Sparkling Rooibos Sangria

A fruity, spiced, alcohol-free sangria built on South African rooibos tea instead of wine — ruby-red and surprisingly wine-like.

Sparkling Rooibos Sangria cocktail made with none, served in a wine glass
Base
none
Glassware
Wine glass
Flavor Profile
sweetearthyrefreshing

Ingredients

  • 12 oz strong brewed rooibos tea, chilled
  • 1 orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup sliced strawberries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • Sparkling water or sparkling grape juice, to top

Instructions

  1. 1Combine chilled rooibos tea, orange, lemon, strawberries, cinnamon stick, and honey in a pitcher.
  2. 2Stir to dissolve honey.
  3. 3Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to let flavors meld.
  4. 4Pour over ice in wine glasses with some fruit and top with sparkling water.

Origin & Story

South Africa and modern mocktail menus

Rooibos — red bush tea from South Africa's Cederberg mountains — has a natural sweetness, a ruby-red color, and an earthy, vanilla-adjacent flavor that makes it an extraordinary substitute for red wine in sangria. The resemblance is close enough to fool a casual glance, and the flavor is entirely its own.