Favorite Summer Mocktails

With summer just around the corner we thought it was the perfect time to share a few of our favorite and ultra refreshing mocktail recipes for you to enjoy. I absolutely love a summertime beverage that is simple to make yet feels fancy to drink. Each of these recipes can be modified to include additional antioxidant rich fruits and herbs to create your own spin on these foundational recipes. We hope you enjoy this refreshing and mindful way to care for both your body and mind this summer.

Strawberry Mexican Agua Fresca

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh ripe strawberries, sliced
• 1 cup sugar
• 8 cups cold water, divided
• 5 cups ice for serving, or as needed
• 1 lime, cut into 8 wedges
• 8 fresh mint sprigs (optional)

Directions

1. Mix together strawberries, sugar, and 1 cup cold water in a medium bowl. Cover the bowl and place in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
2. Pour chilled strawberry mixture into a blender. Blend on high until smooth.
3. Pour through a wire mesh strainer set over a large bowl; discard pulp and seeds.
4. Whisk remaining 7 cups cold water into strawberry juice until aqua de fresa is well combined.
5. Fill glasses with ice. Pour aqua de fresa over ice. Garnish each serving with lime wedges and optimal mint leaves.

Hibiscus Ginger Tea Spritzer

• 8 cups water
• 2 tablespoons peeled and thinly sliced fresh ginger
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 8 hibiscus tea bags
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• Sparkling water (such as San Pellegrino)

Directions

1. Make tea. Put water, ginger, and sugar into a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; stirring until sugar has dissolved. Remove from heat; add hibiscus tea bags. Cover and let steep 15 minutes. Pour tea mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl or large pitcher, set in an ice-bath. Stir in lemon juice. Discard ginger and used tea bags.
2. Chill. Chill tea mixture in refrigerator until completely cold.
3. Serve. To serve, pour hibiscus tea mixture into a glass with plenty of ice and top off with desired amount of sparkling water.

Best Homemade Lemonade Ever

• 1 ¾ cups sugar
• 1 cup water
• 9 medium lemons, or more as needed
• 7 cups ice-cold water
• ice as needed

1. Combine sugar and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Stir to dissolve sugar while mixture comes to a boil. Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Meanwhile, roll lemons around on your counter to soften. Cut in half crosswise, and squeeze into a liquid measuring cup. Add pulp to the juice, but discard any seeds. Continue juicing until you have 1 ½ cups fresh juice and pulp.
3. Pour 7 cups ice-cold water into a pitcher. Stir in lemon juice and pulp, then add simple syrup to taste and ice.