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3 DIY Cool Drinks To Try This Summer

Maybe give lemonade a break this summer and try new bright flavours?

BY Naledi K

Sep 22, 2021, 07:07 AM

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Growing up, we knew that the festive season was the one season in our lives where we would drink a lot of Coca Cola, Oros or lemonade. This was not only due to the often extreme December heat but also to the fact that due to the holidays, a lot more people would come to visit our house. In Black households, you do not allow guests - no matter how unannounced they may be - to come and go without offering them something to eat and a drink to wash it up.

So Coca Cola, Oros (a type of orange squash you dilute to make juice) or lemonade were the go-to options, but since then we know and love the fact that we’re open to new ideas and flavours and this December, you are going to be the host with the most when you serve these cool DIY drinks.

There is so much you can do to quench your guests’ thirst and while flavour profiles may differ and you may need to account for your diabetic guest (little to no sugar in their drinks) or for your alcoholic friends (mocktails don’t work for that bunch)the most important details to this particular assignment is that the drink must be cool and be packed with flavour.

So instead of the usual this summer, why not try these equally cool and delicious options:

Body Gold Strawberry Smoothie by Glam Foodie SA

Prep Time: 5 mins
Serves: 1

Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 scoop Motherkindco Body Gold Collagen
ice

Method:

Gemer aka Ginger Beer by The Lazy Makoti

Ingredients:
2 litres water
2 cups sugar
1 t cream of tartar
A handful raisins
Peel of 1 pineapple
1 t instant dry yeast
2 T ginger powder

Method:
Pour 2 cups of water into a pot. Add sugar and dissolve over low heat, stirring regularly. Add ginger, cream of tartar, raisins pineapple peel and the rest of the water. Simmer for 10 minutes.

Allow to cool (about an hour) and stir in the yeast. Cover and leave to stand overnight. Strain through a sieve into a 2-litre bottle and chill before serving.

Peach Iced Tea by Glam Foodie SA

Preparation: 5 minutes
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
​6 Teabags Five Roses Peach & Apricot Fruit Flavoured Infusion flavoured/infusions products)
500ml boiling water
​250 ml sparkling water/sugar-free lemonade, chilled
​1 tablespoon honey (if desired)
​1.5L jug of ice, to serve
​Mint leaves, peach slices, raspberries and strawberries to serve.

Method:
1. Place the teabags into the jug, add boiling water and honey, stir to combine and allow to seep for 4 minutes
2. Remove the teabags and pour the tea over the ice
3. In the serving jug, add the sparkling water/lemonade, mint, and fruit pieces
4. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Now... the above drinks are non-alcoholic and they are just some of the local faves but there are a lot more options including mocktails and alcoholic cocktails that you can search on the net and experiment with.

Have fun with your drinks this summer… Who knows there may be a mixologist laying dormant in you.


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