Some drinks just make you feel fancy.

 

Not fancy in a stiff, uncomfortable way. Fancy in a "I'm seven years old at a restaurant and the waiter just brought me a drink with a cherry in it" way. That's the magic of a Shirley Temple. The original mocktail, the OG of non-alcoholic drinks, and the reason an entire generation believed grenadine was a food group.

 

At Fooddepaux, we've got two takes on the classic: 7-Up Shirley Temple for the purists who want sweet, fizzy nostalgia, and Olipop Shirley Temple for the crowd who wants all that flavour plus prebiotics and gut health benefits. Same vibe. Different energy. Both delicious. Both available to buy in Dubai and the UAE right now.

 

We built one gorgeous mocktail recipe that works with either. You pick the soda. We'll handle the rest.

 

 

 

Two Sodas, One Classic Flavour

 

Choose your own Shirley Temple adventure

 

Let's break down what makes each one special, because they're genuinely different drinks that happen to share a name.

 

 

🍒 7-Up Shirley Temple: The Classic Route

 

7-Up Shirley Temple combines the crisp lemon-lime base you already know with sweet pomegranate and cherry notes. Basically grenadine in a can. Caffeine-free, low in sodium, and tastes exactly like someone made you a perfect Shirley Temple at a bar. This is the one for when you want something sweet, fizzy, and unapologetically indulgent. Pure enjoyment.

 

The vibe: Nostalgic, sweet, party-ready.

 

 

🌿 Olipop Shirley Temple: The Gut-Friendly Route

 

Olipop Shirley Temple blends tart cherry, white grape, lemon, and lime with smooth vanilla notes, all built on Olipop's OLISMART blend of prebiotics, plant fibre, and botanicals like nopal cactus, marshmallow root, and calendula flower.

 

The numbers: just 4–5 grams of sugar, 6–9 grams of prebiotic fibre, and around 40–50 calories per can. Vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and paleo-friendly. It tastes like celebration but works like a healthy soda alternative. If you're looking for a prebiotic soda in Dubai, this is the one.

 

The vibe: Sophisticated, feel-good. Seasonal and limited-edition, so grab it while it lasts.

 

 

"One's a guilty pleasure. The other's a pleasure you don't have to feel guilty about. Honestly? We love them both."

 

 

 

 

Shirley Temple Cherry-Lime Rimmed Fizz

 

A 5-minute mocktail recipe that works with either soda

 

This is the kind of easy mocktail recipe that looks like it took twenty minutes but actually takes five. Fresh cherries give it that deep, jewel-toned colour a Shirley Temple deserves, lime keeps it bright and balanced, a splash of grenadine ties the whole thing together, and the sugar rim makes every sip feel like a special occasion. Whether you reach for the 7-Up or the Olipop, this non-alcoholic drink delivers.

 

Serves: 1 | Time: 5 minutes

 

 

What You'll Need

 

For the sugar rim (optional, but it makes everything feel bar-level):

 

1 tbsp granulated sugar, zest of half a lime, 1 lime wedge for rimming

 

For the fizz:

 

6–8 fresh cherries, pitted and halved (or thawed frozen cherries if fresh aren't in season)

 

1 tsp grenadine syrup

 

1 tsp raw honey or agave syrup

 

½ a fresh lime, juiced

 

A small handful of fresh mint leaves (about 3–4)

 

Ice

 

1 chilled can of 7-Up Shirley Temple or Olipop Shirley Temple (your call)

 

Fresh cherries and a lime wheel, for garnish

 

 

How to Make It

 

Step 1: Rim your glass. Mix the sugar and lime zest together on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, then dip it into the sugar mixture. Twist gently for an even coat. Set aside and admire your work.

 

Step 2: Muddle the cherries. Drop the halved cherries, grenadine, honey, and mint leaves into the bottom of your glass. Gently muddle. Just enough to release the juices, crush the fruit, and bruise the mint. You want a gorgeous ruby base, not cherry jam.

 

Step 3: Build the drink. Fill the glass with ice. Squeeze in the fresh lime juice.

 

Step 4: Choose your soda and pour. Here's where it gets personal.

 

Going 7-Up? Sweeter, more indulgent. The pomegranate-cherry notes double down on the fresh cherries and grenadine. Pure fun.

 

Going Olipop? More complex, slightly tart. The vanilla and tart cherry layer beautifully over the muddled fruit, plus you're getting prebiotics with every sip. Feel-good in every sense.

 

Pour slowly. Let the fizz do the mixing.

 

Step 5: Garnish and serve. Drop a pair of fresh cherries on the rim or float a lime wheel on top. Extra points for a maraschino cherry (it's a Shirley Temple, after all). Take a photo. You've absolutely earned it.

 

 

 

 

How They Compare in This Recipe

 

We made this mocktail both ways (tough job, someone had to do it):

 

With 7-Up Shirley Temple: Sweeter, fizzier, cherry heaven. The pomegranate-cherry soda layered over muddled fresh cherries and grenadine is indulgent in the best way. The crowd-pleaser for parties and kids.

 

With Olipop Shirley Temple: More balanced, slightly tart, with a vanilla undertone that makes everything taste more layered. The prebiotic fibre gives it more body too. The refined choice for brunches or a quiet evening.

 

No wrong answer. Just different moods.

 

 

 

 

Make It Your Own

 

A great recipe is a starting point, not a rulebook.

 

Go dark cherry: use dark sweet cherries instead of regular ones for a richer, deeper colour and a more intense flavour.

 

Add a splash of pomegranate juice for extra depth and a gorgeous layered sunset effect in the glass. It plays perfectly with the grenadine.

 

Try fresh basil instead of mint for a more sophisticated, grown-up twist. It pairs surprisingly well with cherry-flavoured sodas.

 

Make it a float: skip the muddling and pour the soda over a scoop of vanilla ice cream instead. Trust us. (Works especially well with the 7-Up version.)

 

Batch it for a gathering: multiply everything, muddle the cherries and grenadine in a pitcher, and pour the soda in just before serving to keep the fizz alive. Perfect for brunches, iftar gatherings, or any excuse to make something pretty.

 

 

 

 

A Little History in Your Glass

 

The Shirley Temple dates back to the 1930s, created so a young actress could sip something special while adults drank cocktails at Hollywood events. Almost a century later, it's still the world's most beloved non-alcoholic cocktail. With mocktail culture booming and Dry January going mainstream, the Shirley Temple isn't just a cute throwback. It's a movement. Classic or functional, you're part of a generation proving you don't need alcohol to have a good time.

 

 

 

 

Shop the Recipe

 

Both versions of this mocktail start with the same thing: the right soda. Whether you want the nostalgic kick of 7-Up Shirley Temple or the gut-friendly glow of Olipop Shirley Temple, both are available now on Fooddepaux.

 

Looking for Olipop in the UAE? Or hard-to-find sodas in Dubai? That's literally what we do. Our i drinks and snacks are hand-picked, shipped with care, and delivered across Dubai and the UAE.

 

Our collections rotate often and limited-edition flavours don't stick around forever.

 

If something catches your eye, it's best enjoyed while it's here.