The Zephyr Wind-Down Mocktail Menu

There's something powerful about an evening ritual.

The simple act of slowing down, putting away the day, and preparing something special to drink can become a "whole body signal" – telling your system that work is over, the nervous system can downshift, and it's time to prepare for sleep.

That's part of the idea behind zephyr.

I formulated zephyr as a sugar-free, melatonin-free evening mocktail with five research-backed ingredients selected to support different aspects of healthy sleep, from falling asleep and staying asleep to sleep quality and overnight recovery.

And because the base flavor is a refreshing lime-and-mint "Midnight Mojito," you don't have to drink it the same way every night.

You can certainly keep things simple and mix a serving of zephyr with cold water and ice. But you can also turn it into something a little more interesting.

Blackberries and tart cherry. Strawberry and basil. Cucumber and orange. Pineapple and ginger. Watermelon and mint. Kiwi and coconut. Spiced pear. The options are almost endless.

The recipes below are designed around the same basic idea: zephyr + fruit + herbs + a little fizz = an easy alcohol-free evening mocktail.

Some are light and refreshing. Some are fruity. Some feel almost dessert-like. And because you control the ingredients, you can make them as simple or as elaborate, and as low-sugar or "treat-like" to suit your tastes.