3 Fruit Drinks to Beat the Heat
No matter how much we love summers, there are days when the heat gets the better of us, causing fatigue and dehydration. In times like these, the best way to keep yourself energized and hydrated is through cool beverages.
You can easily make such beverages at home and quench your thirst on a lazy summer afternoon.
Cucumber Mint Lemonade
A summer classic; you cannot go wrong with everyone’s favorite lemonade.
A cucumber mint lemonade adds a twist to this backyard bliss and is a perfect beverage for all the garden parties and picnics that come with summers.
Start with a small pan, heat one cup of water and add a cup of sugar. Stir this mixture until the sugar dissolves to create a syrup. Keep this aside now to cool.
Take a pitcher (you can also use a jug or a bottle to suit your convenience), add mint leaves (crush a few so they are muddled), freshly squeezed lemon juice, sliced lemons, sliced cucumbers, ice, cold water and pour in the sugar syrup. Mix everything with a spoon and keep the pitcher in the fridge to chill until serving time. Easy enough!
Watermelon Punch
Embrace this watermelon season with a refreshing watermelon punch which will cool you off.
A watermelon punch will satisfy all your watermelon cravings and breathe into you a rush of coolness – just what you need in this warm weather.
Start with one seedless watermelon, cut a third of the watermelon from the top and scoop the flesh out. Make sure you have made a flat surface; you can do this by trimming the bottoms slightly.
Make a puree out of the watermelon in a food processor and sieve all the solid parts out. Cover the rind of the watermelon with a plastic wrap and store both the rind and the juice in a refrigerator to cool. After an hour, take the watermelon juice and mix it with three cups of seltzer, transfer the contents into the rind, and enjoy.
Hibiscus Strawberry Rhubarb Iced Tea
For all the tea admirers, give a little twist to your regular iced tea and try a hibiscus strawberry rhubarb iced tea. This is exactly what you need, when you fancy a tasty cold beverage bursting with flavours.
Add one quart of water with sliced rhubarb in a pan and let them simmer for 15-20 minutes until the slices are soft. Remove the pan from the stove and add hibiscus tea bags (2-3 tea bags, or more if you prefer it to be very strong).
Strain this mixture into a bowl and add one or two tablespoons of honey and a cup of water. Store it in a refrigerator until it is very chilled.
Take a pitcher, add sliced strawberries and pour the cool tea mixture over it. Stir the mixture gently and add more sliced strawberries for garnishing.
Carry this tea with you outdoors and enjoy the fusion of flavours under the sun.