On a warm day, there is probably nothing better than cooling down with an iced smoothie. I will show you my favorite drinks for a hot summer day that are cooling, energizing, but light at the same time. Sometimes a ripe fruit can add enough sweetness, otherwise honey or maple syrup are good natural sweeteners. Orient yourself by colour, consistency and taste to find out the best ratio of ingredients – and the perfect summer drink.

1. Mango Lassi

Mango Lassi, the cooling drink originating from India, is one of my all time favorite refreshments. It has only a few basic ingredients and tastes delicious. For a good Mango Lassi, the quality of the mango is crucial – make sure that the fruit is ripe and sweet. Balance water, ice and yoghurt so that the Lassi has a nice creamy consistency and a rich yellowish colour. A Mango Lassi is delicious if it has been cooled for some while. I like to prepare a pitcher, in this way you can enjoy an iced-cold Mango Lassi also on the next day.

Ingredients

• Mango
• Natural yoghurt
• Cinnamon
• Cardamon
• Water
• Crushed ice

2. Berry-Yoghurt Smoothie

Sometimes nature is amazing. When I made this dark berry smoothie for the first time, I was just marveling at the intense, rich dark color that the blackberries created. Due to the dark blue color, blackberries have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all fruits, which is well known for lowering the risk for a number of cancers. Moreover, they are very low in calories.

Ingredients

• Blackberries
• Natural Yoghurt
• Raspberries
• Maple syrup
• Crushed Ice

3. Date Shake

Dates are one of the very best sweet and versatile foods. They can significantly boost energy levels and revitalize the body instantly, which is of particular importance in hot climate. Invented in California`s dry Coachella Valley, the shake became the most famous refreshment and an iconic symbol of Palm Springs and the surrounding desert. If you want to enjoy a date shake, but you are not on a California Road Trip, I warmly recommend you this homemade variant. The caramel-vanilla-like taste of dates is delicious and the ingredient for a perfect summer shake.

Ingredients

• Milk
• Dates
• Cinnamon
• Crushed Ice

4. Kiwi-Melon-Lime

I have to admit that green smoothies have been very tempting for me. I have made several tries, but ended up with the conclusion that I prefer eating leaves instead of drinking them. I did not jump on the green-smoothie train, however, I still did not want to give up. So I was looking for “green fruits” that harmonize well together – and ended up with a Kiwi-Melon-Lime mix.

I used a Galia melon, which is a netted melon. The fruit, which is part of the family of cucumbers and pumpkins, has the ability to help weight loss and to boost the immune system. In combination with kiwi, lime and melissa, I finally created a sweet green smoothie for myself, which was both

–  healthy and drinkable.

Ingredients

• Lime
• Netted melon
• Melissa
• Crushed ice
• Kiwis

5. Strawberry-Mint Smoothie

There is no summer without strawberries. Paired with mint, as a cooling refreshment, they are even more energizing on hot days. This smoothie is versatile in use for example as a (hot or cold) sauce for a vanilla ice cream desert

– enjoy.

Ingredients

• Strawberries
• Crushed Ice
• Fresh Mint
• Maple Syrup

6. Orange-Carrot-Ginger

If I would have to name one health-booster smoothie, this would probably it. Oranges and carrots are both sources of Vitamin C. Ginger is widely used in ayurvedic medicine for a variety of health benefits. You can blend carrots and the smoothie will be more pasty. For a more liquid consistency, use carrot juice instead. I am sure, for this summer and next winter, this smoothie will supply you with

– enough vitamins.

Ingredients

• Oranges
• Carrots or Carrot juice
• Ginger (slice)
• Crushed ice

 7. Hibiscus Iced Tea

Iced tea is a great way to rehydrate on hot days. For hibiscus, pomegranate is a perfect match and it adds a berry-like sweetness. Pomegranate as an original native of Persia, is one of the oldest known fruits. The old Greeks named it a symbol of life. Many studies show that the pomegranate is one of the most beneficial foods for overall good health. A compound found only in pomegranates called punicalagin is responsible for the fact that this is the most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits, reducing the risk of cell destruction and cancer.

With a squeeze of lime, you add a slightly acid twist to a fruity summer refreshment that is definitely a glass of

– life.

Ingredients

• Hibiscus tea (cold)
• Pomegranate juice (unsweetened)
• Honey
• Lime
• Crushed ice

 

 Have a wonderful summer, but never forget

 “Life is like a smoothie, you get out what you put in.”