8 Thirst-Quenchers for a Hot Summer Day

Boy, is it hot today.

Fancy something to sip? A fast heat relief?
Look no further, you’re in the right place!

In today’s post you’ll find 8 easy recipes for some super refreshing summer beverages.

Serve these joyful drinks in clear glass and delight your eyes at the same time.

1. Mint Ice Tea

Ready to brew?

Just a little note before we start:
If you use mint from your garden, you might want to watch out for bugs and insects still attached to it before you put the mint in the pot…

The other day I found a caterpillar hiding behind one of the leaves just as I was putting the mint in the water.

I’m not sure which one of us was more puzzled by the other’s presence, but sure enough I released the tiny guest back into the garden.

I’d much rather have it roam free in my garden than steep in my tea!

Makes: 1 quart

You will need:

• 10-20 fresh mint sprigs with leaves
• Stevia or any other sweetener to taste
• 1 quart water

How to make it:

1. Crush mint into a pot with water.
2. Simmer till leaves turn brown-ish and sink. Stir from time to time.
3. Switch off, but leave pot to brew for a while.
4. Cool down, off burner. Then remove leaves using a fine strainer.
5. Add sweetener, stir, and put in the fridge.

2. Green/Herbal/Fruit Ice Tea

I like the idea of turning a usually hot drink into a thirst-quenching summer drink.

Makes: 1 cup

You will need:

• A tea bag of your favorite green/herbal/fruit tea
• A sweetener to taste
• A slice of lemon

How to make it:

1. Make a cup of green/herbal/fruit tea. Sweeten to taste.
2. Once cooled down put in the fridge.
3. Before serving, decorate with a slice of lemon.

3. Limonana (Mint Lemonade)

The word ‘limonana’ comes from the Hebrew words ‘Limon’ (lemon) and ‘Nana’ (mint).
It is a favorite summer drink in Israel and in many other Mediterranean countries.

There is no sweetening in this recipe.
Expect a subtle fruity flavor.

(And if you’re looking for a shortcut for this refreshing drink, just squeeze some fresh lemon into a glass of cold water, and enjoy your pure lemonade)

Makes: 1 quart

You will need:

• 1 small lemon, squeezed 
• ½ apple, chopped
• 4 cucumber rings, chopped
• 2-3 sprigs of fresh mint
• Water
• Also recommended: an infuser

How to make it:

1. Put the lemon, apple, cucumber, and water in a pitcher.
2. Lightly squish the mint and put in an infuser. Put the infuser in the pitcher. (Mint should be submerged)
3. Let the flavors steep in the fridge for a couple of hours.

4. Fresh Orange Juice

Bursting with flavor, this is a delightful treat!

Makes: 1

You will need:

An orange per person

How to make it:

Squeeze orange and pour the juice and the flesh into a glass.

5. Slushie

before & after

We’re in for a very fruity treat here!

If your blender is rather weak like mine, you might want to take the fruit out of the freezer a few minutes ahead of time, just to make it a bit easier on the blades.

Makes: 1 quart

You will need:

• 3-4 cups of frozen fruit of your choice
• Cold water

How to make it:

Cover frozen fruit with water. Blend. Serve.

6. Smoothie

before & after

Quite filling, this might feel more like a dessert than a drink. All the better!

If dairy is an issue, you can substitute the milk for coconut milk.

Makes: about 1 quart

You will need:

• 1 ripe banana, cut into chunks
• 1 ripe peach, cut into chunks
• 1 ripe mango, cut into chunks
• 2 cups milk

How to make it:

Blend all ingredients. Serve.

7. Homemade Energy Drink

To boost the natural benefits of this happy treat even further, opt for organic raw cocoa powder, as well as organic milk, cream, and banana.

If dairy is an issue, swap the milk and cream with coconut milk and some water, or with almond milk.

Some variations to this recipe add avocado and coconut flakes to the mixture, and some swap the cocoa powder with carob powder.

The following is the most basic recipe. Feel free to experiment.

Makes: 1 cup

You will need:

• 1 ripe banana
• ¾ cup milk
• ¾ tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 ½ tbsp. cream

How to make it:

Blend all ingredients. Serve.

8. Strawberry Nectar

Don’t be fooled by the posh look, this is one of the simplest recipes you can find.

Although served in a glass, this is somewhere between a dessert and a drink.
It’s thick, and entirely made of fruit. Not one drop of liquid added here.

In Greek and Roman mythology the word ‘nectar’ means ‘drink of the gods’.
Once you’ve tasted it, you’ll see why...

Makes: 1-2 cups

You will need:

• One strawberry per person, with green crown, slit at the bottom
• A handful of fresh strawberries, hulled

How to make it:

1. Blend strawberries and pour into glass.
2. Place slit strawberry on top of glass. Serve cold.

It’s time to sip your favorite drink.

Stay cool and have a great summer!