Lifestyle review: A zippy buzz with non alcoholic Okushal cordials

When I opened a gift pack of Okushal, I almost did not want to open the bottles as they are so beautiful. The South African made range of cordials is branded as “art you can drink”, for good reason. Four South African artists were commissioned to design the launch range of four flavours: Raspberry & Naartjie, Prickly Pear & Mint, Ginger & Pineapple and Pomegranate Lime & Lemon. The bottles are objects in their own right. The gift pack of four 200ml bottles is gorgeously packaged (R495 as of December 2024). It make a terrific gift –with the bottles nestling in the gift box.

I eventually succumbed and opened the bottles which are very well sealed. It took a knife to pry the lids open. This is good packaging – no leaking. Okushal was birthed by Derek Lubner – a South African entrepreneur and philanthropist who lives in London. He created the range as part of his “sober curious” journey to find a premium non-alcoholic drink. The range is made in in Muizenberg at The Original Craft Soda Company.

First up, I mixed the cordials with soda water and ice.  The colour of the cordials adds a zing to the experience. My favourite is Prickly Pear & Mint – which has an emerald green colour. It is very fragrant. I also loved Pomegranate Lime & Lemon, its orangey pinkish hue and refreshing taste.

I then played around and added mint, lemon, lime and ginger according to the flavours.  For instance, I added mint from my garden to the Prickly Pear & Mint and fresh lime to the Pomegranate Lime & Lemon. I found that the mint and lime enhanced the flavours, without overwhelming the cordials. The cordials look pretty and by simply serving them in cocktail or G&T glasses, they look impressive.

I was surprised how little one needs to get a taste of the cordials. A smidgen, a drop in tap water, neat, goes a long way. With the cordials diluted to this extent, the garnishes overwhelmed the taste. For people who battle to drink water on its own, Okushal is a nifty way to add zest. The range is positioned as “low-sugar” so I would imagine that it makes a good alternative to juice because so little is required to get the zippy flavour. Okushal is gluten free which is another big plus.

As an off-beat idea, I blended Prickly Pear & Mint with milk, vanilla ice-cream, ice and fresh mint. Delish! I added Prickly Pear & Mint to what I would term is “bad gin” but the gin overwhelmed the cordial. It is that bad.

All up, I had heaps of fun with my Okushal gift pack (R495 for four 200ml bottles), trying different combos. The 500ml bottles cost R220 (prices as of December 2024). The flavours are quirky. With the art bottle design and packaging, the range goes “beyond cordial”, one of the branding tag lines.  In naming, Okushal, inspiration was taken from the Zulu word for new, “okusha” and these cordials shake up the idea of what I associate with cordial – the boring staples which I have in the liquor cabinet. Okushal is priced higher than off-the-shelf cordials, but this is a premium brand, crafted with natural ingredients, so one gets what one pays for, plus the stunning art bottles.

❇ Featured image – tasting Okushal cordial, with mint and lime. Pics by Robyn Cohen/TheCapeRobyn, December 2024.