As temperatures soar and the will-to-live wanes, there is something that promises to get us through this unbearable heat.
No, it’s not a pair of Chanel espadrilles, or a Balenciaga beach ball. It’s something versatile, accessible and varied. When it’s this oppressively stuffy outside and in, the only real pleasure is to quench the unavoidable thirst. I’m talking about drinking — and I don’t just mean alcohol. Here are five cooling liquids which do that better than the rest:
Mango Lassi
Lassis originated in India 1000 BC. The drink is widely believed to have Ayurvedic healing properties and can calm both stomach and mind. A few sips of this tropical dream (which cools and replenishes your system with electrolytes that fight dehydration) and you’ll forget all about the Met Office’s ‘danger to life’ heat warning.
How to make
Place 2 mangos, 250g of natural yogurt, 75g of honey, 1 lime and a pinch of ground cardamom into a blender and blitz for around 30 seconds. Serve over ice.
Pina Colada
This widely mocked tropical drink is back, and thank goodness. Thanks to climate change, it’s also increasingly appropriate to drink it in Britain. If the chilly sweetness of the lassi appeals to you but you need something a little stronger to relax the nervous system, the Pina Colada is the drink for you . It has pineapple juice, is rich in manganese, copper and vitamins, and coconut milk, which is restorative and beneficial to the internal organs. It also has rum, which is the best spirit for heat.
How to make
Combine ¼ of a fresh pineapple, 2 tablespoons of coconut cream, 50ml of fresh pineapple juice and 50ml of white rum and blend. Serve in a long, chilled glass. Add a triangle of pineapple to garnish the side of the glass if you’re feeling extra fruity.
J20
The sugary juice drink was launched in the late 1990s for people who wanted to go to bars and clubs but didn’t want alcohol. However, it rapidly became a staple for British children forced to endure hours in the pub with their parents. Children suffer more from the heat than we do. The health benefits are limited (it’s laden with artificial ingredients and added sugar) but the limited edition flavors are harder to come by than an invitation on board Elton John’s yacht. J20’s can be purchased in any leading supermarket and are much better for you than beer.
How to make
Buy a bottle. Open it. Pour into glass or directly into mouth. Swallow.
Frosé
Snobs bemoan the fashion for pale rosé. Upset them even more by freezing the stuff. It’s simple, straightforward and a 2022 take on the wine widely viewed in France as ‘the poorer cousin’.
How to make
Just take a well-priced bottle — this Sophie Valrose one is perfectly good, or Yapp brothers have a very solid house one — shove it in the freezer for half an hour and you will have created an icy object of such beauty it will rival an artwork by Azuma Makoto. Don’t drunkenly leave it in the freezer overnight and come down to an exploded disaster in the morning. La vie en rosé.
Tap water
You don’t need anything from any spring — or the French alps. The H20 in the tap in your kitchen is vegan, gluten and cruelty free, low in emissions and, even as utility bills rocket, still cheaper far than anything else. When all is said and drunk, it remains the most refreshing substance on earth.
How to make
There’s no need for fancy filters. Ice is overrated. Simply find a large glass bottle with a lid, fill it from tap, refrigerate and drink. Sit down, or stand, and enjoy.
Comments