A Festive Holiday Mocktail...Featuring First Watch's Citrus Hibiscus Punch #firstwatchrestaurant #holidaymocktail #citrus #hibiscus #holidaycheers

The holiday season is heading into the home stretch, which means the next two weeks will be Celebration Central! If you're looking for a festive alcohol-free mocktail to serve, I've got a perfect drink courtesy of my friends at First Watch restaurant. They're serving a fruit-forward Citrus Hibiscus Punch on their Season's Eatings menu. It's flavored with a cinnamon-infused Hibiscus tea, cranberry, orange, pineapple, lemon, and ginger...and it's garnished with a cinnamon sugar rim. First Watch was kind enough to provide the recipe for this sweetly tart punch with me to share here! 

First Watch Citrus Hibiscus Punch

Makes 4 Servings

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cup Cold-Brewed Cinnamon Hibiscus Tea
• 3/4 cup Simple Syrup
• 1 cup Cranberry Juice
• 1 cup Orange Juice
• 1/2 cup Pineapple Juice
• 1/4 cup Lemon Juice
• 2 TBS ginger juice

For the cold-brewed Cinnamon Hibiscus Tea -- makes 2 quarts:

• 2 quarts Cold Filtered Water
• 2 Cinnamon Sticks
• 1 cup Dried Hibiscus Flowers

Directions:

Step 1: Brew the tea the day before you plan to mix and serve the punch. Add all tea ingredients to a large pitcher, and mix with a large spoon. Cover pitcher and place in the fridge overnight...or up to 24 hours. Strain the finished tea into a container to remove the flowers and cinnamon sticks. 

NOTE: after making the punch, the remaining tea will last in the fridge for up to week if tightly sealed.

Step 2: Add the chilled tea, simple syrup, and juices to a large pitcher. Mix with a large spoon to completely incorporate the ingredients. Serve punch over ice with garnish of choice. First Watch serves this punch in a glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar, with a slice of orange for a garnish.

This versatile punch is a delicious holiday mocktail as is. But? First Watch Chef Shane Shaibly says individual servings can also be mixed with a shot of vodka or rum to transform it into a festive seasonal cocktail. 

In addition to their Citrus Hibiscus Punch, First Watch's Season's Eatings breakfast/brunch menu features Sunny Seoul Hash, a Steak and Bacon Breakfast Burrito, a Cinnamon Chip Pancake Breakfast, Gingerbread Spice Donut bites, and sweet-savory Million Dollar Bacon. These seasonal menu items are available at a First Watch location near you through January 7th.