The Maldives is a tropical paradise in the Indian Ocean known for its long, hot sunny days that lead into warm, humid nights. What better way to fully embrace a vacation here than by sipping sweet, refreshing drinks as you laze next to your resort pool?
Most visitors can enjoy a cocktail with their liquor of choice at private resorts. But those who prefer alcohol-free vacations will be glad to know the Maldives have fantastic alcohol-free options.
Let’s take a look at non-alcoholic beverages in the Maldives, with beers, mocktails, and other delicious drinks you can order at your resort.
The 10 Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks in the Maldives
It might get intimidating looking for alcohol-free options on drinks menus in resorts. Don’t worry, as we’ve created a list of the best alternatives to alcohol down below.
Soft Drinks / Coke
Sodas can be a great way to cool down after a busy day of swimming with tiger sharks or enjoying water sports in the Maldives. You can get most of the usual drinks in the Maldives, such as Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, ginger ale, lemonade, 7UP, Mirinda, and Pepsi.
Interesting fact: Coke in the Maldives is made with desalinated water. This is the only country in the world that does this. As a result, Coke may taste a bit different, and a lot of people say it tastes less sweet than in other countries.
Fresh Fruit Juice
The Maldives produces many tropical fruits, including mangoes, papayas (pawpaw), limes, watermelons, coconuts, bananas, and breadfruit. As such, you can have many freshly squeezed juices at one of the many Maldivian luxury resorts.
Lime juice mixed with still or sparkling water is a favorite among locals for its refreshing effect and as a palate cleanser between meals. Many resorts also offer smoothies and mocktails mixed with fruit. Sometimes these juices get pretty pricey, but their refreshing effect is well worth the extra bucks.
Mocktails
Another tasty option for an alcohol-free drink is a mocktail. As this is a Muslim state, alcohol in the Maldives is uncommon, but there are quite a few fantastic mocktails that you can enjoy. The options usually depend on what resort you are at, but here are some of the most popular mocktails you can adjust to your liking:
- Virgin Mojito – A zingy mix of lime, mint, sugar, and soda/lemonade.
- Coco Colada – It’s similar to the Pina Colada with coconut cream, simple syrup, and pineapple juice
- Coconut Kiss – It’s full of tropical flavor and includes orange juice, pineapple juice, and coconut cream.
- Maldivian Sunset – Traditionally made with tequila, but it’s fantastic on its own with orange juice, grenadine, and lemonade.
Coconut Water
You will find palm trees all over this nation’s islands, so coconut water is a popular drink around the Maldives. This drink is not only tasty but incredibly nutritious for you. It’s a great option if you’ve been swimming all day or getting your tan on, as it’s known for its hydrating benefits. It’s also fantastic for digestion and is full of antioxidants.
The best way to drink this is directly from the coconut. All you need to do is ask, and the hotel staff is sure to get you one.
Non-Alcoholic Beer
Non-alcoholic beer is a trendy drink in the Maldives. It’s an excellent drink to pair with a Maldivian fish curry, as it can cool down all the spiciness.
In the Maldives, some of the non-alcoholic beers you can get are Holsten, Coolberg, Estrella Damm Free, and Heineken Free. It can also be great with lemonade or lime juice as a shandy to make the drink tangier.
Non-Alcoholic Champagne/Wine
Are you planning a honeymoon in the Maldives? Well, fear not, as there are quite a few resorts that offer non-alcoholic champagne.
Vintense is a luxury non-alcoholic champagne imported to the Maldives. This brand offers a variety of alcohol-free beverages, from red to white wines, bellini, and champagne.
Another option is Bella, an alcohol-free prosecco from Italy. There is Copenhagen Sparkling Tea at IVY Maldives, which provides a unique experience to all who try it.
Tea
Tea, or Sai to Maldivians, is one of the most popular drinks in the country. Maldivians love drinking several cups of tea every day. Tea is primarily drunk black or kalhu sai, as fresh milk is hard to come by. There are no cows in the Maldives, so powdered or long-life milk is your only option.
More recently, flavored teas have become popular in this tropical nation. These flavors include green tea, cardamon tea, chai, jasmine tea, strawberry tea, and lemon tea. Ice tea is a popular drink, especially when poolside, as it can be incredibly refreshing and delicious.
Coffee
In the Maldives, coffee is becoming increasingly popular. This is no surprise, as most of us love this warm drink. Coffee is available at most resorts in whatever form you like, whether iced coffee to quench your thirst or Turkish coffee at the Four Seasons Resort Maldives.
If you’re visiting Malé, we recommend trying coffee in a café, such as Meraki Coffee Roasters, for a fantastic drink.
Ruku Raa
Ruku Raa, or coconut toddy, is a drink made out of sap and blossoms of coconut palm trees. The liquid ferments instantly because of the natural yeasts in the humid coastal air.
Even though it is mildly alcoholic – similar to kombucha – Maldivians are known to drink this effervescent drink. It has a sweet, tangy flavor and a similar hydrating effect to coconut water.
Raa verikan (toddy tapping) is a huge part of traditional Maldivian culture, and raa veriyaa (toddy tappers) is revered in their community. It is tradition to hand the methods and tools from father to son generationally. The tappers move up the coconut trees and use a collecting pot or gudi (made from two attached coconut shells) to collect the sap from a cut coconut blossom.
Another delicious byproduct of this process is dhiyaa hakuru (coconut honey). Coconut honey is made when the ruku raa is boiled into a thick, caramel-like syrup, which removes alcohol content. This is mixed into many Maldivian dishes, including Hunili Roshi (coconut chapatis), Bondibai (rice pudding), and Huni Hakuru (coconut dumplings).
Bottled Water
Majority of the tap water in the Maldives is desalinated, as the country only gets a little drinking water from rainfall and groundwater. You can still shower/bath, brush your teeth, and clean your face. However, we recommend you avoid drinking it as much as you can.
Most resorts will provide you with two to four one-liter bottles of water per person per day, so you will have an adequate amount. Drinking a lot of water is crucial, as the weather is hot and humid, and you can easily get dehydrated.
FAQs About Drinks in the Maldives
Is There No Alcohol in the Maldives?
The Maldives alcohol laws mean alcoholic drinks are only available on resort islands. As the Maldives is an Islamic state, Sharia Law applies, which means all serving of alcohol is illegal. Resorts are allowed to sell alcohol as they mainly serve tourists.
What is the Most Popular Drink in the Maldives?
Sai (tea) and Ruku Raa are the most popular drinks in the Maldives. Maldivians use Ruku Raa or coconut toddy in pickles instead of vinegar for its fermenting effect.
What Alcohol-Free Resorts are There in the Maldives?
There are quite a few options if you’re looking for all-inclusive resorts for non-drinkers in the Maldives. These include Fiyavalhu Maldives, Pearl Sands of Maldives, and Plumeria Maldives.
There are also various resorts where you can request a package that is all-inclusive with no alcohol. These include Biyadhoo Island Resort, Kudafushi Resort & Spa, and Vakkaru Maldives.
We at Go Ocean can organize all of this for you. We can arrange with the accommodation of your choice to remove all alcohol from your room and plan a custom package so that you are only served food and drinks that are halal and alcohol-free.
Can You Bring Alcohol to the Maldives?
No, you cannot bring alcohol to the Maldives. As alcohol is banned in the Maldives, your luggage will be X-rayed and searched for any illegal substances. Your alcohol will be confiscated and returned to you upon your departure home.
Also, customs officials know all about the tricks commonly used to hide liquor, such as in lotion bottles and mineral water. They can smell and inspect any objects they deem suspicious. This is more of a hassle for you as you can be fined up to $500.
Final Thoughts on Non-Alcoholic Beverages in the Maldives
The Maldives is a brilliant choice for an overseas vacation. There are many things to do in the Maldives, and it is a great choice for Muslim couples and families. Read more about the best Halal food or the fantastic mosques in the Maldives.
We hope you’ve found this article useful and that you feel more prepared to plan a trip to the Maldives. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want help planning your perfect island getaway.