Lime-Mint-Mango-Bubbles is a non-alcoholic cocktail where fresh limeade meets mango juice pearls. The bubbles burst in your mouth, releasing mango juice, while lime and mint dominate the base. Visually stunning and playfully flavoursome, it works when the foundation is right: the limeade needs to taste of lime and mint, not just sugar syrup.
You’ll need the following for the Lime-Mint-Mango-Bubbles
3 cl lime juice
1.5 cl sugar syrup
10 mint leaves
Soda
2 tbsp mango bubbles (juice pearls)
Garnish: mint
Key points
The mango bubbles must not be stirred, otherwise the juice pearls burst and you’ll end up with mango mush in the glass. I add them with a spoon directly onto the surface just before the drink goes out. The pearls sink slowly and remain intact. When drinking through the straw or straight from the glass, they only burst in your mouth. If the bubbles go in too early or you work too hastily, the effect is lost.
Variations
- Strawberry-Basil-Bubbles — muddle basil instead of mint, use strawberry bubbles instead of mango.
- Lime-Mint without Bubbles — classic limeade without juice pearls – simply lime, mint, syrup and soda.
- Yuzu-Bubbles — yuzu juice instead of lime, yuzu bubbles instead of mango for an Asian twist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get mango bubbles?
Ready-made juice pearls are available in Asian markets, well-stocked supermarkets or online. They’re often sold as popping boba or bursting bubbles and come in various flavours.
Can I make the bubbles myself?
Yes, with sodium alginate and a calcium bath. You drip mango juice with alginate into a calcium chloride solution, and the pearls form instantly. It works, but takes longer than using ready-made bubbles from a can.
Why do the bubbles burst when stirred?
The shell of the juice pearls is thin and bursts under mechanical stress. That’s why they’re added at the very end and not moved again.
Can I use tonic water instead of soda?
Yes, but it adds bitterness. Soda lets the lime and mint come through more clearly. With tonic, it becomes a different drink.
