I remember when I first heard about Saudi Champagne many years ago. I was a little confused by the name, until someone explained what it was and I got to try it. Naturally, I was hooked.
I was reminded of it recently when I was visiting Yorkshire for a family event and spotted the tinned version by Kinza. It was a heatwave, so we grabbed a few and drank them straight away.
It was crisp, refreshing and lightly sweet, with apple juice, fresh fruit and mint. And despite the name, there's no alcohol involved!
Saudi Champagne is incredibly easy to make at home. You need a few simple ingredients, a jug and about five minutes of preparation. Give it a little time to infuse before serving and you have a lovely drink for gatherings, Eid, Ramadan or a warm afternoon.
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Recipe Snapshot
Cuisine: Saudi Arabian, Middle Eastern
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Infusion Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 8-10
Dietary: Vegetarian, alcohol-free
Best served with: Ice, fresh fruit and mint
Why You'll Love This Drink
Quick to make - There is very little preparation involved. Slice the fruit, add the liquids and let everything infuse.
Fresh and fruity - Apple juice, citrus, fresh apple and mint give the drink its characteristic flavour.
Easy to adjust - You can change the balance of apple juice, sparkling water and lemon-lime fizzy drink to suit your taste.
Lovely for gatherings - Make a large jug for iftar, Eid, family meals or summer get-togethers.
What Is Saudi Champagne?
Saudi Champagne is a popular non-alcoholic fruit drink associated with Saudi Arabia and enjoyed across the Gulf region. Despite its name, it contains no champagne or alcohol.
The drink is usually made with apple juice, sparkling water, fresh apple, orange and mint. It is served chilled, often over ice, and the fruit is left in the jug to infuse the liquid.
There are different ways to make it. Some versions use sparkling mineral water, while others include a lemon-lime fizzy drink such as Sprite or 7UP. This gives the drink extra sweetness and fizz.
The more traditional-style combination is simple: apple juice, sparkling water, apple, orange, mint and ice. Lemon or lime can also be added.
I prefer mine with more lemon-lime fizzy drink than sparkling water. In fact, I often leave out the sparkling water altogether. You can experiment with the ratios until you find the version you enjoy most.
Ingredient Notes
The ingredients are easy to find, and you can adjust several of them depending on what you have at home.
Red apple - Thinly slice the apple and leave the skin on. Red apples are traditionally used, although green apples work too. The slices add flavour to the drink and can be eaten afterwards.
Orange - Slice a whole orange into thin rounds. It adds a gentle citrus flavour as the drink sits.
Fresh mint - A few mint leaves give the drink a fresh, cooling flavour. They are optional, but I like including them.
Apple juice - Use 100% apple juice. Chilled juice is best because it means the drink is ready to serve sooner.
Lemon - Add half a sliced lemon or use lemon juice. Lime works well too. This is optional, so adjust it to your taste.
Sparkling water - The original-style version uses sparkling mineral water. Perrier is a popular choice, but any sparkling water or soda water will work. I often leave this out because I prefer the drink with lemon-lime fizzy drink.
Lemon and lime fizzy drink - Sprite, 7UP or a supermarket equivalent adds sweetness and extra fizz. I like to use more of this than sparkling water, but you can adjust the balance.
Ice cubes - Serve the drink well chilled, with plenty of ice.
How to Make Saudi Champagne
This is a simple recipe. The main thing is to give the fruit a little time to infuse the apple juice before adding the fizzy drinks.
Step 1 - Prepare the fruit
Thinly slice the apple and orange. Add them to a large jug along with the fresh mint leaves and sliced lemon, if using.
Step 2 - Add the apple juice
Pour the chilled apple juice into the jug and give everything a gentle stir.
Step 3 - Add the fizzy drinks
Add the sparkling water, if using, followed by the lemon-lime fizzy drink. Stir gently and taste. Adjust the quantities to suit your preference.
Step 4 - Let it infuse
Leave the drink to sit for around 10-15 minutes so the fruit flavours can mingle with the juice.
Step 5 - Serve
Add ice to the jug or pour the drink into individual glasses over ice. Finish with extra mint and fruit slices if you like.
How to Serve Saudi Champagne
I like serving this in a large clear jug so you can see all the colourful fruit. It looks particularly pretty when you add a few extra mint leaves just before serving.
For individual servings, use tall glasses or champagne flutes. If using narrow glasses, you may want to strain out the fruit first.
It works particularly well alongside:
- Lebanese Chicken Shawarma
- Chicken kebabs
- Samosas and savoury pastries
- Mezze boards
- Date and nut platters
It's also a lovely drink to serve at Ramadan iftar or alongside an Eid spread.
Tips and Tricks
Use chilled ingredients - Cold apple juice and fizzy drinks help keep everything refreshing without relying on too much ice.
Give the fruit time to infuse - Around 10-15 minutes is enough to bring the flavours together. You can leave the apple juice and fruit in the fridge for longer if preparing ahead.
Adjust the fizz - I prefer more lemon-lime fizzy drink than sparkling water. You might prefer a lighter version with more sparkling water and less fizzy drink.
Taste before serving - The sweetness of apple juice and fresh fruit can vary. Taste the drink and adjust the lemon, fizzy drink or sparkling water as needed.
Use a clear jug - This isn't essential, but I love being able to see the slices of fruit and mint through the glass.
Variations
Use soda water - Swap the sparkling water for soda water, or leave it out altogether.
Add more citrus - Add extra lemon or lime slices, or stir in a little lemon juice. I sometimes add around ¼ cup of lemon juice.
Try different fruit - Strawberries and pomegranate seeds are lovely additions. You can experiment with other fruit, although apple and orange give the drink its familiar flavour.
Make it less sweet - Reduce the amount of lemon-lime fizzy drink and use more sparkling water instead.
Make Ahead and Storage
You can prepare the fruit and apple juice ahead of time. Add the sliced fruit and mint to the apple juice, cover and refrigerate until needed. You can even leave this mixture overnight to allow the flavours to develop.
Keep the sparkling water and lemon-lime fizzy drink separate until just before serving. This helps the drink retain its fizz.
Once everything has been mixed, Saudi Champagne is best enjoyed straight away. Any leftovers can be covered and refrigerated for up to one day, although the fizz will gradually disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Saudi Champagne?
The name refers to its bubbly, celebratory appearance. Saudi Champagne is a non-alcoholic fruit drink and does not contain champagne or any other alcohol.
Is Saudi Champagne alcoholic?
No. It is an alcohol-free drink made with apple juice, fizzy drinks, fresh fruit and, sometimes, mint.
What does Saudi Champagne taste like?
It is fruity, lightly sweet and fizzy, with apple and citrus flavours. The mint adds freshness, while the lemon-lime fizzy drink gives it extra sweetness and bubbles.
Can I make Saudi Champagne without sparkling water?
Yes. I often leave out the sparkling water and use lemon-lime fizzy drink instead. You can also use soda water or adjust the quantities to your taste.
Can I make Saudi Champagne ahead of time?
Yes. Prepare the fruit and apple juice in advance and keep them covered in the fridge. Add the sparkling water and lemon-lime fizzy drink just before serving so the drink stays fizzy.
What fruit can I add to Saudi Champagne?
Apple and orange are the usual choices. You can also add lemon, lime, strawberries or pomegranate seeds.
How long does Saudi Champagne last?
It is best served immediately after mixing. You can refrigerate leftovers for up to one day, but the drink will lose some of its fizz.
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📖 Recipe
Saudi Champagne - A Refreshing Middle Eastern Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 Red Apple Thinly Sliced, unpeeled
- 1 Whole Orange Thinly Sliced, unpeeled
- Few Mint Leaves Optional
- 1 l Apple Juice Boxed, fridge cold
- ½ Lemon Sliced or add 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice, you can also add Lime (optional)
- 500 ml Sparkling Water Fridge cold, Optional (I prefer it without this)
- 1 l Lemon & Lime Fizzy Drink or similar (about 3 tins)
Ice Cubes
Instructions
- Step 1 - Add your fruitIn a large jug or pitcher, combine the sliced apple, orange, and a handful of fresh mint if using. Add Lemon, if using.
- Step 2 - Pour in the liquidsAdd chilled apple juice and sparkling water if using as well as Lemon/Lime fizzy drink. Adjust to taste.
- Step 3 - Let it infuseGive it a stir. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes so the flavours can mingle.
- Step 4 - ServePour into glasses over ice (or add the ice to the jug). Garnish with more mint and fruit slices if you like.
Notes
How to Serve Saudi Champagne
I like serving this in a large clear jug so you can see all the colourful fruit. It looks particularly pretty when you add a few extra mint leaves just before serving. For individual servings, use tall glasses or champagne flutes. If using narrow glasses, you may want to strain out the fruit first. It works particularly well alongside:- Lebanese Chicken Shawarma
- Chicken kebabs
- Samosas and savoury pastries
- Mezze boards
- Date and nut platters
Arifa says
This was too good
Safira says
Glad you liked it! Thank you for your feedback x