Cranberry, Pomegranate, & Green Tea Holiday Spritzer

Even the phrase holiday spritzer can put the mind in a beautiful place. A place where twinkle lights shine bright in every corner, and the sound of genuine laughter wafts in and out of every room. The holidays are such a joyous time, and they’re already on their way to us. Now is the time for celebration – of whatever you feel like celebrating. Celebrate this day with a homemade holiday spritzer. It’s non-alcoholic (although you may add some in if you feel so inclined) and tastes absolutely delicious. It’s also filled with antioxidants and free of any added sugar or other nonsense.

First, let’s talk about the health benefits of this delicious drink. Every single ingredient is a rich source of antioxidants (which you can find out more about here). In addition…

Rosemary is a good source of iron, calcium, and vitamin B6. It has anti-inflammatory properties and is believed to aid digestion, improve memory, and possibly prevent the aging of your brain.

Cranberries are widely used to treat urinary tract infections. They are also believed to relieve skin conditions, fight heart disease, and even prevent certain cancers.

Green tea has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and has been shown to stop the spreading of many diseases. It helps prevent heart disease and diabetes, and is thought to delay the deterioration that is caused by Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s.

Pomegranates are a wonderful source of fiber, and can control cholesterol, rid the mouth of plaque, and help prevent arthritis.

So. Now that you feel great about drinking it… on to the recipe!

Cranberry, Pomegranate, & Green Tea Holiday Spritzer
Serves 4
32 oz. unsweetened pomegranate juice
16 oz. sparkling water
16 oz. green tea, steeped and cooled
5 sprigs fresh rosemary
¾ cup fresh cranberries

If you like, you can start by making festive ice cubes! Distribute 1 sprig of rosemary into an ice cube tray, and fill each cube with 1-3 cranberries. Fill the tray with water and place in the freezer until frozen – I left mine in overnight.

To make the spritzer, just combine all the liquids and mix lightly with a spoon. Pour into 4 separate glasses and add the ice cubes. Finish off each glass with 1 sprig of rosemary and a few extra cranberries, and voila! Enjoy. :)

More healthy recipes from the BLDG 25 Blog.

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