One of the simple joys of summer is indulging in ice-cold beverages. However, many commercially available drinks are laden with sugars and additives, contributing to unwanted weight gain.
Additionally, the cost of these drinks can quickly add up. To address these concerns, we've curated four delightful summer drink recipes that are not only easy to prepare but also free from excessive sugars and additives.
Honey Pomelo Tea:
Ingredients: Half a grapefruit, 200g honey, half a bag of rock sugar, and an appropriate amount of salt.
Instructions:
1. Begin by washing the grapefruit thoroughly, ensuring not to peel off the white flesh while removing about 1/3 of the skin.
2. Soak the peeled pomelo peel in salt water, shred, and repeat the soaking process to eliminate any bitter taste.
3. Place the pomelo meat in a pot, add water, and boil over low heat.
4. As the grapefruit flesh breaks into pieces, add rock sugar and half of the grapefruit peel, stirring continuously.
5. Once the water reduces and thickens, add the remaining grapefruit peel and continue stirring until the mixture becomes crystal clear.
6. Turn off the heat, let it cool, and then add honey. Stir well, bottle, and store in the refrigerator.
7. For serving, take out an appropriate amount and dilute it with warm water. Add ice cubes if desired.
Lemon Black Tea:
Ingredients: 1 lemon, 30g black tea, 20g white sugar, 50g rock sugar, 1g salt, etc.
Instructions:
1. Clean fresh lemons with salt, slice them and remove seeds to eliminate bitterness.
2. Fry black tea in a pot, adding a little sugar, until a caramel aroma develops.
3. Add 2000ml of mineral water to the pot and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, resulting in a vibrant black tea soup.
4. Once the heat is turned off, incorporate rock sugar and allow the mixture to cool to approximately 40 degrees. Then introduce lemon slices and a pinch of salt. Seal the concoction and refrigerate for optimal flavor and refreshment.
Mango Orange Juice:
Ingredients: 200g mango, 200g orange, 500ml drinking water, a little sugar.
Instructions:
1. Peel the mango, remove the pit, and cut the pulp into large pieces. Peel and chunk the orange.
2. Use a juicer to extract juice from the mango and orange pieces, adding an appropriate amount of drinking water.
3. Stir in a small amount of sugar, chill the juice, and enjoy the refreshing taste.
Grapefruit Jasmine Mango Sorbet:
Ingredients: 1 grapefruit, 2 small mangoes, 2 bags of sugar-free yogurt, 100ml jasmine tea.
Instructions:
1. Combine jasmine tea with grapefruit juice and freeze into ice balls. Slice a grapefruit, reserving some pulp.
2. Mix ice cubes and yogurt with mango pulp to create a mango smoothie.
3. Blend frozen grapefruit ice balls with a small amount of jasmine tea to make a grapefruit smoothie.
4. Assemble the drink by layering grapefruit slices, mango ice, yogurt, and grapefruit ice. Garnish with grapefruit pulp and mint.
These homemade summer drinks not only offer a delicious and refreshing alternative to commercial beverages but also provide a healthier option without compromising on taste. Enjoy the goodness of natural flavors and stay cool throughout the summer!
