Coconut Litchi Martini
There are happy accidents in the kitchen — and this one might be my favourite.
A few weeks ago, I was trying to make a simple coconut water martini. The plan was to keep it light, refreshing, and sort of “healthy fancy.” I grabbed what I thought was plain coconut water from the fridge, mixed it with my espresso, and gave it a good shake.
One sip later, I knew something was different. It was sweeter, fruitier — and somehow, it worked. Turns out, I’d picked up a bottle of coconut water with a hint of litchi instead. That 1% flavour completely changed the game. The result? A cool, breezy, almost tropical drink that tasted like a vacation in a glass.
So here it is — my accidental Coconut Litchi Martini. And the best part? You can make it with or without alcohol.
The Cocktail Version
Ingredients
1 shot espresso (freshly brewed and cooled)
60 ml white rum or vodka
120 ml coconut water with litchi
Ice cubes
Method
In a cocktail shaker, add espresso, rum (or vodka), and a handful of ice.
Shake it hard till the espresso turns airy and foamy.
Pour coconut water with litchi into a glass filled with ice.
Gently float the foamy coffee layer on top — it’ll give you that gorgeous two-tone look.
Sip slowly and pretend you’re somewhere by the beach.
🥥 The Mocktail Version
Ingredients
1 shot espresso (or strong cold brew)
150 ml coconut water with litchi
Ice cubes
Method
Add the espresso and ice to a shaker, and shake till frothy.
Fill a glass with coconut water with litchi.
Slowly pour the foamy coffee on top.
Garnish with a few coffee beans or a mint leaf if you’re feeling extra.
This version’s light, tropical, and caffeine-forward — the kind of drink that wakes you up and chills you out at the same time.
There’s something so satisfying about the balance here — the mellow coconut, the floral sweetness from litchi, and that little coffee bitterness that ties it all together. It’s proof that sometimes the best recipes come from mistakes you didn’t mean to make.
As always, happy drinking 🥥☕
