Summer drinks to make at home: 4 recipes

Summer drinks: re­fresh­ing recipes for hot days

The summer heat brings us all out in a sweat. All the more reason for us to keep our liquid levels topped up by drinking enough. The best thirst-quenchers are water, isotonic drinks for sport, or a refreshing and delicious home-made drink. Our team shares their favourite summer recipes. By the way: if served in a pretty glass with a matching straw, the drink is not only a pleasure to the palate but to the eyes too.

Tip: For extra refreshment, add herbs like mint, lemon balm, lemon verbena or a slice of lemon, orange or grapefruit.

Summer drinks lemon iced tea

Ingredients for approx. 2 litres

• 1-4 teabags green tea or
• 1-2 tbsp. fresh green tea
• 1 good handful of fresh mint
• 1 lemon
• honey, sugar or similar to sweeten

Method

1. Infuse the green tea in a sieve in hot water. Add the mint.
2. Remove the green tea from the mixture after about 5-6 minutes, leaving the mint to infuse a little longer.
3. Squeeze lemon and add juice.
4. When everything has cooled down, strain the tea and store in the refrigerator.
5. Store in a preserving jar with a slice of lemon, a few fresh mint leaves and ice cubes. Enjoy!
   

The uncomplicated cranberry and lemon drink

Ingredients

• cranberry juice
• lemon juice
• mineral water
• mint and berries
  

Method

Mix everything together according to your own taste and enjoy.

The exotic: Coconut water and pineapple drink

Ingredients (for 2 glasses)

• 200ml pineapple juice
• 280ml coconut water
• 1 lime
• pineapple slices (amount is up to you)
• ice cubes
  

Method

Mix the ingredients and serve cool.

The Egyptian holiday drink will give you the travel bug

Slightly sour, slightly sweet and with a kick of ginger, the drink is a hit with the whole family.

Ingredients for 1 litre

• 3cm thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger
• a handful of karkade (dried hibiscus flowers)
• 1-2 sprigs of Moroccan mint (whole leaves)
• 1/2 - 1 fresh lemon
  

Method

1. Grate the ginger. Add extra ginger if you like it hot.
2. Place the karkade, mint and ginger in a heat-resistant jug, fill to a third with boiling water and leave to infuse.
3. After 10 minutes, fill up with cold water. Juice the lemon and add.
4. Add ice cubes and honey according to taste.

Non-alcoholic drinks

Orange juice and water have long ceased to be the only alternatives to alcohol. Abstaining from alcohol is becoming increasingly popular, whether permanently or only for a limited period of time.