March 01, 2023

TEN REFRESHING SPRING DRINKS RECIPES

Can you feel it too? Spring has been in the air for days! It's time to welcome the new season with delicious spring drinks. Whether you're enjoying the sunshine outside or working indoors, a moment of total relaxation is always welcome. Treat yourself to one (or more) of the fruity lemonades, smoothies, or cocktails below. Grab a glass, open a window for some fresh spring air, and read more about the tasty spring that awaits you. 

LAVENDER LATTE 

A visual and aromatic delight: the deliciously scented purple lavender latte. Take a well-deserved break while enjoying this soothing coffee variation. The lavender syrup gives a subtle, sweet, and floral taste to the coffee. Are you a coffee lover who is open to trying something new? Then the lavender latte is definitely worth a try! 

Ingredients (1 mug) 

  • 1 cup of milk (or plant-based milk of your choice) 
  • 1 tablespoon of dried lavender flowers 
  • 1 shot of espresso (or 1/2 cup of strong coffee) 
  • 1 tablespoon of honey (or to taste) 
  • Optional: whipped cream and extra lavender flowers for decoration 

Instructions 

  1. Heat the milk in a pan over low heat. 
  2. Add the dried lavender flowers to the milk and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. 
  3. Remove the pan from the heat and let the milk cool to room temperature. 
  4. Strain the lavender flowers out of the milk and put the milk back on the heat to warm it up again. 
  5. Make a shot of espresso (or make a strong coffee) and add it to a mug. 
  6. Pour the warm lavender milk into the mug and add honey to taste. 
  7. Optionally, garnish with whipped cream and extra lavender flowers.  

SPRING SMOOTHIE 

Start your day full of energy with this smoothie or drink it on a workday as a welcome pick-me-up! The combination of seasonal fruits and vegetables provides a hefty dose of vitamins and minerals, with almond milk adding a creamy counterpart. 

Ingredients (1 portion) 

  • 1 cup frozen mango chunks 
  • 1 cup frozen strawberries 
  • 1 banana 
  • 1 cup fresh spinach 
  • 1/2 cup cucumber, diced 
  • 1 cup almond milk 
  • 1 tablespoon honey 
  • Optional: ice cubes 

Instructions 

  1. Put all the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth. 
  2. Taste the smoothie and add honey if desired for extra sweetness. 
  3. If desired, add ice cubes for an extra cool smoothie. 
  4. Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve immediately. 

ICED MATCHA LATTE 

The iced matcha latte is a popular drink that graces many Instagram feeds with its aesthetic green colour. Matcha is a form of green tea that is ground into a powder and is known for its rich flavour and high level of antioxidants. The deliciously creamy texture and sweet taste of the iced matcha latte are a must-have on a sunny spring day! 

Ingredients (1 glass) 

  • 1 tablespoon of matcha powder 
  • 2 tablespoons of warm water 
  • 1 cup of milk (any type of milk works, depending on your preference) 
  • 1 tablespoon of honey or agave syrup 
  • Ice cubes 

Instructions 

  1. Mix the matcha powder and warm water in a bowl and stir until a smooth paste forms. 
  2. Add honey or agave syrup and stir until well combined. 
  3. Fill a glass with ice cubes. 
  4. Pour the matcha mixture over the ice cubes. 
  5. Pour milk over the matcha mixture until the glass is full.
  6. Stir the ingredients well. 
  7. Add extra ice cubes if desired. 

STRAWBERRY LEMONADE 

Strawberry lemonade is the perfect thirst quencher for the spring and summer season. The combination of strawberry and lemon  makes the drink the perfect balance between sweet and refreshing. Make it an eye-catcher by serving the drink with some ice cubes, mint leaves, and a strawberry on the rim of the glass. 

Ingredients (1 litre) 

  • 500 grams of fresh strawberries, halved 
  • 1 cup of sugar 
  • 1 cup of fresh lemon juice 
  • 1 litre of water
  • Optional: ice cubes, mint, and extra strawberries 

Instructions 

  1. Puree the strawberries in a blender or food processor until smooth. 
  2. Mix the strawberry mixture with the sugar and lemon juice in a large jug.
  3. Add water and stir well until the sugar dissolves. 
  4. Taste the lemonade and add extra sugar or lemon juice to taste.  
  5. Put the jug in the fridge and let the lemonade cool for at least 30 minutes. 
  6. Stir the lemonade well before serving and add ice cubes and extra strawberries for garnish.  

FROZEN MARGARITA 

The combination of sweet, sour, and salty flavours makes the margarita a refreshing drink. This classic cocktail made with tequila, lime juice, and triple sec is mixed with ice to create a slushy texture. Create a twist on the traditional recipe by replacing lime with a fruity flavour like strawberry or mango. 

Ingredients (4 glasses) 

  • 1/2 cup of fresh lime juice 
  • 1/4 cup of tequila 
  • 1/4 cup of triple sec 
  • 2 cups of ice cubes 
  • Salt for the glass and extra lime wedges for garnish 

Instructions 

  1. Rub the edges of the glasses with a piece of lime and dip them in salt. 
  2. Put the lime juice, tequila, and triple sec in a blender. 
  3. Add the ice cubes and blend until everything is well mixed and frozen. 
  4. Taste the margarita and add extra lime juice, tequila, or triple sec to taste.
  5. Pour the margaritas into the prepared glasses and garnish with a lime wedge. 

SPARKLING ROSÉ SANGRIA 

This gorgeous drink is easy to make and packed with fruity flavours. With its delightful taste, this sparkling sangria is the perfect drink for any occasion. Whether you're hosting an Easter brunch or girls' night, this sparkling rosé sangria is sure to steal the show! Serve it up in a big pitcher or carafe and enjoy this popular Spanish drink. 

Ingredients (4 glasses) 

  • 1 bottle of rosé wine
  • 1/2 cup brandy
  • 1/4 cup triple sec
  • 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup sparkling water
  • Fresh fruit (such as strawberries, oranges, limes, blueberries) 

Instructions 

  1. Chop up the fruit into small pieces and set aside. 
  2. In a large pitcher, mix the rosé wine, brandy, triple sec, orange juice, lime juice, and sugar. 
  3. Stir well until the sugar is dissolved. 
  4. Add the fruit to the pitcher and stir gently.
  5. Leave the pitcher in the fridge for at least an hour to let the flavours meld. 
  6. Just before serving, add sparkling water to the pitcher and stir gently. 
  7. Divide the sangria into four glasses and add extra fruit as a garnish, if desired. 

HIBISCUS ICED TEA 

This healthy drink is perfect for any time of day. The dried hibiscus flowers give the tea a floral flavour and are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. The characteristic red colour and slightly tart, fruity taste make for a refreshing drink after a lovely spring walk. 

Ingredients (serves 1 litre) 

  • 1 litre water 
  • 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers 
  • 1/4 cup honey or agave syrup (optional)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 
  • Ice cubes 
  • Fresh mint leaves (optional) 

Instructions 

  1. Bring the water to a boil in a pan and add the dried hibiscus flowers.
  2. Reduce the heat and let the flowers steep in the water for about 10 minutes.
  3. Remove the pan from the heat and let the tea cool to room temperature.
  4. If you want to sweeten it, add honey or agave syrup to the tea and stir well. 
  5. Add the freshly squeezed lime juice to the tea and stir again. 
  6. Fill a pitcher with ice cubes and pour the hibiscus tea over them. 
  7. Stir gently and garnish with fresh mint leaves, if desired. 

STRAWBERRY RHUBARB SMOOTHIE 

Maybe it's not a combination you'd immediately think of; strawberry and rhubarb. However, the slightly sour rhubarb is a surprisingly tasty addition to sweet strawberries! For this smoothie, you only need a few ingredients: fresh strawberries, rhubarb, orange juice, honey, and Greek yogurt. The latter adds a creamy texture and makes the smoothie satisfyingly filling. 

Ingredients (1 glass) 

  • 1 cup of strawberries, halved
  • 1 cup of rhubarb, chopped
  • 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup of orange juice 
  • 1 tablespoon of honey 

Instructions 

  1. Wash the strawberries and cut them in half. Cut the rhubarb into pieces.
  2. Put the strawberries and rhubarb in a blender and blend until finely chopped.
  3. Add the Greek yogurt, orange juice, and honey to the blender and blend until smooth.
  4. Taste the smoothie and add extra honey if necessary for desired sweetness. 
  5. Pour the smoothie into a glass and serve immediately.
  6. Optionally, garnish with extra pieces of strawberry or rhubarb.  

LAVENDER LEMONADE 

Looking for a well-filled jug of healthy lemonade to bring along to the first picnic of the year? We got you! You and your friends will relax completely thanks to the soothing and subtle effects of lavender. This drink is easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. Perfect for a relaxed afternoon in the garden or a picnic in the park. 

Ingredients (1 litre) 

  • 1 cup of sugar 
  • 8 cups of water, divided
  • 1/4 cup of lavender flowers
  • 1 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice 
  • Ice cubes 
  • Optional: lavender flowers and lemon slices, for garnish

Instructions 

  1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring 2 cups of water to a boil. 
  2. Add the sugar and lavender flowers and stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. 
  3. Remove from heat and let the mixture steep for 10 minutes. 
  4. Strain the mixture and add it to a jug or carafe.
  5. Add the lemon juice and the remaining 6 cups of water and stir well. 
  6. Add ice cubes and optionally garnish with lavender flowers and lemon slices. 

PEACH BELLINI 

This Venetian cocktail is a real winner for brunches, dinners, or any posh occasions because of its classiness and finesse. It's made in the traditional way with pureed white peaches and Prosecco, which is an Italian sparkling wine. The sweet and juicy taste of the peaches combined with the bubbly Prosecco make for a lively and airy atmosphere. 

Ingredients (4 flutes) 

  • 2 ripe peaches, peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup of sugar
  • 1 bottle of sparkling wine, like Prosecco or Champagne 

Instructions 

  1. Chuck the chopped peaches and sugar into a blender and mix until it's a smooth mixture.
  2. Split the peach mixture between 4 champagne flutes.
  3. Pour the sparkling wine into the flutes until it's just below the rim of the glass. 
  4. Gently stir to mix the peach mixture with the wine.
  5. Top each Bellini with a peach slice and serve straight away. 

Photo credits: © Food With Feeling, © Good Balance Food, © The Almond Eater, © Add A Pinch, © Getty Images, © The Speckled Palate, © In The Raw, © WINE2U