Summer is almost here and temperatures are starting to soar. And if you live in a coastal city, you might have to deal with humidity as well.
Sure, summer is a great time to go on vacation and have some fun on the beach, but it’s also when you’re most susceptible to heat-related issues like dehydration.
Excessive sweating can cause your body to lose water at a higher rate. This can trigger conditions like heat stroke and headaches, and you don’t want that ruining your fun. So what can you do to keep going in the sweltering heat? It is important that you stay hydrated and replenish your body with cold beverages.
Summer drinks not only help keep your body cool and hydrated to prevent the summer blues, but they also make summer more fun and interesting. Below are some popular beverages that you shouldn’t miss out on trying this summer.
1. Fruit Slushies
Fruit slushies offer a lot of variety as you can choose your preferred flavor, such as watermelon-lime, cantaloupe-basil, and honeydew-ginger-mint. These refreshing shaved ice flavors taste fantastic and help you beat the summer heat. Make sure to try at least one of these beverages this summer.
Ingredients (Watermelon-Lime Slushie)
- 1 watermelon (6 to 7 lb.)
- Simple syrup
- Half cup lime juice (from 4 limes)
- Lime zest (from 2 limes)
Recipe
- Remove the seeds and skin from your watermelon, and cut the fruit into 2-inch pieces
- Prepare a simple syrup by combining 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt and ¼ cup water in a saucepan. Once boiled, let it simmer for about 2 to 3 minutes
- Add all your ingredients except the melon into the syrup and let it cool
- Strain this mixture into a cup or bowl
- Work the simple syrup mixture in a blender in two batches
- Now also work the watermelon in the blender in two batches
- Strain them into a square pan, cover and freeze for at least 8 hours
- To serve, use a fork to scrape the ice into large flakes
- Transfer these into a glass and add to soda water
2. Strawberry-Lemon Punch
If you’re looking to try refreshing beverages on a hot summer day, strawberry-lemon punch never disappoints. You can either prepare this drink in bulk or in small patches. Not to forget, you can also refrigerate it for up to 8 hours before serving.
Ingredients
- Frozen concentrate of pink lemonade (1 pack)
- Ripe strawberries
- Coldwater ( 6 ¼ cups)
- Ginger ale (1 quarter)
- Whole strawberries
Recipe
- Pour the hulled strawberries, 1 cup of water and process lemonade concentrate in a blender and process until you get a liquid paste
- Transfer this mixture into a punch bowl
- Add in the remaining 1 ¼ cups of water to the bowl and stir it
- Add ginger ale and gradually stir
- Serve the punch over ice and garnish with whole strawberries
3. Sparkling Thyme Lemonade
Are you looking for the best summer beverages to add to your next summer party menu? Sparkling thyme lemonade is the perfect upgraded lemonade drink to try.
Ingredients
- Sugar (1/2 cup)
- Water (1/2) cup
- Fresh thyme (6 springs)
- Fresh lemon juice (3/4 cup)
- Club soda (3 cups)
- Bourbon (optional)
Recipe
- Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan
- Add the thyme springs and bring it to a boil on medium heat
- Once boiled, lower the heat and let the syrup simmer for up to 4 minutes
- Do not stir until the sugar completely dissolves
- Let it cool and remove the thyme sprigs from the mixture
- Once cool, transfer the syrup into a large pitcher and add lemon juice
- Pour in all your club soda
- Serve your sparkling thyme lemonade over ice (with bourbon, if using)
4. Summer Party Punch
Summer beverages do not have to contain alcohol. Because why should adults have all the fun? Summer Party Punch is a fruity drink that instantly refreshes and replenishes your body in this hot weather. This fruity drink is full of nutrition from healthy fruit choices.
Ingredients
- Star Anise (1)
- Caster sugar (1/2 cup)
- Water (1/3 cup)
- Pineapple juice (2 cups)
- Chilled sparkling mineral water (1 cup)
- Raspberries (125 grams)
- Blueberries (120 grams)
- Halved seedless green grapes (100 grams)
- Halved seedless red grapes (100 grams)
- Peeled and sliced mango (1)
- Peeled and cut Kiwi wedges (from 2 kiwi fruits)
- Sliced red apple (1 small)
- Fresh mint springs (1/2 cup)
- Ice cubes (for serving)
- Lemon slices (for serving)
Recipe
- Add 1/2 cup sugar and 1/3 cup water into a small saucepan along with placing your star anise
- Stir on medium heat until the sugar completely dissolves (should not take more than 3 minutes)
- Remove the mixture from heat and pour it into a large bowl
- Add it your sparkling mineral water and pineapple juice
- Use a large jug and place your fruit, ice and half the mint in it
- Pour the Party Punch into glasses, topping with remaining mint and lemon slices
5. Iced Coffee Mocha
A list of the best summer beverages is incomplete without a coffee fix. The perfect summer drink for coffee lovers, this iced coffee mocha is super easy to make.
Ingredients
- Coffee (1 tablespoon)
- Milk (4 cups or 1 liter)
- Drinking chocolate powder (1/3 cup or 80 grams)
- Chocolate flakes or chocolate curls (for serving)
Recipe
- Use a heatproof jug to add in your coffee and 160 ml (2/3 cup0 hot water
- Stir until the coffee completely dissolves
- Then, pour in 125 ml (1/2 cup) cold water
- Pour the coffee mixture into an ice-cube tray (it should fill up a 12-hole tray)
- Place it in the freezer for up to 6 hours
- Add the milk to a small saucepan over low heat
- Stir the milk until warm (40 degrees Centigrade)
- Add in the chocolate powder
- Remove it from heat and stir to dissolve the chocolate powder
- For serving, add ice cubes to a glass
- Pour the milk and chocolate powder mixture over the ice
- Sprinkle your iced coffee mocha with chocolate flakes or chocolate curls
From fruit slushies and summer party punch to lemonade variants like strawberry-lemon punch and sparkling thyme lemonade, there are lots of summer beverages that you can try. And in case you need a coffee fix but want to avoid a piping hot espresso in this weather, an iced coffee mocha is just what you need.
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