Gennifer Birnbach As the temperature rises and the sun shines brighter, it’s time to embrace the summer vibes and indulge in refreshing beverages that keep you cool and hydrated. While alcoholic cocktails are often associated with summer, there’s a whole world of delightful non-alcoholic drinks waiting to be discovered.
Whether you’re looking for a break from alcoholic beverages or would like some ideas to serve when you’re hosting gatherings with underage drinkers, here are several non-alcoholic drinks and recipes that are perfect for the summer season.
MOCKTAILS are the perfect alternative to alcoholic cocktails, offering a combination of flavors that excite your taste buds. From a zingy virgin mojito with lime, mint, and soda to a tropical pineapple sunrise made with pineapple juice, grenadine, and orange juice, the possibilities are endless. Don’t forget to garnish your mocktails with colorful fruit skewers or a decorative umbrella to make them visually appealing.
3 Mocktails to try:
WATERMELON MOJITO MOCKTAIL
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh watermelon chunks
6-8 fresh mint leaves
Juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon sugar or honey (optional)
Club soda
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a blender, puree the watermelon chunks until smooth.
In a glass, muddle the mint leaves and lime juice together.
Add the watermelon puree and sugar (if using) to the glass and stir well.
Fill the glass with ice cubes and top it off with club soda.
Give it a gentle stir and garnish with a sprig of mint or a watermelon wedge. Enjoy the refreshing watermelon mojito mocktail!
BERRY SPRITZER MOCKTAIL
Ingredients:
1/2 cup mixed berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon simple syrup (optional)
Club soda
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a blender, puree the mixed berries and strain the mixture to remove any seeds.
In a glass, combine the berry puree, lemon juice, and simple syrup (if desired).
Fill the glass with ice cubes and top it off with club soda.
Stir gently and garnish with a skewer of fresh berries. Indulge in the fruity goodness of the berry spritzer mocktail!
CUCUMBER COOLER MOCKTAIL
Ingredients:
1 cucumber, peeled and chopped
Juice of 2 limes
1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup (optional)
Fresh mint leaves
Club soda
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a blender, puree the chopped cucumber and strain the mixture to remove any solids.
In a glass, muddle a few mint leaves with lime juice and honey (if using).
Add the cucumber puree to the glass and stir well.
Fill the glass with ice cubes and top it off with club soda.
Give it a gentle stir and garnish with a sprig of mint or a cucumber slice. Enjoy the refreshing cucumber cooler mocktail
SPARKLING WATER INFUSIONS help you stay hydrated and can be enhanced by adding slices of zesty lemon, juicy berries, or aromatic mint leaves to a glass of bubbly water. Not only does it provide a burst of flavor, but it also adds a visual appeal to your drink. Experiment with different combinations and create your signature sparkling water infusion.
3 Fresh-from-the-Garden Sparking Water Infusions to try:
LAVENDER LEMON SPARKLER
Ingredients:
1 cup sparkling water
1 tablespoon dried lavender flowers
Juice of 1 lemon
Honey or agave syrup (optional)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a glass, add the dried lavender flowers and pour the sparkling water over them.
Let it sit for about 10 minutes to infuse the water with the lavender flavor.
Add the lemon juice and sweeten with honey or agave syrup if desired.
Stir well to combine.
Fill the glass with ice cubes and give it a gentle stir.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh lavender or a lemon slice. Sip and enjoy the unique floral and citrus notes of the lavender lemon sparkler!
CUCUMBER BASIL FIZZ
Ingredients:
1 cup sparkling water
1/2 cup cucumber slices
4-6 fresh basil leaves
Juice of 1 lime
Agave syrup or simple syrup (optional)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a glass, muddle the cucumber slices and basil leaves together.
Add the lime juice and sweeten with agave syrup or simple syrup if desired.
Stir well to combine.
Fill the glass with ice cubes and pour the sparkling water over them.
Give it a gentle stir.
Garnish with a cucumber slice and a fresh basil leaf. Sip and relish the cool and herbaceous flavors of the cucumber basil fizz!
BLACKBERRY MINT BUBBLER
Ingredients:
1 cup sparkling water
1/2 cup fresh blackberries
4-6 fresh mint leaves
Juice of 1 lemon
Simple syrup or honey (optional)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a glass, muddle the blackberries and mint leaves together.
Add the lemon juice and sweeten with simple syrup or honey if desired.
Stir well to combine.
Fill the glass with ice cubes and pour the sparkling water over them.
Give it a gentle stir.
Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint and a few blackberries. Sip and enjoy the delightful combination of sweet blackberries and refreshing mint in the blackberry mint bubbler!
ICED TEA BLENDS are a fun way to explore a wide range of flavors and combinations. Try brewing a pitcher of fruity herbal tea with flavors like hibiscus, peach, or raspberry. For a refreshing twist, infuse your tea with citrus fruits or a hint of ginger. If you prefer a classic approach, go for a robust iced black tea with a squeeze of lemon or a sprig of fresh mint. Iced tea is not only delicious but also a great source of antioxidants.
3 Ice Tea Blends to try:
CITRUS MINT ICE TEA BLEND
Ingredients:
4 cups water
4 tea bags (black tea or green tea)
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
Handful of fresh mint leaves
Honey or agave syrup (optional)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
Remove from heat and add the tea bags, lemon slices, lime slices, and fresh mint leaves.
Let it steep for about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and strain the mixture to remove the lemon, lime, and mint.
Stir in honey or agave syrup if desired.
Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
Serve over ice cubes and garnish with additional citrus slices or mint leaves. Enjoy the refreshing citrus mint ice tea blend!
BERRY BLAST ICE TEA BLEND
Ingredients:
4 cups water
4 tea bags (black tea or herbal berry tea)
1 cup mixed berries (such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Honey or agave syrup (optional)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
Remove from heat and add the tea bags and mixed berries.
Let it steep for about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and strain the mixture to remove the berries.
Stir in honey or agave syrup if desired.
Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
Serve over ice cubes and garnish with a few fresh berries. Sip and enjoy the fruity goodness of the berry blast ice tea blend!
PEACH GINGER ICE TEA BLEND
Ingredients:
4 cups water
4 tea bags (black tea or green tea)
2 ripe peaches, sliced
1-inch piece of fresh ginger, sliced
Honey or agave syrup (optional)
Ice cubes
Instructions:
In a saucepan, bring the water to a boil.
Remove from heat and add the tea bags, peach slices, and ginger.
Let it steep for about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the tea bags and strain the mixture to remove the peaches and ginger.
Stir in honey or agave syrup if desired.
Allow the tea to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled.
Serve over ice cubes and garnish with a peach slice or a ginger slice. Sip and enjoy the delightful peach ginger ice tea blend!
Whether you’re lounging by the pool, hosting a backyard barbecue or picnicking in the park, these refreshing beverages will keep you hydrated, refreshed, and ready to make the most of the summer season.
