cup (90 ml) of chilled sparkling water, pouring slowly to preserve the fizz and avoid overflow.
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Ready when: Glasses are filled to the rim with fizzy liquid
Tip: Pour the sparkling water last to maintain carbonation—it's what gives the drink its signature fizz.
Stir gently and garnish
- Stir each drink gently with a bar spoon to distribute the flavors.
- If desired, garnish with a thin pear slice, fan, or a sliver of candied ginger.
- Serve immediately.
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Ready when: Drink is fully mixed and garnished, ready to serve
Tip: A pear fan or candied ginger slice adds visual appeal and hints at the flavors within.
Good to know
Tips
- For a larger batch (4+ servings), combine all base ingredients in a pitcher and chill for up to 4 hours. Add ice and sparkling water just before serving.
- If your pear juice is particularly bland, a pinch of fresh thyme or a few sliced mint leaves steeped in the base for 5 minutes can add herbal complexity.
- For a spicier version, increase fresh ginger to 2 tablespoons (16 g), or add a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper for subtle heat.
- Serve in a chilled glass for maximum refreshment—pre-chill by placing glasses in the freezer for 15 minutes or filling them with ice while you prepare the drink.
Make ahead
Prepare the ginger-honey-pear-lemon base up to 4 hours ahead and keep it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply fill glasses with ice, strain if desired, and top with sparkling water. This is ideal for entertaining since final assembly takes just 2 minutes per drink.
Storage & reheating
Best served immediately. If you have leftover base (without sparkling water), store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Do not add sparkling water until ready to serve, as it will go flat.
Substitutions
- pear juice, fresh or high-quality bottled → 1 cup fresh pear purée (blended fresh pears, strained) or a blend of ½ cup pear juice with ½ cup white grape juice. For a fresher taste, use freshly pressed pear juice if available; white grape juice adds sweetness without overpowering the pear.
- fresh ginger root → 1 teaspoon ground ginger or ½ teaspoon dried ginger powder. Ground ginger is more intense, so use less. Strain the drink if using ground ginger to avoid a gritty texture.
- raw honey or mild honey → 1.5 tablespoons agave nectar, maple syrup, or sugar syrup. Agave is neutral and dissolves easily; maple syrup adds subtle complexity; simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, cooled) is the most neutral option.
- chilled sparkling water → club soda, ginger ale (for extra spice), or sparkling apple cider. Ginger ale doubles down on the spice; sparkling apple cider adds fruity sweetness. Adjust honey slightly if using a sweetened sparkling beverage.
