While summer passes us by and the monsoon clouds overshadow it – literally as well as figuratively – I think it would be great to get our blenders out and make a few soothing, chilly drinks to the complement the cool weather outside.
In fact, for many, this week is probably the last one before summer vacations end and schools/universities/colleges begin in full swing. So why not celebrate this last week with some tenaciously fruity drinks?
WATERMELON AGUA FRESCA
Ingredients
Watermelon with seeds – 4 cups
Water – ½ cup
Sugar – 1/3 cup
Freshly squeezed lemon juice – ½ cup
Any white carbonated drink – 2 cups
Method
Add the water and watermelons into a blender and make a puree out of it by blending till the paste appears to be thick. Pass that puree over a sieve and collect it in a bowl. Now add sugar into the same bowl and stir it till it has dissolved completely. This could be ensured by dripping a spoonful of the mixture back into the bowl – no sugar crystals should be seen.
Then, add the carbonated drink to it and stir. Your Agua Fresca is ready to be served!
Always remember, garnishing is the key to make even bland tasting drinks visually stunning. So don’t forget to add extra cubes of watermelon into the glass before serving!
RASPBERRY DELIGHT WITH ROSE SCENT
Ingredients
Strawberries – 200 grams (all should cut into half)
Caster sugar – 100 grams
Rose water – 4-5 tbsp
Chilled white carbonated drink – 2 ½ glasses
Method
It is as easy as it could get. You only need to puree the strawberries with rose water and add sugar to it. Then pour equal quantity of the puree into your serving glasses and top it up with the carbonated water. Make sure to serve it on the rocks. For garnishing, set some fresh rose petals floating on the top. On that note, I would like to mention that it can even serve as an appropriate Valentine’s Day drink too.
MOCHA WITH CHOCOLATE AND VANILLA ICE CREAM
Ingredients
Milk – 2 cups
Coffee – 3 tbsp
Vanilla ice cream – 1 scoop
Chocolate ice cream – 1 scoop
Chocolate chips – ½ cup
Chocolate syrup and white chocolate chips for garnishing
Ice
Method
Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Then take any serving glass, preferably take a longer one, and with the help of a spoon, drip chocolate syrup on its inner sides. Add the contents of the blender into the glass and garnish it with white chocolate chips. Or even leftover chocolate chips can be used for garnishing. Coffee powder can also be used.
These drinks can be a great way to freshen up your mood and take you on a roller-coaster ride of exciting flavors!
