Latest news with #mocktail
CTV News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Wine cocktails for summer
Ottawa Watch We have some wine cocktail recipes to share with you and all of them can easily become mocktails!
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Wimbledon serves up Pimm's-inspired mocktail for alcohol-free tennis fans
For 54 years, Pimm's has been as much a part of the Wimbledon experience as strawberries and cream, with 300,000 glasses sold each fortnight. And now Wimbledon has experimented with creating a mocktail in the style of the beloved fruity punch owing to the growing demand for alcohol-free options at the championships. The club has introduced Stella Artois' booze-free beer on draught and mocktails made from non-alcoholic sparkling wines and spirits amid the move towards sobriety among gen Z. Charlie Cook, the business director of food and drink at Wimbledon, said: 'We look at market trends. Within our business we employ a food and drink futurist to look at where those trends are going. The younger generations are looking for lower or non-alcoholic offerings.' Staff at SW19 said there had been demand for Stella's 0.0 offering and an uptick in customers asking for an alcohol-free version of Pimm's. Cook said the club had yet to perfect a mocktail to fill the gap. 'We've tried a version using balsamic, which has a quite similar flavour profile, but we haven't really cracked that one yet. It would be a good one though,' he said. Wimbledon later stressed it was not attempting to create a booze-free Pimm's but a drink inspired by the popular beverage. Destiny Olusegun, 22, a bar manager at the grounds, said spectators were keen to try an alcohol-free version of the summer cocktail that has long been synonymous with the championships. 'Quite a few people come up and ask for non-alcoholic Pimm's,' he said. 'A lot of people aren't from here [the UK], so Pimm's is like a massive Wimbledon phenomenon. If everyone else is having a Pimm's or a beer, you don't want to have a soft drink. You want a nice drink.' A staff member at the Pimm's stall on the Hill had had a similar experience. 'People do ask quite a lot, especially if they are pregnant, what sort of non-alcoholic versions we have. I worked here last year and people were asking the same thing,' she said. 'I'd say around one in 50 people ask if there's a non-alcoholic version of Pimm's. Some people will also ask if we can do half pints as well, older people in particular. But young people ask as well – especially pregnant women.' Wimbledon has been offering a mocktail spritz which includes non-alcoholic gin, sugar syrup and pink grapefruit soda for £12.60 and a 0% paloma made from a booze-free bergamot aperitif for £10.40. Olusegun said demand for non-alcoholic drinks had grown in his three years at Wimbledon and suggested they were most popular among those aged 25 to 50. 'People are shifting away from alcohol,' he said. 'People are more conscious of what they're drinking, how they're drinking, – especially if you're going to be here all day. You don't want to be drinking 20 pints, but you may still like a drink and be able to engage in the same social culture, be able to cheers your beer, have something cold. 'Having a non-alcoholic Pimm's option, even if it was just in a can, would still give people that feeling of being included.'
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Wimbledon experts explore mocktail ideas for booze-free Gen Z
For many tennis fans, it is as much a part of the Wimbledon experience as strawberries and cream, with around 300,000 glasses sold during the tournament each year. But now specialists at the Championships have been attempting to create a mocktail in the style of Pimm's – with previous attempts using balsamic vinegar – to cater for Generation Z attendees. Charlie Cook, business director for food and drink at Wimbledon, said: 'We [look] at market trends, within our business we employ a food and drink futurist to look at where those trends are going. 'The younger generations are looking for lower or non-alcoholic offerings.' When asked if his team had attempted to create a sober alternative to the iconic cocktail, he revealed: 'We've tried a version using balsamic, which has a quite similar flavour profile, but we haven't really cracked that one yet. It would be a good one, though.' A spokesman later stressed staff were not attempting to create a booze-free Pimm's – but a drink inspired by the popular beverage. However, Stella 0.0, an alcohol-free beer, has been sold at the Championships on draught for the first time, before it is launched across the rest of the UK. Last year, a study by charity Drinkaware found that 21 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds do not drink at all, up from 14 per cent in 2017. On Thursday, shortly before lunchtime on Henman Hill, a winding queue had already formed at the Pimm's bar, where glasses of 'Pimm's No.1 summer cup' were priced at £12.25 each. Pausing briefly from pulling taps, a bar worker told The Telegraph: 'I'd say around one in 50 people ask if there's a non-alcoholic version of Pimm's... I definitely think it would be something we could sell.' Tennis fan Lucy Church had travelled to the Championships from Glasgow with friend Lisa Rowe. Both are 28 and part of Gen Z. Ms Rowe said two of her friends had already given up drinking, while Ms Church said she believed a non-alcoholic Pimm's-style cocktail would be popular. 'So many more people aren't drinking these days,' she said. 'Especially if you get here early, you might not want to be drinking all day.' Meanwhile, Grace Thomas, from Essex, said she would certainly opt for a non-alcoholic version of the drink. The 28-year-old, who came with her friend Georgia McCarthy, 33, said: 'We both work in events and it's quite a hectic job, so it's quite nice to be able to control the amount of alcohol you're having and not go crazy.' Jenny Sherwood, 62, said: 'I'd definitely prefer a non-alcoholic Pimm's. It's going to take me two hours to get home on the train, I don't need to be falling asleep.' However, not everyone was keen. While Angela Graves, 51, said the idea was 'really good', her son Sam Busby, 28, disagreed. He said: 'I wouldn't be interested. If I'm going to pay for a drink then I want to have a proper drink – otherwise I would just have an orange juice or a lemonade.'
Forbes
05-07-2025
- Health
- Forbes
What's A Cortisol Cocktail, ‘Adrenal Fatigue'? How Legit Are Are They?
Wellness influencers on social media and the Internet in general have been touting the benefits of ... More "cortisol cocktails" that consist of ingredients like coconut water, orange juice and pink salt. (Photo: Getty) You could say that there's been a surge of 'cortisol cocktail' mentions on social media and the Internet lately. Folks have been serving up recipes on how to make this mocktail — otherwise known as an adrenal cocktail —and pouring out all sorts of claims like it can boost your energy, protect you against stress and help you lose weight by helping your adrenal glands. The question, though, is whether these claims are actually backed by science versus being nothing more than 'glandstanding' so to speak. What Is In A Cortisol Cocktail Now, a cortisol or adrenal cocktail does not have actual cortisol or bits of adrenal glands in it. That would be a bit creepy. No, most of the recipes being served out there consist of the following three main ingredients: coconut water, orange juice and pink salt. The argument is that the potassium from the coconut water, the vitamin C from the orange juice and the sodium from the pink salt can somehow reinvigorate your adrenal glands to better regulate the amount of cortisol that they secrete. Some recipes throw in other ingredients such as cream of tartar, which can provide even more potassium, magnesium powder and ginger that can help with digesting all this stuff. All of this supposedly can help your supposedly poor, pooped out adrenals, supposedly. What Are Your Adrenal Glands Now, you may not think about your adrenal glands each day because you can't see them in the mirror or on selfies. But this pair of small triangular shaped glands that sit atop each of your kidneys is pretty darn important. In fact, it's a 'How Do I Live" without you situation. Without these glands, you have to find some way of replacing the following two types of substances that they make and secrete: What Is Cortisol? Even before this whole 'cortisol cocktail' trend emerged, people on social media have been stressing (and stressing about) the role of cortisol, which is actually known as a stress hormone. That's because your adrenals tend to release cortisol in response to different types of stress. In the short term, cortisol is a good thing. It can help combat stress in different ways. One is by helping boost your metabolism so that you are ready to do the whole 'fight-or-flight' thing. This can includes increasing the amount of sugar available in your bloodstream that can be used for energy via increasing the amount of glucose released by your liver as well as decreasing the amount of insulin and increasing the amount of glucagon released by your pancreas. Cortisol can also manage how your body fat and muscles use glucose. Another way that cortisol can help manage stress in the short term is by suppressing your immune system and the release of different inflammatory mediators. This in turn can decrease the amount of inflammation in your body. Naturally, if you are running away from something scary like a bear or your in-laws, you don't want your body to be hampered by inflammation. However, cortisol can be a bit like chocolate. Elevated levels here and there can be helpful. Constantly elevated levels of cortisol can be not so good. For example, having your immune system suppressed over the long run can make you more susceptible to badness. Cortisol may also help regulate a range of other mind and body functions such as your mood, memory, blood pressure and sleep wake cycle. That's why high cortisol levels, which is called Cushing syndrome, can lead to a variety of symptoms, some of which are listed on the Cleveland Clinic website. You can end up gaining weight gain, particularly in your face and belly, and develop fat deposits between your shoulder blades. Your muscles and bones may get weaker. You may have high blood sugar and high blood pressure. You also may notice excessive hair growth and purple stretch marks on your belly. On the other hand, low cortisol levels can result in fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss and low blood pressure What Is 'Adrenal Fatigue' Various wellness influencers have been asserting that if you feel low on energy, have been experiencing symptoms of stress or have gained weight you may be suffering what they are calling 'adrenal fatigue.' Even though 'adrenal fatigue' may sound all medical-ese-y, it is not an official medical term. So, if you list 'adrenal fatigue' on any insurance forms, don't expect to get reimbursed or paid. The 'adrenal fatigue' claim is that since your adrenals help you respond to stress, too much stress over too long a period can overwhelm your adrenal glands. Your adrenals supposedly get to the point that they can't keep up and essentially say, 'I'm done' or 'That's a wrap,' leaving them like that Edward Norton character in the movie Fight Club, overworked and exhausted. So how does one diagnose this supposed condition? Well, surprise, surprise, there is no real established test to diagnose 'adrenal fatigue.' Someone might diagnose you with adrenal fatigue if you have symptoms like fatigue, lethargy and sleep problems, crave salt and sugar or require stimulants like caffeine to stay awake and alert. But such symptoms are pretty darn common and non-specific. Many different conditions can lead to such symptoms. They can even be part of, you know, life. Note that 'adrenal fatigue" is not the same as adrenal insufficiency. Confusing the two would be like confusing Gal Gadot with a gal that says 'D'oh.' Adrenal insufficiency is a real medical term and condition where your adrenals don't produce high enough levels of certain hormones, typically cortisol or aldosterone. There are three types of adrenal insufficiency depending on the cause: Therefore, don't simply accept someone telling you that you have 'adrenal fatigue' just because you are experiencing various symptoms. And don't just take some supplements or some type of woo-woo treatment after you've been told you have this supposed condition. Currently, there's no real scientific evidence that 'adrenal fatigue' exists, at least not in the way that some wellness influencers are claiming. Could your adrenal glands poop out from overuse? Could issues with your adrenals be the underlying reason for fatigue and weight gain? It's possible. But you can't simply say that something is happening because it sounds like a good explanation. You've got to go through the proper scientific studies before claiming that a condition exists. What Is The Scientific Evidence Behind Cortisol Cocktails Similarly, there's no real scientific evidence that these 'cortisol cocktails' can help regulate your adrenal glands and their secretion of cortisol in any way. In fact, it's not even clear yet how your diet in general may affect your cortisol levels. Sure your diet can affect your weight, which is one of the reasons why an All-Twinkie Diet is generally not advisable. Sure your diet may influence your energy levels and how you handle stress in different ways. But is all of this mediated by cortisol in any way? More studies are needed to know. So, be very skeptical about the hype behind these cortisol cocktails. People claiming that something worked for them is not the same as scientific evidence. Here's a news flash, people can lie. And even they are telling truth, who knows what else may be happening at the same time and thus be responsible for increases in their energy and reductions in their stress symptoms and weight. Then there's the possibility of the placebo effect. This is when your belief that something will work in and of itself can have positive effects. For example, if you are convinced that singing the song 'Baby Shark' over and over again will boost your energy and make you feel less stressed then chances are doing so will have those effects, assuming that someone nearby doesn't clobber you. So, you can't yet rule out the possibility that those reporting that they feel better after drinking 'cortisol cocktails' have been simply experiencing the placebo effect. What Are The Risks Of Cortisol Cocktails All of this being said, it's also important to put cortisol cocktails in perspective. It's not as if drinking a mix of OJ, coconut water and pink salt is as dangerous as other social media trends that I've reported on like filling your mouth with Tide Pods, eating dirt or drinking raw milk. For most people, drinking a concoction of OJ, coconut water and pink salt is pretty darn harmless and could even be beneficial. Such a mixture can help keep you hydrated, replenish electrolytes like potassium and sodium and provide you with some more vitamin C. There is some early evidence that drinking coconut water may be associated with lower blood pressure and cholesterol. But more studies are needed to confirm these benefits. However, one word of caution, or maybe several words. Be careful if you are already getting too much salt or sugar. If your diet normally consists of bacon with pickles interspersed with cookies and Skittles, then you may want to hold off on the cortisol cocktail. This is especially true if you have a condition like diabetes or high blood pressure where you've got to watch for how salt or sugar you are consuming. The same is true if you have any condition where your potassium tends to run high like with kidney diseases or taking certain medications. Another risk is what you might not be doing while riding on the cortisol cocktails of wellness influencers. You might not be diagnosing the real causes of your fatigue, weight gain or seemingly stress-related symptoms. Again, such symptoms are quite non-specific and can represent many different conditions ranging from too much stress in your life to sleep apnea to long Covid to cancer. So, it is better to get properly evaluated by a doctor. If your cortisol levels do tend to run high, there are various things you can do to bring em' on down such as regularly getting a good amount of sleep, exercise, fun and relaxation and connecting with other people. These may work better than chasing your cocktail around in circles.
CBC
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
This strawberry-lime dirty soda tastes like a vacation in a glass
This strawberry-lime dirty soda is inspired by a classic Italian soda, but with a tropical twist. The fruity, fizzy drink is finished with a splash of coconut milk, which makes it taste like a vacation in a glass. Scroll down for more ways to stir up this refreshing zero-proof sipper — but the flavour combinations are endless, so you can experiment all summer long! Ingredients 3 strawberries, hulled 1 tbsp strawberry jam 1 tbsp lime juice Ice Lime slice or wedge Lime soda ¼ cup coconut milk Preparation Add strawberries, jam and lime juice to a highball glass, and use a muddler to mash the fruit until it is broken down. Top up the glass with ice, add a lime slice, then fill the glass about two-thirds of the way with lime soda. Slowly pour in the coconut milk over the back of a spoon to create a layered look. Adjust the sweetness to taste and serve. Makes 1 drink Variations Mango-lime: ¼ cup chopped mango, 2 tbsp maple syrup (or to taste), 1 tbsp lime juice, lime soda, ¼ cup coconut milk Blueberry-lemon: ¼ cup blueberries, 2 tbsp maple syrup (or to taste) or 1 tbsp blueberry jam, 1 tbsp lemon juice, lemon soda, ¼ cup coconut milk
