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Top 10 non-alcoholic drinks for the summer
The very best of non alcoholic cold drinks
Refreshment urgently required.
Supplying your body with liquids is vitally important in hot weather, not to mention the comfort that a large pitcher of iced tea can bring on a sunny day. Here's the list of top 10 most invigorating and healthy drinks to help you stay cool this summer.
1. Iced coffee
Why iced coffee deserves your love?
- Because it's delicious!
- Because it still gives you the caffeine kick, even when it's chilled
- Because you can drink it from a tall glass through a straw :) AND you can add a paper umbrella. AND a marshmallow. On a stick.
Iced or not? The decision is yours!
Tired of good old coffee on the rocks? Go frappe!
Did you know...
- Frappe style coffee comes from Greece
- It should be made from instant coffee - brewed doesn't hold the bubbles so well
- Sometimes coca-cola is used instead of water
Tired of waiting for your coffee to cool?
Try this instant solution in delicious flavour variations
What's your favourite?
Which of the flavours above would you use to make your perfect cup?
2. Lemonade
How to make lemonade?
You probably already know this. But check out this video for some secret tricks!
How to make your lemonade even better?
- Use sparkling water for extra fizz
- Add a sprig of mint to make it even more refreshing
- Add a tablespoon of strawberry syrup for this lovely, pink tint
Don't they just ask to be squeezed?
What's your favourite lemonade?
Pick a colour, quick!
Lemonade quickie
Don't have time to go through all the motions?
Simply squeeze half a lemon straight to your glass, add two spoonfuls of sugar, mix well and top up with sparkling water
Serve your lemonade with style!
3. Strawberry puree
Everybody loves strawberries!
Strawberry puree is one of my sweetest childhood memories. Each time strawberries were in season and my mum didn't feel like making jam, she would whizz whole batches in a blender with some sugar and we would all gorge on the stuff.
Unbelievably delicious!
Plus, packed full of healthy vitamins.
Why is strawberry puree perfect for the summer?
- Because it helps you utilise the abundant strawberry harvest!
- Because it's so filling it can act as a light meal
- Because you can freeze it and enjoy strawberries even in winter
Tip:
If it's too thick for you, try adding some sparkling water, ice cubes or yoghurt.
Oh, and it's even more delicious with wild strawberries!
Sugared or sugarless?
I always, always add sugar to my strawberry puree. Who cares about healthy eating when you can have something so delicious? Which option is more appealing to you?
With sugar or without?
Wild strawberries? Anytime!
Let strawberries into your kitchen!
4. Iced tea
Why is iced tea good for you?
- Because it reduces cancer risk
- Because it is packed full of antioxidants = helps you stay young longer
- Because it gives you energy without coffee's bad side effects
The perfect tall drink
Green or black?
Green is healthier, black is (to me!) tastier - how about you?
Which tea do you prefer?
Make it exotic!
How to make thai iced tea - a step-by-step tutorial
Spruce your tea up!
5. Raspberry juice
Quintessence of summer
What you will need?
- Raspberries. Lots and lots. And lots.
- Cheesecloth
- Some sugar (optional)
The ultimate summer treat
Ok, this is the best summer drink I have ever EVER tasted.
The recipe is simple - take lots and lots of raspberries, pack them into a cheesecloth and squeeze. Repeat, repeat, repeat, until you have a decent amount of juice.
What you'll get it the purest, most delicious juice ever, that kicks you in the face with flavour and leaves you on your knees begging for more.
I don't think you can buy it anywhere. Nobody would ever make any money mass-producing it, because it takes so much raspberries to make even small amount of the juice.
But everybody should try it, if only once in a lifetime.
When I was a child, my whole family used to go to a forest and spend a day picking wild raspberries. Then my grandma would take everybody's harvest and turn it into 1-2 tiny jars of the most intense fruit juice in the world. This shows how raspberry consuming the recipe is.
In my family it was treated more like a medicine than a beverage - the juice is so packed with vitamin C that a spoonful a day keeps you safe from winter colds. But after you've tasted the first mandatory spoonful neat (and went to raspberry heaven...), you can simply dilute the juice with water and serve on ice for a yummy, refreshing summer drink.
6. Kefir
Probably the most refreshing drink in the world
Why should you drink kefir?
- Because it's super extra healthy. And I mean it!
- Because cold kefir quenches thirst like no other drink in the world
- Because you can turn it a low calorie treat by adding few simple ingredients
Kefir question no. 1
Did you know about kefir before you've read this lens?
Kefir question no. 2
Have you ever tried it?
Did you know...
...that kefir is a fantastic hangover cure?
Kinda unofficial knowledge, but I've been there, tried that and it works
Make your own kefir!
Here's what you will need
7. Herbal ice tea
Which herbs make best tea?
- Mint - tastes delicious and is good for your tummy, too
- Chamomile - wonder plant, traditionally alleviating more than a hundred ailments
- Rooibos - also known as 'red tea'
Chill out!
Benefits of herbal tea
Although orthodox medicine is rather cautious of herbalism (to say the least), people have been using herbal cures since times immemorial. Many health improving qualities of herbs are actually scientifically confirmed, the trick is to know which plants are the good ones and how to use them. So if you know herbs really well, you can brew a delicious tea from what you can find on a meadow. If you don't, you may end up picking something poisonous. Remember, plants can heal, but they can also kill and damage so be very careful with what you drink.
If you want to go for a simple option, grow your tea. Herbs like mint, chamomile, lemon balm or sage grow like insane in containers, they can make a pretty addition to your garden, too.
Another option is to simply buy your tea. Herbal drinks are getting more and more popular, so there's plenty to choose from on the market.
Herbal healing - yes or no?
During my research I was surprised to find out that drinking herb infusions is actually quite a controversial subject. Join the discussion and let us know whether you think herbs are beneficial or useless/dangerous.
What do you think of using herbal tea as medicine?
Find your favourite flavour!
8. Mocktails
A 'mocktail' is a fancy cocktail with all the frills, but no alcohol
Cheers!
Why mocktails are great?
- Because they are healthier than their alcoholic cousins
- Because children can drink them, too
- Because they let you survive any party when you can't or don't want to drink
Make your mocktail fancy!
9. Kombucha
Kombucha - the wonder-tea
Make your own kombucha
10. Water with ice
The best summer drink you can have!
Picture sources
Answer the question or simply tell me you've been here :) All your comments are very welcome
What is your favourite summer drink?
Nice lense! I love water, sweet iced tea, lemonade.
Just loved this fun lens!
Great list
I love your list of summer drinks, including most of my favourites! I usually keep a pitcher of herbal tea in the fridge. For a treat I go for iced coffee, with a biscuit....:)
Some people cannot drink sugary drinks like lemonade. It would be good to include some recipes that use sugar substitutes.
Also, sorry to break bad news, but iced tea has been shown to cause kidney problems.
simply water - we have one of the best here in Vienna, Austria
Living in Cyprus, having frappe is very common and I get one regularly. Also kefir is very common here or ayran, a yoghurt drink.
Water - sometimes sparkling water.
Very Cool lens, thanks I will keep this in mind
Iced Tea
What a refreshing and delicious lens! Blessed.
Wht a stunning lens and so informative and well laid out too. Thanks for sharing
Blessed by a Squid Angel!
I love anything with limes/lemons. Cool lens.
nice , i think i will go now to the store for fruits
A Great Summer Drink is adding your #2 drink(Lemonade) with #4 (Iced Tea) to make an Arnold Palmer
Virgin piña colada! Great lens, thank you for sharing!
- Author
@anonymous: I don't consider such a trace amount 'alcoholic', Feel free to disagree :)
How come kefir doesn't contain alcohol? kefir does contain some alcohol, since it is a fermented food, research indicates that kefir may contain between 0.08% to 2% alcohol check wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir
Yes, this is for me :)
I love my fruity drinks in the summer time.
Lemonade and Kefir are the things I like to drink the most during summer. You just can't beat em.
First its a toss up between iced tea and lemon aid. Most of the othes I will have to try. The iced water is usually what I get when going out to the restaraunts.
Second Just so you know, I have book marked this page.
One because I found it late in the evening.
Two because this will be something usefule to use over the summer with the kids.
Wow I learned a lot from this Lens and now I have some New Things I can try!!! :D
Great selection of summer drinks!
iced coffee!
great lens, overall love these non alcoholic drinks
I enjoyed reading this lens. I'm glad that I found it. :)
I adore iced coffee and lemonade, plus home-brewed iced mint tea, but my absolute favorite hot summer refreshment is seltzer water with a spritz of natural juice, served over ice.
From smoothies, to mocktails to iced tea, there are plenty of non-alcoholic summer drinks that will quench your thirst without giving you a buzz.
Lemonade or iced tea, or both together! Thanks!
Nice lens. I'll have to try a couple of these I haven't had/made before.
I would have to say, iced tea. Great lens, thanks!
mmmmmh... reminds me that summer is coming. Great lens and some great recipes!! .... If you want a twist, just add vodka ;) hehe Amy x
Wow, this lens makes me want to get up and make a nice cold glass iced tea! Very nice lens. =)
Beautiful layout to this lens. You sure have a good eye for design. Like and Loved!!
My favorite summer drink is a snow cone followed closely by pink lemonade.
My son would have to vote Kefir! Thanks for the great list.
My grandmother's iced tea.
Lemonade is great. These tips are helpful...thank you!
I'm addicted to drinking green tea everyday and water :) I even wrote one lens about it. I like your lens. There are some great drinks on here. Thank you for sharing
Iced coffee and iced tea. But I also enjoy Thai iced tea and boba drinks, particularly taro and almond flavors.
for summer drinks i love lemonade and fresh fruit juice
Great ideas with summer upon us...thanks for the info
Oh, God, now I'm thirsty...
Great list you have here
Iced tea or coffee. Love them both.
Unsweetened iced tea with lemon and plain ice water are tied for first choice. Lemonade (with a lot of lemon and very little sugar) and iced coffee a strong second.
I've learned so much here! I love iced tea and iced coffee. Water is the best for summer heat too. :)
Very nice!! I love lemonade, it's my favorite!
I am a bit of a boring sod on this one as it is water and Himalayan rock salt all day, everyday for me. These are wonderful recipes and the raspberry is a must try! Really enjoyable reading. With thanks and appreciation. Cathi x
My sister makes the best Iced Nescafe with hazelnut gelato (Giada style) to make your head spin...Heavenly O.o
great idea :P nice lens !
A nice cool glass of water is still my favorite. Or maybe a chilled glass with beer and clamato juice. A really classy lens. You have put lots of work into it. Thanks for the great experience.
I suppose beer is out of the question, right? I vote for lemonade. And very refreshing lens, by the way, thumbs up!
feeling thirsty, like to try some
Fun lens.
I prefer just liquid drinks that are easy to drink like iced tea and lemonade. Of course if it's after a great workout, you can't beat water with ice.
My favorite non-alcoholic strawberry drink is strawberry lemonade! Nothing cuts summer heat better!
Here's the recipe I use:
http://www.strawberries-for-strawberry-lovers.com/...
Making this lens was a good idea! :)
kefir? Sure hope it's not like...(never mind.)
So thirsty right now after reading this! Nice lens!
What a fun lens. I hadn't even thought to add mint or sparkling water to lemonade for that bonus fizz factor. I need to broaden my horizons and this lens has sparked a few ideas. Thanks!
I was here. SQUIDOO's policy says as a courtesy, inform the lensmaster if you chose their lens as a Related or Featured lens at one of your lenses. This lens was chosen as a Related Lens for my lens, "Everyday Exotic Spices". I figure spicy food makes people thirsty. (Smile!)
Wow, love this lens! So many great choices. I enjoy making fresh lemonade and throwing it into the blender with a few frozen strawberries and some ice cubes. Makes for a cool and icy treat. I also make smooties with some OJ, bananas, frozen strawberries & raspberries and ice cubes in the blender. Mmmmmmmmmm! And I gave up pop, so Zevia is my favorite canned summer drink.
Great lens. My favorite tea in summer is Bubble Tea or also called Pearl Milk Tea.
Massively awesome! You are a gifted person!
Awesome selections here - though now I'm a tad bit thirsty....
Love these drinks...feel cool.
Love these drinks...feel cool.
Great lens! I like the idea of including polls after some of the treats. I was quite surprised with #10 - water with ice. I never thought you'd include it on the list.
I love summer drinks! I don't have just one favorite but like to change it up depending on my mood and also when different fruits are in season.
I really don't like hot tea at all but could drink gallons of cold tea during the summer.
You have a nice selection of recipes and with summer right around the corner, they will come in handy.
Very nice collection of summer drinks!
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