✔ Updated · rebuilt as a single-drink card with orgeat for real mai tai flavor, added a pitcher batch and fixed the mai tai history
My virgin mai tai has all the tropical, nutty flavor of the classic with zero alcohol: pineapple, orange and lime shaken with almond orgeat syrup and a red grenadine float. It takes 5 minutes, and everyone can have one.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Don't skip the orgeat. That little bit of almond syrup is what makes it taste like a mai tai instead of plain fruit punch.
Why I Love This Virgin Mai Tai
- Tastes like a real mai tai, thanks to orgeat and fresh lime.
- Pretty sunset layers from a slow grenadine float.
- Easy to batch for pool parties, luaus and baby showers.
- Completely alcohol-free, so kids and drivers can join in.
What You Need for a Virgin Mai Tai
Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.
- Pineapple juice: the tropical base that stands in for the rum's body.
- Orange juice: brightness, and a nod to the orange liqueur in the classic.
- Fresh lime juice: the sour backbone of any mai tai.
- Orgeat syrup: almond syrup, the signature mai tai flavor.
- Grenadine: a sweet pomegranate-flavored syrup for the red sunset layer.
- Garnish: mint, lime, pineapple and a cherry. Go big, it's a tiki drink.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Orgeat is the mai tai flavor. It's a sweet almond syrup with a hint of orange flower water. I keep a jar of homemade orgeat in the fridge, but a store-bought bottle works. No orgeat? Use 1/2 oz simple syrup plus a drop of almond extract.
- Fresh lime, always. The original mai tai is a sour drink at heart. Fresh lime keeps it from tasting syrupy.
- Crushed ice makes it tiki. It chills fast and looks right. I put ice cubes in a zip-top bag, wrap it in a towel and whack it with a rolling pin.
- Slap the mint. Clap the sprig between your hands before it goes in. The smell hits you as you sip, and honestly that's half the fun.
- Nut allergy? Orgeat is made from almonds. Swap it for simple syrup with a splash of coconut water or vanilla for a nut-free version.
Virgin Mai Tai (Mai Tai Mocktail)
1
drink5
minutes170
kcal5
minutesAn alcohol-free mai tai: pineapple, orange and fresh lime juice shaken with almond orgeat syrup, poured over crushed ice and finished with a float of grenadine. Garnished with mint, lime and pineapple.
Ingredients
2 oz pineapple juice
1 1/2 oz orange juice, preferably fresh
3/4 oz fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/2 oz orgeat (almond) syrup
1/4 oz grenadine
1 oz sparkling water or lime seltzer (optional)
1 1/2 cups crushed ice
1 each mint sprig, lime wheel and pineapple wedge, for garnish
1 maraschino cherry, for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Fill a double old fashioned or tiki glass with crushed ice so it chills while you mix.
- Add the pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice and orgeat to a cocktail shaker with a handful of ice. Shake hard for about 10 seconds, until frothy and very cold.
- Strain into the glass of crushed ice. Add the sparkling water now if you like a little fizz.
- Slowly pour the grenadine over the back of a spoon so it sinks and makes a red layer at the bottom.
- Garnish with a mint sprig, lime wheel, pineapple wedge and a cherry. Serve with a straw and stir before sipping.
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Virgin Mai Tai Pitcher (Serves 8)
This is my pool-party move. Stir 2 cups pineapple juice, 1 1/2 cups orange juice, 3/4 cup fresh lime juice and 1/2 cup orgeat in a pitcher, then chill for up to 6 hours.
Set out glasses of crushed ice, pour, and let everyone add their own grenadine float and garnish. If you want fizz, top each glass with a splash of lime seltzer.
Virgin Mai Tai vs Classic Mai Tai
| Virgin mai tai | Classic mai tai | |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Pineapple and orange juice | Aged rum |
| Sweetener | Orgeat and grenadine | Orgeat and orange curaçao |
| Sour | Fresh lime | Fresh lime |
| Alcohol | None | Yes, for adults of legal drinking age |
| Taste | Sweeter, fruitier | Tart, strong, nutty |
More Mocktails to Try
If you love this one, try my Blue Lagoon mocktail, a Cinderella mocktail, a virgin sangria or a virgin Shirley Temple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a virgin mai tai?
A virgin mai tai is pineapple juice, orange juice, fresh lime juice and orgeat (almond syrup), served over crushed ice with a float of grenadine. For one drink I use 2 oz pineapple, 1 1/2 oz orange, 3/4 oz lime, 1/2 oz orgeat and 1/4 oz grenadine.
What does a mai tai taste like?
A mai tai tastes tart, fruity and lightly nutty, with lime, orange and almond up front. The classic version has rum; this virgin one swaps the rum for pineapple and orange juice, so it is sweeter and more tropical but keeps the almond and lime character.
Where does the mai tai come from?
The mai tai is usually credited to Victor Bergeron, known as Trader Vic, who is said to have created it at his bar in Oakland, California, in the 1940s. It is a classic tiki drink, not a Thai one, despite the name.
How do I make virgin mai tais for a party?
For 8 drinks, stir 2 cups pineapple juice, 1 1/2 cups orange juice, 3/4 cup lime juice and 1/2 cup orgeat in a pitcher and chill. Pour over crushed ice and add about 1/2 tablespoon grenadine to each glass just before serving.
Can I make a virgin mai tai without orgeat?
Yes. Use 1/2 oz simple syrup and 1 to 2 drops of almond extract per drink, or a splash of almond milk for a creamier version. Without any almond, it tastes more like a tropical punch, which is still delicious.
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