Summer coolers

Planning a summer party soon? Or are your friends coming over for a round of board games? Whatever the occasion, drinks are a must in the sweltering heat. However, you don’t have to serve packaged juices and canned beverages when there are some really simple yet delicious drinks that you can actually whip up in minutes.

Pineapple mojito

This recipe is for a non-alcoholic pineapple mojito prepared using fresh pineapples and grape juice. If you want an alcoholic version of this drink, simply add 30 ml rum to the final drink and give it a good stir before serving. Both taste equally good.

Ingredients

   One medium sized pineapple

   Four to five fresh mint leaves

   Sugar – 2 tbsp

   Lime juice – 1 tbsp

   1/2 cup chilled grape juice

   1/2 cup chilled soda

   Lime wedges

   Ice cubes

Directions

Chop the pineapple, after removing the skin, into small bite sized pieces.

Then in a small mixing bowl, add pineapple pieces and muddle them using the back of a wooden spatula for a couple of minutes or until all pineapple pieces have broken into smaller pieces.

Then, add mint leaves and sugar and muddle for a few seconds to just bruise the leaves and release its flavors, and crush the sugar a bit.

Transfer the muddled mixture into a serving glass. Add ice cubes followed by grape juice, lime juice, and soda.

Give it a gentle stir and add a couple of lime slices, and your drink is ready to be served.

Spiced iced green tea

This twist to your regular green tea will surely have you addicted to it. The honey and ginger nicely balance out the bitter flavor of the tea and the mint adds in quite a nice touch too.

Ingredients

   1/4 cup ginger, peeled and sliced

   Three to six bags green tea (depending on how strong you like your tea)

   1/2 cup mint leaves

   1/3 cup honey

   One large lemon

   Six cups water

Directions

In a medium-sized pot, combine water and ginger slices. Bring to a boil. Once the water boils, remove from heat and add the tea bags and mint leaves. Cover the pot and let it be for about 15 minutes.

Strain the brewed tea; separating the liquid from the mint leaves and tea bags. Mix in the honey and juice from half of the lemon into the tea. Transfer to a pitcher and cool to room temperature before refrigerating.

Slice the second half of the lemon. When ready to serve, add one to two lemon slices into each glass, along with a few mint leaves and ice cubes. Once the tea has cooled, pour it into the glasses and serve.

Melon slush

Watermelon is the best fruit for the summer season. And, with just a little bit of effort, you can make a really tasty drink that is refreshing to boot and surprise your friends. It’s perfect for hot summer days when you need something to cool you from within.

Ingredients

   One medium sized watermelon

   Simple syrup

   Zest of two limes

   Juice of four limes (1/2 cup)

   Salt – 1/4 tsp

   Sugar – 2 tbsp

   Water

   Soda

Directions

Remove the skin and seeds from the melon and cut it into two-inch pieces.

To make the simple syrup, in a small saucepan, combine two tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/4 cup water, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and let it simmer until the sugar dissolves. This should take two to three minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the flavorings, everything but the melon, and let cool completely. Strain into a small bowl or measuring cup.

In a blender, working in two batches, puree half the simple syrup mixture and half the melon until smooth. Strain into a pot and repeat with remaining syrup and melon. Cover and freeze until set or at least for eight hours.

When ready to serve, using a fork, scrape the surface of the melon ice to create large flakes. Transfer to glasses, top with a splash of soda water, and serve with additional fruit, if desired.

Double apple iced tea

This drink is really easy and quick to make out of all the recipes we have shared with you here. All you have to do is brew some tea, let it cool, and add some apple slices. Really, it’s that simple. But the drink tastes like you put in a lot of effort into making it.

Ingredients

   Six to eight tea bags of your preference

   Apple juice

   Two apples

   A few mint leaves

   Lemon wedges

   Cinnamon sticks (optional)

Directions

Bring four cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and add the tea bags. Let steep, stirring a few times, for about four minutes.

You can also add in a couple of cinnamon sticks for a slightly spicy flavor while brewing the tea.

Discard the tea bags and let the tea cool.

Once the iced tea concentrate is cool, core and thinly slice the apples. Stir the apples and apple juice into the iced tea concentrate.

Serve over ice. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, mint leaves, and lemon wedges.

Basil berry bliss

This drink literally takes a minute to make. And it’s so delicious that you might think of it as dessert. Also the recipe is for a non-alcoholic drink, but you can just as easily make it a cocktail by adding a dash of gin or vodka to it.

Ingredients

   Berries of your choice (we recommend strawberries, mulberries, and blueberries)

   1/2 cup basil leaves

   Sprite

   Soda

   Lemon or lime – both wedges and juice

Directions