non alcoholic kava mocktail with blackberry and yuzu

December 10, 2025

Blackberry Smash

Name: Blackberry Smash (Kava Mocktail)
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 1
Ingredients: 5 whole blackberries; 6 mint leaves; 1 ½ oz Kava Haven; ½ oz yuzu juice; ¾ oz Meyer lemon syrup; 3 dashes ATB Orange Cardamom Bitters

blackberry · fruity · herbal · kava · kava drink · Kava Haven · Meyer lemon syrup · Orange Cardamom Bitters · original · smash · sweet · tart · yuzu

In classic cocktail terms, a “Smash” is a simple, satisfying formula: spirit, sugar, fresh herbs (usually mint), and seasonal fruit, all muddled together over ice. This Blackberry Smash takes that structure and gives it a kava twist. Fresh blackberries bring juicy berry flavor and a bit of earthy depth that pairs naturally with the grounded, slightly bitter character of Kava Haven. Mint lifts everything with a distinctly herbal note, while yuzu juice and Meyer lemon syrup keep things bright, tart, and refreshing. The result is a dark purple, wildly delicious non-alcoholic kava cocktail that looks stunning in the glass.

(Note that you can make this with standard lemon juice instead of yuzu, or simple syrup in place of Meyer lemon syrup—but this is our favorite version.)

*Kava is not recommended during pregnancy or with certain medications.

Blackberry Smash (Kava Mocktail)

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Servings

Cook Time

5 minutes

Calories

Blackberry, citrus, and mint meet Kava Haven in this gorgeous non-alcoholic cocktail.

Image of Blackberry Smash (Kava Mocktail)

Ingredients

5 whole blackberries
6 mint leaves
1 ½ oz Kava Haven
½ oz yuzu juice
¾ oz Meyer lemon syrup
3 dashes ATB Orange Cardamom Bitters

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Directions

In a shaker tin, muddle blackberries and mint with the lemon syrup.
Add yuzu juice, Kava Haven, bitters, and ice, then shake for 6–8 seconds.
Fine strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice.
Garnish with fresh mint.

Recipe Note

WHY THIS DRINK WORKS
Fresh ingredients are one of the most reliable ways to add complexity to non-alcoholic cocktails. Muddling blackberries and mint releases fruity juiciness, earthy depth, and bright herbal aromatics—layers you simply don’t get from bottled mixers alone. This drink then doubles down on that fresh profile with four forms of citrus: sharp yuzu juice, the gentle sweetness of Meyer lemon syrup, the lemon-forward character of Kava Haven, and the lift of our Orange Cardamom bitters. The result is a zero-proof cocktail that’s vibrant and easy-drinking on the surface, but surprisingly nuanced underneath—fruity, herbaceous, and incredibly satisfying.

ABOUT KAVA HAVEN
Kava Haven is a lemon-forward kava spirit made for mixing—bright, zesty, and far more refined than traditional muddy kava tea. It works naturally with simple mixers like tonic, soda, ginger ale, or sparkling wine, and makes a terrific ingredient in more complex cocktails like our Lemon Drop and Blackberry Smash. You don’t need to mix Kava Haven, though—because of its big flavor and the natural bite of kava root, it’s one of the few non-alcoholic spirits that is enjoyable sipped straight.

WHAT DOES KAVA FEEL LIKE?
If you’ve ever wondered what kava actually feels like, this is the perfect format to experience it. Kava drinks have a relaxing effect—often described as a mild, calming buzz—along with a gentle warmth and the classic tongue-tingling sensation that kavalactones are known for. It’s subtle and grounding—not inebriating in the way that alcohol is—and it makes kava cocktails the perfect non-alcoholic alternative.

KAVA SAFETY: NOBLE ROOT ONLY
Concerns about kava and liver toxicity come from early studies (that have since been refuted) using non-noble varieties of kava that contained stems, leaves, and other low-quality material. Kava Haven is made exclusively from noble kava root, the traditionally consumed and widely regarded safe form used for centuries in the South Pacific. Even so, kava is not recommended during pregnancy and may interact with certain medications—so consult your doctor if you’re unsure.

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