Cool Down with These 5 Healthy Summer Drinks

There’s nothing better than a refreshing drink on a hot day. Make that drink with therapeutic herbs and fruits, and you can truly cool your body from the inside out. Here are five of our favorite healthy summer drinks that hydrate and soothe.

These recipes are the perfect, fun way to learn about herbs and share them with your friends and family this summer!

1. Hibiscus-Mint Cooler 

This gorgeous hibiscus tea will quench your thirst on a hot summer day. Spearmint is a cooling aromatic plant, while hibiscus gives us a refreshing tangy taste. Feel free to throw in other fresh herbs from the garden, too – perhaps a sprig of lavender, some violet leaves, or a few sprigs of lemongrass.

Get the recipe for Hibiscus-Mint Cooler »

2. Peach Smoothie 

Peaches, like most foods, can be an important part of our medicine chest. When you eat a peach you experience moistness and coolness. That makes peaches a great remedy for the heat of summer. Cool your body down with this yummy peach and coconut milk smoothie.

Get the recipe for Peach Smoothie »

3. Watermelon and Strawberry Agua Fresca 

Watermelon is a great way to stay hydrated. Besides offering moisture in its juicy fruit, it is also high in potassium, which helps to maintain our body’s electrolyte balance. Blended with strawberries and mint, this watermelon drink recipe is cooling and delicious.

Get the recipe for Watermelon and Strawberry Agua Fresca »

4. Fermented Blueberry Soda 

Lacto-fermented sodas are full of vitamins, minerals, and healthy microorganisms that help our digestion. These sodas truly are a wonderful health tonic to add to your diet! You can use this recipe with any seasonal fruits like blueberries, blackberries, or peaches.

Get the recipe for Fermented Blueberry Soda »

5. Cooling Thandai 

Thandai is a milky, nutty, floral and faintly spicy beverage from India. The prefix thand in Hindi literally translates to cold in English. This delicious drink is laden with cooling and soothing botanicals like melon seeds, cardamom, rose, and saffron.

What are your favorite healthy summer drinks? Leave a comment to share!

Get the recipe for Cooling Thandai »

Written by Emily Han

Emily Han is a naturalist, teacher, and communicator focusing on intersections of nature, culture, and food. Emily is the author of Wild Drinks and Cocktails and co-author of Wild Remedies: How to Forage Healing Foods & Craft Your Own Herbal Medicine. See more at EmilyHan.com.