15 Refreshing Drinks You Can Turn Your Summer Fruits Into

Summer in this subcontinent can be, well, extremely painful. Most parts of the country don’t just battle harsh heat but immense humidity as well. During the season it is essential to up the fluid intake. Keeping hydrated is perhaps the best way to not feel drained all the time. Summer fruits like mangoes, papayas, and watermelons are the perfect solution to the blazing heat outside. They effortlessly keep you hydrated, cool you down and come with endless health benefits. 

The markets are flooded with a huge variety of summer fruits as we speak. So, why not toss them in a blender and make some refreshing yet healthy summer drinks?

1. Kiwi Mojito

If you need vitamins, antioxidants and dietary fibre in a glass, this kiwi mojito should be your first pick. And even though this fruit is sweet, it's low in calories. Now, that's a healthy drink that will save you from the scorching heat. 

Image Courtesy: The Mindful Mocktail

Ingredients

• 6 to 8 kiwis peeled and cut into halves or quarters
• Juice from 1-2 limes
• 1/2 cup simple syrup or sugar
• 4 kiwis peeled and sliced
• 4 cups of mint leaves
• 2 cups sparkling water

Steps

• Place the peeled kiwi pieces in a blender with the simple syrup/sugar and lime juice. Blend until you get a smooth puree.
• Next add some ice cubes, mint leaves, and kiwi slices to the crushed kiwi mix.
• Add the sparkling water or sparkling lemonade, stir gently and taste. 
• If done, serve immediately. 

2. Banana Berry Smoothie

Rich in tryptophan, amino acid and vitamin B6, bananas are classified as berries with major health benefits. However, when you add more berries to the mix, this smoothie will be a relief on hot summer days and a great help for the immune system.

Image Courtesy: Chiquita

Ingredients

• 1-pint raspberries
• 1-pint blackberries
• 1/2 mango (peeled)
• 1/2 banana (peeled)
• 1/3 cup greek yoghurt (vanilla)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 10 ice cubes
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 teaspoons powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Steps

• In blending pitcher place the raspberries through milk. Blend for a minute.
• Add in the ice cubes and continue chopping until smooth, 20-30 seconds.
• Pour smoothie into glasses and set aside. 
• Now pour whipping cream into a blending pitcher and add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Spoon 1/4 cup whipped cream onto the top of each smoothie. Garnish with orange zest if desired and serve.

3. Strawberry Cooler

Here's a fruit the not only smells like a fresh breeze but tastes like it too. When smushed with the goodness of lemons and mint, the turn out is a total reward during hotter days.

Image Courtesy: Veggiecurean

Ingredients

• 3 cups water
• 5 cups sliced strawberries
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tsp grated lemon zest
• Crushed ice

Steps

• In a blender, process the water, sliced strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice and zest in batches until smooth.
• Strain the berry seeds if desired.
• Serve in chilled glasses over ice. If desired, garnish with strawberries.

4. Mango Milkshake 

Mangoes are a total jackpot when it comes to health benefits. They are loaded with nutrients and vitamins like Vitamin A, C, D, iron, and calcium. A cool mango milkshake is sure to leave you feeling much more energetic.

Image Courtesy: FirstCry Parenting

Ingredients

• 2 cups chopped mangoes
• 1 & 1/2 cup chilled milk
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 20-25 cashews & almonds or 4 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp sliced nuts for garnishing

Steps

• Add all the ingredients to the blender. Make sure you either use cashews & almonds or vanilla ice cream. 
• Blend until smooth. 
• Pour the shake in a glass, garnish with sliced nuts and serve cold.

5. Papaya- Banana Smoothie 

The combination of papaya and banana is a great source of vitamins. This smoothie will not only bring a smile to your face, but will also ensure your tummy is happy. 

Image Courtesy: Billion Cheers

Ingredients

• Diced banana
• Half a papaya - chopped
• 1 cup of milk
• 1/4 cup of yoghurt
• Sugar (to taste)

Steps

• Toss all the ingredients in a mixer and blend until smooth.
• Add some ice, garnish with mint leaves and serve chilled. 

6. Figs Juice

An excellent source of vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and potassium, figs aren't usually the first choice when it comes to summer fruits. However, with such high health value, fig juice can be of great help during the pandemic and the warm season. 

Image Courtesy: Styles At Life

Ingredients

• 5 figs
• 1/2 lime
• Ice

Steps

• Peel the figs and put them in the blender with the lime juice and the water.
• Grind well and serve. (As figs are already sweet, there is no need to add sugar)

7. Peach Ice Tea

Ice tea lovers? Here's a refreshing summer drink you wouldn't deny. Good for the gut and heart all the same, peach ice tea comes with double perks. The fruit provides nutrients and antioxidants while tea helps in weight loss and unwinding. 

Image Courtesy: Choosing Chia

Ingredients

• 200g granulated sugar
• 5 ripe peaches, 4 stoned and chopped, 1 sliced to serve
• 4 teabags
• 250ml water

Steps

8. Pineapple Mocktail 

Pineapples come with benefits such as anti-inflammation, boosting metabolism and burning calories. As a cocktail, it will keep the summer heat at bay and rejuvenate your soul.

Image Courtesy: The Mindful Mocktail

Ingredients

• 1 cup of pineapple juice
• 2 cups of sprite 
• 1 teaspoon of Roohafza (rose syrup)

Steps

• In a pitcher add 1 cup of pineapple juice, 2 cups of sprite and 1 tsp of rose syrup.
• Give it a thorough spin, add some ice cubes and enjoy!

9. Watermelon Slushie

Watermelon is a fruit containing about 92% water. This fruit is your best bet when it comes to keeping hydrated. A glass full of this slushie will send you to a state of absolute fruity coma.

Image Courtesy: zaykarecipes.com

Ingredients

• 10 cups Seedless Watermelon Cubes, frozen for at least 24 hours
• 2–4 tbsp Maple Syrup
• Juice of 1 large Lime
• 1/4 cup Fresh Mint or Basil leaves, loosely packed (Optional, but recommended)
• 1 1/2 cup Filtered Wate

Steps

• Add the watermelon, 2 tbsp maple syrup, lime juice, mint leaves, and water to a high-speed blender.
• Now add 4-5 ice cubes and blend until you get a slushie consistency
• Garnish with fresh mint leaves and serve. 

10. Muskmelon Milkshake

A good quality muskmelon is a blessing on a hot summer day. But for those who are always in a hurry, this simple muskmelon milkshake will quench your thirst and at the same time offer nutrients, you'd need to fight coronavirus. 

Image Courtesy: Vaya.in

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Musk melon, chopped
• 1 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup Cream (optional)
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup Ice (crushed)
• 1 scoop Vanilla Ice cream

Steps

• Put all ingredients, except ice cream in a blender jar and blend smooth.
• Transfer into a glass top with ice cream and serve chilled.

11. Apricot Froth

Apricot as a fruit is good for eye health and apricot as a frothy shake is an excellent beverage to keep the scorching heat of the sun at bay. 

Image Courtesy: Commissaries

Ingredients

• 1 can apricot halves, undrained
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup thawed orange juice concentrate
• 1-pint lemon sherbet

Steps

• In a blender, place apricot halves with juice, milk and orange juice concentrate.
• Cover and process until smooth.
• Add sherbet; cover and process just until combined.
• Pour into glasses; serve immediately.

12. Green Grape Smoothie

This smoothie is probably the healthiest out of the mix. Grapes are known to be a good source of fibre, potassium, and a range of vitamins and other minerals while spinach is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients. 

Image Courtesy: Fisher Nuts

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of green grapes
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 1/2 cup yoghurt
• 1 cup of ice cubes
• Honey (to taste)

Steps

• Blend all the ingredients until grainy smooth.
• Add honey or sugar to the mix, blend, pour and serve.

13. Lychee Lemonade 

Lychee provides a good amount of Vitamin-C-desperately required during this epidemic. Along with the vitamins, lychee is also a good source of nutrients required for the production of blood.

Image Courtesy: Dreamstimes.com

Ingredients

• 10-12 peeled and seeded lychees.
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2-3 mint leaves
• Chilled water
• Sugar (to taste)
• Ice cubes.

Steps

• Puree peeled and seed lychees, lemon juice and mint leaves. 
• Now add chilled water, sugar and blend. 
• Top it off with some ice cubes and enjoy!

14. Plum Mocktail 

Plums are a treasure chest full of nutrients, minerals and vitamins- providing endless health benefits. This mocktail recipe will help you through hot summer days and keep your heart happy.

Image Courtesy: Thyme & Joy

Ingredients

• 2 plums
• 1/2 cup of sprite or soda
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• Mint leaves  

Steps

• Puree 2 plums and add sprite or soda. 
• Give it a good mix and add lemon juice some mint leaves.
• Garnish with plum slices and serve chilled.

15. Orange Smoothie

Citrus fruit is the best way to go when looking for something refreshing and healthy. Oranges are usually turned into juices, however, as a smoothie, it's equally tasty, filling and all in all... satisfying.

Image Courtesy: Cultures for Health

Ingredients

• 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10 ice cubes

Steps

• Combine the first 5 ingredients in a blender; process at high speed.
• Add ice cubes, a few at a time, blending until smooth.
• Serve immediately.

Drink up!