Loomi Moon Julep

01

What you’ll need

• 2 whole dried black limes (loomi), rinsed and lightly cracked
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• 12 fresh mint leaves
• 2 tablespoons pure date syrup
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 1/8 teaspoon pure orange blossom water
• 1 cup chilled plain sparkling water
• 3 cups clean crushed ice, plus more if needed
• 2 generous fresh mint sprigs, for garnish
• 2 thin fresh lime wheels, for garnish

02

Mix the drink

1. Place the cracked dried black limes in a heatproof jug. Pour over the boiling water, cover and steep for 20 minutes.
2. Strain the loomi infusion through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing the limes gently. Measure 1 cup of infusion and refrigerate it for 30 minutes until fully cold; reserve any extra for another drink.
3. Place the mint leaves and date syrup in a mixing glass. Press the leaves gently three or four times with a muddler to release their aroma without shredding them.
4. Add the chilled loomi infusion, lime juice and orange blossom water. Stir for 20 seconds to dissolve the date syrup completely.
5. Fine-strain the mixture into a small chilled pitcher to remove mint fragments, then stir in the sparkling water just before serving.
6. Taste once over a spoonful of crushed ice. Add 1 teaspoon more date syrup only if the particular loomi is especially sharp.