Trader Joe's Sugar Plum Sparkling Beverage

If you’ve ever heard or read the poem “A Visit From St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore, you may have wondered what those “visions of sugar plums” dancing overhead actually looked like. We certainly did, so we looked into it. And as it turns out, in olden times, a sugar plum more generally referred to a kind of comfit, a candy confection made of chopped nuts and dried fruit — sometimes plum, but not always — covered in a sugary coating.

If this bursts your bubble, we’ve got something bubbly to make up for it: Trader Joe’s Sugar Plum Sparkling Beverage. No, this is a not a beverage made of melted candies. We took liberties with the sugar plum concept (as many others have done in modern times), and created a drink that is literally plum-based. Our supplier combines sparkling water with an equal proportion of blended plum juice and white grape juice concentrates, resulting in an ideal seasonal swig that is lower in sugar than 100% juice would be. It’s light, crisp, and joyfully fruity, and has a delightful, light-red hue that’s festive enough to complete any holiday vision, dancing or not.

Best served chilled (with a fresh cranberry garnish or a sprig of fresh mint), Trader Joe’s Sugar Plum Sparkling Beverage makes a charmingly cheery holiday drink for children and adults alike.

Ingredients