Keep your cool with these easy-to-make cold drinks
Now that we’ve moved on to summer and the rising temperatures are expected to peak in April, working seems to be double the chore. So when people ask, “How the hell do you work in this heat?” It’s a pretty simple answer: we all down cold drinks while waiting for the weather to become bearable by the afternoon. If not that, we’re all conjuring up ways to keep cool by turning the AC on, bringing out as many electric fans as we can or hanging out in air-conditioned spaces (much to our wallets’ disappointment). Anything to rid the sticky and distracting discomfort that comes with the season, am I right?
If your solution to the sweltering summer is sipping on something ice-cold, we bring a list of beverage recipes you can explore.
Honey Citron Sparkling Iced Tea
Yuja tea or honey citron tea has gained popularity and is available in Korean marts and supermarkets. Just dilute spoonfuls of the sweetened jam with shredded rinds in water—cold or hot, your call. It’s usually the perfect hot tea for winter, but honestly? It’s a drink made for any season. For a summer twist, check out the video below by moonskycafe.
@moonskycafe try this as your summer drink. ☺️ #honeycitrontea #tea #tiktokeats #summerdrink #tiktokdrink #drink ♬ La Vie En Rose – Emily Watts
What you’ll need:
- Yuja tea or Korean honey citron tea
- Sparkling water, tonic water or lemon-lime soda
- Water (at any temperature)
- Ice
What to do:
- Add two to three tablespoons of Yuja tea into a glass of water. Pour enough water just to dilute the tea. Next, pour your fizzy drink of choice and ice to your heart’s content. Stir and enjoy.
RELATED: Cycling for Beginners: 5 Reasons You Should Try Cycling
Strawberry Milk or Strawberry Latte
Aside from buying flavored milk options straight from the grocery aisles, why not try making strawberry milk from scratch? These fruits are in season all summer long, so it’s time to take advantage of their abundance. Check out this easy recipe (and the rest of the cold drinks) by Marie’s Kawaii World on YouTube.
What you’ll need:
- 14 ripe strawberries
- 1/2 lemon
- Fresh milk (or any dairy alternative of your choice)
- 1/2 cup of white sugar
- Ice
What to do:
Chop eight strawberries into small pieces and add them into a bowl. Mash the chunks into smaller pieces. Once satisfied, pour in the half cup of sugar and squeeze in lemon juice. Mix it all until it reaches a jam-like consistency. Transfer the strawberry mixture into a saucepan and bring it to a boil using medium heat. Once it bubbles, set it aside and let it cool.
Add a couple of spoonfuls of the room temperature strawberry jam to a separate glass. Chop some more strawberries and drop them into the jam. Pour in the milk of your choice and ice to keep it cold. Stir to combine the jam and the milk before taking a hearty sip!
Strawberry Matcha Tea
Take your strawberry milk to a caffeinated level by adding some matcha. This is a great recipe for those who want to power through a sleepy afternoon. Kristy’s Homecafe walks us through it below.
View this post on Instagram
What you’ll need:
- Strawberry milk or strawberry milk tea powder
- Ice
- Water
- Matcha green tea
What to do:
Make your strawberry milk or milk tea, and add some ice to the glass. Then prepare matcha in a separate bowl. Pour it over the iced strawberry drink and stir.
RELATED: LA’s Famous Randy’s Donuts To Set Up Its First Branch In The Philippines
Shaken Espresso
If you’re a caffeine fiend running out of ways to level up your iced coffee, then Kristy’s Homecafe has more recipes for you to try out. This shaken espresso doesn’t require much time, energy and ingredients, which is easy for those on a tight schedule. Cold drinks don’t always take up a lot of time.
View this post on Instagram
What you’ll need:
- A mason jar
- Instant black coffee
- Simple syrup or sugar
- Water (room temperature)
- Ice
- Milk (or any dairy substitute of your choice)
What to do:
Combine instant black coffee, your sweetener of choice, and water to dilute it in a jar. Add ice to the mixture and shake until it foams. Add some milk and enjoy!
For more exciting recipes, follow Kristy’s Homecafe on Instagram!
Banana Milk Latte
Feeling a little more adventurous with your palate? Beat the heat and stay caffeinated with this slightly experimental beverage: Banana Milk Latte. A sweet pair to any savory snack. Nabong Cafe shows how they do this enjoyable drink below:
View this post on Instagram
What you’ll need:
- Simple syrup or sweetener
- Banana milk
- Espresso
- Ice
What to do:
Add the sweetener of your choice, ice and banana milk in a glass. Pour in the espresso and stir to combine all three. Serving it in a different cup is optional.
RELATED: Coffee Accessories For The Stay-At-Home Barista
Now that you’ve got an arsenal of new cold drinks to try out during the day, let us know the best one you’ve tasted! Sound off in the comments below.
Art Alexandra Lara
