Summer essential: Keep yourself hydrated at all times with these flavorsome drinks

The summer is upon us! The sugarcane stalls to ice popsicles are a nostalgic memory that every summer brings us. The cooler and air conditioners become our best friends during this season. Summer heat can be harsh in most parts of India. As we step into summer, it is important to take care of ourselves and adjust according to the climatic changes. The most important thing is hydration.  Keeping hydrated cools down our body and maintains the water loss in summer. But drinking just water can become boring. These lip-smacking summer drinks will tantalize your taste buds and make sure you stay hydrated.

Here is a list of 10 cooling drinks that are a must-try this summer.

Citrus Detox Water

This is one of the best options if water is not your go-to stay hydrated. Detox water is fruit flavor-infused water. Detox water is said to have many health benefits as well. Dieticians and fitness freaks swear by detox water to aid weight loss and for clear skin. Adding citrus fruits adds the summer feel, taste and contains many nutrients.

Take a clean glass jar. Add ice, pieces of lime, orange, grapefruit, and some mint leaves. Pour cold water onto it. Leave it for 3 hours before you drink it. You can drink this tasty water all through the day.

Buttermilk

Indian households never run out of curd products. Buttermilk is one of the best cooling drinks to beat the summer heat. It is a known remedy to prevent dehydration. Apart from this, it has many health benefits such as controlling blood sugar to preventing constipation. You can make it easily with ingredients available at home

Take two spoons of thick curd and froth it. To this add a pinch of salt, some chopped onions, and mint leaves. Add water according to how thick you want it. Drink this after dinner to better digestion.

Lychee Chia Seed Juice

This south Asian wonder as fruit is usually harvested during the summer months. . Lychee was the favorite among Chinese rulers. It is delicious and is a good source of Vitamin C. During summers it is easily available in the markets. And when you add chia seeds it makes a powerhouse of nutrients.

To make Lychee chia seed juice, peel the Lychees and blend the white pulp. Make sure to cut off the non-edible portion of the fruit. In a glass add some ice cubes, pour the juice into it. To this add some chia seed and garnish it with mint.

Cucumber Melon Summer Smoothie

Cucumbers are rich in water content and known to have a cooling effect. They are a great source of hydration and also aid sunstrokes. They are packed with many nutrients as well. If you are someone who is bored of cucumber salads, this is definitely a must-try. Melon is another fruit with high water content. Both together are great for summers!

Peel the cucumber and chop it. Chop the melon as well. Blend both together. Pour into a pre-frozen glass. If you prefer, add some lemon juice to enhance the taste.

Hibiscus Basil Seed Iced Tea

Hibiscus tea is known as the tea of the Gods. In ancient Egypt, Pharaohs drank hibiscus tea. The Hibiscus flower in itself does not have cooling properties but is high in nutrition content. When paired with basil seed is a summer delight. Basil seeds are known for their cooling properties. They are packed with nutrition and are known as a superfood.

Boil Hibiscus tea in plain water; add some sugar/honey to the concoction. Once it reaches boiling point, cool it and freeze. Soak basil seeds in water overnight. Take a glass to add soaked basil seeds and ice. Pour the concoction on top of it. It is as tasty as it gets.

Mint Orange Juice

Orange as citrus is a favorite during the summer. Though it is not harvested during summer, it is liked for its zesty and fresh flavor. Orange juice has high vitamin C content. This is great for skin damage during summer due to heat. It aids in digestion as well

To make Mint orange juice, squeeze out some fresh orange juice. To this add, some mint leaves and voila!

Mango Panna

Mango Panna is a local mango juice that is an excellent cooler. It can aid sunstroke and dehydration. You can make it like a crusher and use it for a week. Mango Panna is made from raw mangoes. It is very tangy in taste.

Boil raw mangoes till it is well done. Once it is boiled, keep it cool. Extract the pulp of the mangoes and mix it with salt, sugar, and spices. Add two spoons of the mixture and pour iced water into it.

These are some flavorful yet fun drinks you should try this summer. They are great for your body and a tasty alternative to plain water. Happy summer!

Also read, Easy to make cocktail recipes.