Sip on and stay cool

After a long day venturing out in the hot sun, what else can lift one’s spirits than sipping a chilled glass of refreshing drink? Incorporating assorted fresh fruits, a few vegetables, herbs and natural sweeteners, health-conscious women bring out a couple of summer blends that provide the much required respite from the sweltering heat.

Interestingly, what makes these delectable blends most preferred is that it serves as an alternative option for aerated drinks. “One can bring out a fusion of flavours by experimenting with simple ingredients. Moreover, it aids in developing the habit of taking health drinks among children,” explains Subadhra Prasad, a dentist. This summer, she comes up with cucumber juice and watermelon ginger ale blends that lend a distinct flavour.

Cucumber juice : Peel and deseed one full cucumber and dice it off into cubes. Add a glass of water and one tsp honey along with cucumber cubes in a blender. Sieve the blend, squeeze out half a lemon to the infusion, mix it well and serve chilled..

Watermelon-ginger ale : Take a cup of diced and deseeded watermelon in a blender. Add neatly peeled half an inch fresh ginger rhizome, a tsp of sugar (optional), a sprig of mint and two glasses of water to watermelons and blend all the ingredients until it turns foamy. Pour into a tall glass and garnish it with a few slices of watermelon before serving.

Sometimes simple ingredients stacked in the kitchen cabinets work wonders. Sharing an easy-to-make energising drink, M. Anuradha, a homemaker, says, “Barley blend is one of my grandma’s hassle-free health drink recipes which I sincerely prepare even now. She says that this drink is packed with multiple health benefits and is best suited for summer.”

Barley blend : Wash half a cup of barley grains and soak them overnight in water. Boil the barley with the soaked water. Allow it to cool. Strain the barley water in a glass, add half a tsp of grated rock candy and a dash of lemon, mix well and serve cold with lemon wedges.