Key Takeaways
- A zero-sugar non-alcoholic mojito comes together in about five minutes with fresh lime, mint, zero-calorie sweetener, and sparkling water over crushed ice.
- Fresh lime juice contains naturally occurring sugar; two tablespoons contribute roughly 0.5 g, which sits at the FDA threshold for a “zero sugar” label claim.
- Granulated or liquid monk fruit sweetener dissolves cleanly in cold drinks and avoids the gritty texture or cooling sensation common with erythritol.
- Non-alcoholic spirits like Little Saints St. Oak or St. Ember add aromatic depth and gentle heat that rum extract cannot match, while the canned Little Saints Mojito delivers a similar flavor profile ready to drink.
- Little Saints offers zero-sugar, functional non-alcoholic options designed for evening wind-down without sugar spikes or caffeine.
Zero-Sugar Non-Alcoholic Mojito Recipe
This recipe follows a familiar recipe-search format so you can scan quickly and start mixing. Quantities are precise and steps stay in order.
Ingredients
- 10–12 fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ½ ounce keto simple syrup (made with liquid monk fruit sweetener; see note below)
- ¾ to 1 cup chilled sparkling water
- Crushed ice
- Lime wheel for garnish
- Optional: a few drops of rum extract (see the zero-proof rum section below)
Note: For keto simple syrup, combine 1 tablespoon Now Monk Fruit Liquid Sweetener with 1 cup water. If using another brand, start with ½ tablespoon per cup and adjust to taste.
Instructions
- Add mint leaves and sweetener to a sturdy glass. Press gently for 15 to 20 seconds to release the mint’s essential oils without drawing out bitter tannins.
- Add lime juice and stir to combine with the pressed mint.
- Fill the glass with crushed ice.
- Top with chilled sparkling water, stir once from the bottom, and garnish with the lime wheel.
The fizz acts as the finish. Pour the sparkling water slowly down the side of the glass to preserve the bubbles.
How “Zero Sugar” Works In A Non-Alcoholic Mojito
The sugar math behind a mojito matters when you read labels or track glucose.
Fresh lime juice contains naturally occurring sugar. USDA FoodData Central data shows fresh lime juice contains approximately 1.7 g of total sugar per 100 g, which is the lowest sugar content of any common fruit, including lemon, grapefruit, orange, and apple. At mojito quantities, that equals roughly 0.25 g of sugar per tablespoon of juice. As noted in the Key Takeaways, two tablespoons of lime juice bring the drink to the FDA threshold for a “zero sugar” claim.
Under FDA 21 CFR 101.60(c)(1), a product may be labeled “zero sugar” only if it contains less than 0.5 g of total sugars per reference amount customarily consumed. The threshold covers total sugars, which means naturally occurring and added sugars combined.
Two terms apply here:
- Zero added sugar means no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient was added during preparation. A mojito made with monk fruit sweetener and fresh lime juice qualifies, because the lime’s sugar occurs naturally.
- Zero total sugar means less than 0.5 g of all sugars per serving, regardless of source. At 2 tablespoons of lime juice, this recipe sits at that threshold. Using 1 tablespoon of lime juice instead of 2 keeps the drink comfortably below 0.5 g total sugar per serving.
For most people tracking glucose or cutting sugar for sleep or weight reasons, the naturally occurring sugar in 1–2 tablespoons of lime juice is nutritionally negligible. Lime is, as the USDA data confirms, the lowest-sugar common fruit on a per-gram basis. The precision matters because a recipe that claims “zero sugar” while ignoring the lime creates confusion. This recipe spells out the numbers so you can decide what works for you.
For a deeper look at the wellness framing around non-alcoholic mojitos, see How To Make A Healthy Non-Alcoholic Mojito.
Best Zero-Sugar Sweetener For A Mojito
Sweeteners behave very differently in a cold, muddled drink, so the choice affects texture and flavor. The table below compares how common zero-sugar options dissolve, what aftertaste they leave, and how to dose them for a mojito.
| Sweetener | Cold-dissolution Behavior | Aftertaste In Cold Drinks | Granulated vs. Liquid Dosing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monk Fruit (Granulated Blend) | Dissolves cleanly, monk fruit solution showed zero precipitation after 72 hours at 4°C | Generally clean, faint fruity note at high doses only | Granulated monk fruit blends with erythritol as the bulking agent substitute 1:1 for sugar by volume, so ½ teaspoon replaces ½ teaspoon sugar |
| Stevia (Liquid Drops) | Liquid stevia dissolves instantly in cold drinks | Reb-A formulations leave a licorice-like finish, Reb-M extracts are considerably cleaner | Highly concentrated, 1 dropper equals roughly ½ teaspoon sugar sweetness, so it is easy to overdose |
| Erythritol (Granulated) | Only 37 g dissolves per 100 mL at 20°C, precipitates into gritty crystals below 22°C | Pronounced endothermic cooling sensation, similar to menthol, from a strongly negative heat of solution | Only 70% as sweet as sugar, requires 130% by weight to match perceived sweetness |
For a cold mojito, granulated monk fruit sweetener or liquid monk fruit drops give the most balanced result. Both dissolve cleanly in cold liquid, carry little to no aftertaste at mojito volumes, and pair well with citrus. Liquid stevia, especially Reb-M formulations, works as a second choice, but the concentration means a single extra drop can push the drink into cloying territory.
Erythritol performs poorly in a cold muddled drink. At refrigerator temperatures, erythritol does not fully dissolve, which leaves a slight grit in the glass. It also produces a cooling sensation on the tongue that competes with the mint. If a granulated monk fruit blend is what you have on hand, check the label. Most commercial monk fruit blends use erythritol as the bulking agent, which explains the cooling effect some “monk fruit” products create. Pure liquid monk fruit or pure liquid stevia avoids this issue.
A low-sugar mojito differs from a zero-sugar one. In cocktails, “low sugar” usually means some sweetener, often a small amount of simple syrup or agave, remains in the glass. A typical recipe’s 15–22 ml of simple syrup can contribute 8–15 g of added sugar per drink, and a low-sugar mojito often lands around 8 g of sugar per serving. If you track glucose or manage sugar intake, read the label for “low sugar” versus “zero sugar” rather than assuming from the name.
Choose Your Sweetener-Friendly Spirits
Zero-Proof Rum And Non-Alcoholic Spirits For A Mojito
Flavoring extracts and non-alcoholic spirits both support a mojito build, but they play different roles in the glass.
Alcohol-free rum extract is a flavoring ingredient, not a spirit. It replicates rum’s aroma and taste without alcohol and is recognized under FEMA standards for use in food and beverages, though traditional rum extracts may contain alcohol as a solvent. Two to four drops of rum extract add rum-adjacent aromatic notes of caramel, vanilla, and a hint of molasses to a finished drink. It changes the nose more than the flavor. Cook’s Pure Rum Extract, an alcohol-free rum extract distilled from dark Jamaican rum, lists 0 g Total Sugars and 0 g Added Sugars on its Nutrition Facts. Rum extract helps the drink read as a mojito rather than mint-lime sparkling water, but it remains optional.
Non-alcoholic spirits form a separate category. A well-formulated non-alcoholic spirit built on oil-based extracts holds up in a cocktail build, mixes 1:1, and adds aromatic depth without adding sugar. That structure creates a meaningful upgrade for a zero-sugar non-alcoholic mojito.
Little Saints makes a spirit, St. Oak, that fits rum-adjacent builds such as tiki-style cocktails where aged rum would traditionally appear. St. Oak, named Best NA Spirit of 2025 by the BevNET Spirit Awards, captures notes of an oak-aged spirit: vanilla, warm spice, and woodsy depth from oak, vanilla, cardamom, and caramel. It mixes like a whiskey and works well in brown-spirit builds, including tiki-style cocktails where aged rum would usually appear. St. Ember tastes spicy, smoky, and woodsy, an ode to the flavors of a light mezcal, and mixes like a tequila or a mezcal. Both carry zero grams of sugar with no sweeteners of any kind, stay under 0.5% ABV, and deliver 100 mg of organic Lion’s Mane extract at a minimum of 70% beta glucan, documented by supplier certificates of analysis.
The spirits use oil-based craft extracts, which is why they mix 1:1 in a cocktail instead of needing a double or triple pour like many first-generation non-alcoholic spirits. They also carry built-in heat from cardamom and capsicum. The sensation does not match the full mouth-coating burn of ethanol, yet it signals “spirit” rather than cordial. The natural cloudiness in the bottle comes from Lion’s Mane extract at a real dose.
Little Saints also makes a canned non-alcoholic Mojito with mint, lime, Reishi, Damiana, and botanical terpenes at zero grams of sugar and five calories per can. It offers the fastest path to a similar drink when you prefer not to build it yourself. It functions as a non-alcoholic cocktail, a category distinct from sugary mocktails.
For a full breakdown of how to build a functional non-alcoholic mojito with the St. line, see How To Make A Functional Non-Alcoholic Mojito. For a comparison of packaged non-alcoholic mojito mixes, see Best Non-Alcoholic Mojito Mix: 5 Top Picks For 2026.
Statements about these products have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Consult a doctor before use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a medical condition.
Why Zero Sugar Supports The Evening Wind-Down
Zero sugar keeps the evening ritual while avoiding the spike-and-crash pattern common with sweet drinks.
A regular soda carries 35–40 g of sugar per serving. A classic mojito made with ¾ ounce of simple syrup adds about 16 g of sugar on top of the rum. For people tracking glucose, protecting sleep quality, or steering away from a sharp sugar rise, that sugar load creates the main problem, not the ritual of having a drink.
The evening wind-down has specific needs: no caffeine, no sugar spike, and something that feels like a drink rather than a glass of water. Little Saints was built for that pocket. The canned Mojito carries zero grams of sugar and five calories per can. The St. line spirits carry zero grams of sugar with no published calorie figure and deliver the Little Saints Lift, a sense of clarity and ease from Reishi for chill, Lion’s Mane for focus, Damiana for connection, and botanical terpenes for the senses. The feeling stays subtle and deliberate so you feel a little lifted and more present, able to exhale and arrive at the evening.
Zero sugar lets that end-of-day ritual support your body instead of working against it.
Zero-Sugar Mojito Variations To Try
Each variation below starts from the base recipe and shifts the flavor or sugar profile. The base recipe stays zero added sugar. Fresh fruit additions introduce naturally occurring sugar and move the drink into low-sugar rather than zero-sugar territory.
- Strawberry Non-Alcoholic Mojito: Muddle 3–4 fresh strawberries with the mint and sweetener. Raw strawberries contain approximately 4.89 g of naturally occurring sugar per 100 g, which is about 7.0 g per one-cup (144 g) serving, so this version no longer qualifies as zero sugar in the strict sense.
- Blueberry Non-Alcoholic Mojito: Add 8–10 fresh blueberries to the muddle. Blueberries contain roughly 1.4 g of sugar per 10 berries, or about 6.77 g of sugar per 50 berries per USDA data. This adds less sugar than strawberries but still moves the drink off a zero-total-sugar label.
- Cucumber-Mint Non-Alcoholic Mojito: Add 4–5 thin cucumber slices to the glass before muddling. Five slices of cucumber contain approximately 0.5 g of sugar and keep the drink effectively zero sugar while adding a clean, cooling green note that pairs well with the mint.
- Spiced Non-Alcoholic Mojito: Add a pinch of cayenne or a thin slice of fresh jalapeño to the muddle. This variation adds heat without sugar and echoes the spice that St. Ember brings in a spirit build.
What A Mojito Without Alcohol Is Called
Common terms include non-alcoholic mojito, zero-proof mojito, and mocktail. The term “virgin mojito,” also called a “nojito,” remains in current use in bar culture, including in Gulf-region bars where the alcohol-free mojito is a popular go-to mocktail. “Non-alcoholic mojito” remains the most precise and the most searchable phrase.
Little Saints does not describe its canned cocktails or spirits as mocktails. The word usually signals sugary juice dressed up as a cocktail, which sits opposite to what the brand creates. A Little Saints Mojito is a non-alcoholic cocktail with zero sugar, five calories, and a functional mushroom and botanical blend in every pour, designed for people who want a sophisticated drink without alcohol or sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take To Make A Zero-Sugar Non-Alcoholic Mojito?
The drink comes together in under five minutes, including muddling time. The longest step is pressing the mint, which takes 15 to 20 seconds. The remaining steps involve measuring, pouring, and garnishing.
Is This Recipe Really Zero Sugar Given The Lime Juice?
The recipe is zero added sugar because no sugar or sugar-containing ingredient was added. The lime contributes approximately 0.25 g of naturally occurring sugar per tablespoon of juice. At 2 tablespoons, the drink sits at the FDA’s 0.5 g threshold for a “zero sugar” label claim. Using 1 tablespoon of lime juice keeps the drink comfortably below that threshold. For most people tracking sugar intake, the lime’s contribution is nutritionally negligible, but the distinction between zero added sugar and zero total sugar still matters.
Which Sweetener Tastes Closest To A Classic Mojito?
Granulated monk fruit sweetener or liquid monk fruit drops land closest. Both dissolve cleanly in cold liquid and carry little to no aftertaste at mojito volumes. Liquid stevia, especially Reb-M formulations, comes next. Erythritol is not recommended in cold muddled drinks because it does not fully dissolve at refrigerator temperatures and produces a cooling sensation that competes with the mint.
Can You Make A Zero-Sugar Non-Alcoholic Mojito Ahead Of Time?
The muddled mint-lime base can rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour, or up to 4 hours for a more intense flavor. After that, strain the mixture and store it for up to 48 hours. Add the sparkling water and ice only at serving time because bubbles dissipate quickly and crushed ice dilutes the drink as it sits.
Is Alcohol-Free Rum Extract Necessary?
Alcohol-free rum extract remains optional. The recipe works without it. Two to four drops add a rum-adjacent aromatic note that makes the drink read more clearly as a mojito rather than mint-lime sparkling water. Use it when you have it and skip it when you do not.
Does A Non-Alcoholic Mojito Taste Like A Real Mojito?
The mint, lime, fizz, and sweetness all show up accurately. What changes is the ethanol warmth and the slight viscosity that alcohol adds to a drink. A well-built non-alcoholic mojito, especially one made with a non-alcoholic spirit that carries built-in heat, lands closer to the original than many people expect. The difference exists yet feels smaller than the category’s reputation suggests.
Can You Use A Non-Alcoholic Spirit Instead Of Rum Extract?
A non-alcoholic spirit often produces a better drink than rum extract alone. A spirit built on oil-based extracts adds aromatic depth, built-in heat, and body that rum extract cannot match. Little Saints St. Oak, which mixes like a whiskey and works in brown-spirit builds, makes a strong choice for a richer mojito variation. St. Ember, which mixes like a tequila or a mezcal, adds a spicy, smoky note that works well against lime and mint. Both mix 1:1 in the recipe above. Substitute 2 ounces of spirit for the rum extract and reduce the sparkling water slightly to balance.
Does A Non-Alcoholic Mojito Contain Caffeine?
This recipe contains no caffeine. The mint, lime, sweetener, and sparkling water all stay caffeine-free. Little Saints’ core product line, including the canned Mojito and the St. line spirits, also contains no caffeine. The brand focuses on the evening occasion, and caffeine would work against the wind-down the drink supports.
Explore the full range of non-alcoholic cocktails and spirits, all with zero sugar, five calories, and a supplement-grade functional mushroom blend in every pour.
The statements made on our website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking any medications or have any medical conditions, consult your doctor before use.