5 Best Summer Refreshing Drinks To Beat The Heat In A Sweet Way

Hot summer days call for refreshing drinks. Whip up these family- and figure-friendly summer beverages for a sweet way to cool down. Not only are they light, bright and refreshing, but take only 5-10 minutes to prepare. And they are just what you will want in your glass when the weather heats up.

Watermelon slushie

All you need

• 8 cups 1-inch seedless watermelon cubes, frozen
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 jalapeño, halved and seeded
• Mint sprigs and watermelon wedge, for garnish

Let’s start

• Process watermelon, lime juice, honey, and jalapeño in a blender until smooth.
• Serve over ice.
• Garnish with mint sprigs and watermelon wedge.

Cucumber, fennel, and lemon spritzer

All you need

• 2 large cucumbers
• 1 large fennel bulb
• 2 cups club soda
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
• Lemon-peel strips and small fennel fronds, for garnish

Let’s start

• Juice cucumbers and fennel in an electric juicer.
• Transfer the juice to a large pitcher.
• Stir in club soda, honey, lemon juice, and salt.
• Serve over ice.
• Garnish with lemon-peel strips and fennel fronds.

Berry-lime liquado

All you need

• 1 1/2 cups strawberries
• 1 1/2 cups blueberries
• 1 cup ice
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar or sugar
• Fresh mint for garnish

Let’s start

• Purée strawberries and blueberries in a blender.
• Place in a fine mesh sieve over a bowl, and strain juice into bowl to discard seeds and pulp.
• Rinse blender, pour in juice and blend with 1 cup ice, 1 cup water, lime juice, and agave nectar or sugar.
• Serve over ice, and garnish with mint.

Pomegranate lemonade

All you need

• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 cup pomegranate juice
• 2 1/2 cups water
• Crushed ice

Let’s start

• Combine sugar and lemon juice. Stir well to dissolve.
• Pour lemon mixture and pomegranate juice into a pitcher, and stir well.
• Add 2 1/2 cups water. Pour into 4 (8-ounce) glasses.
• Add crushed ice as needed to each glass.

Raspberry lemonade

All you need

• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon fresh or frozen raspberry purée, strained
• Ice cubes

Let’s start

• In a bowl, whisk 2 cups water with the lemon juice, sugar, and raspberry purée until the sugar is dissolved.
• Fill 4 glasses half-full with ice, and pour the lemonade over the ice to chill it.
• Serve cool.