Serves 8. 

Prep tips: Sparkling apple cider also works well. If you prefer your drinks less sweet, cut the mixture with fizzy water.

2 cups light agave nectar
1 6-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
2 cups water
6 cups sparkling pear cider
Ice cubes
8 slices crystallized ginger
8 cinnamon sticks, 4 inches each

1. Place agave, ginger, and water in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook about 1 hour, until ginger flavor is quite strong. Let cool; refrigerate overnight. Strain before using. (Makes 2 cups ginger syrup. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to one week.) 2. In a large pitcher, combine 3/4-1 cup ginger syrup with sparkling cider. Fill eight tall glasses with ice cubes; top with cider mixture. Cut a small slit in each piece of crystallized ginger and affix to each glass rim. Garnish each glass with a cinnamon stick and serve immediately.

PER SERVING: 204 cal, 0% fat cal, 0g fat, 0g sat fat, 0mg chol, 1g protein, 51g carb, 0g fiber, 2mg sodium