When the thermometer starts pushing up into the 90s, my good attitude takes a corresponding nosedive. As a Western Oregon pluviophile, I prefer my summer heat in small doses, preferably bookended by big cooling rain storms. So here we are in the annual dog days of summer when the days and nights are too hot, there do not appear to be any rainstorms on the horizon, and my whole self is on a 24/7 quest to pretty much always have something cold, hydrating, and nourishing in my hand to refresh my body and soul. Not only does this wonder-beverage need to be a delicious vehicle to support deep hydration and body and mind wellness, but it also has to be easy to whip up at a moment's notice. Fortunately, I am married to a talented mixologist. When the weather gets hot, he makes sure to have all the ingredients on hand for easy beat-the-heat carbonated drinks that include herbal extracts and syrups for an added wellness boost.

Are These Nonalcoholic Drinks?

If you have a hard no thanks line on drinking any alcohol, including taking tinctures (extracts), please be aware that these carbonated drinks contain a very small amount of alcohol in the form of herbal extracts and syrups. In these recipes, each 12 oz. tumbler glass is primarily filled with ice and the carbonated water of your choice mixed with one teaspoon of herbal syrup and less than 1/4 teaspoon of herbal extract. 

So-Easy Fizzy Drinks Preparation

The base of these three recipes is the same. They require ice, the carbonated water of your choice, simple syrups, herbal extracts, and herbal syrups. If you keep these on hand, you will have everything you need to make a refreshing drink at a moment's notice. 

• Regarding carbonated water, I tend to use naturally flavored waters (grapefruit is a favorite), but plain carbonated water is fine if you prefer. Change up the flavors to change up your drinks. 
• You can purchase simple syrups pre-made, but they are also easy to make (it takes about 15 minutes, plus straining), and doing it yourself gives you flavor options. Properly made and stored homemade simple syrups will last at least one month.
• If you don’t want to purchase premade herbal syrups and extracts, you can make your own herbal syrups and extracts with dried herbs.

Refreshing Summer Drinks Recipes

Makes one 12 oz. glass.

Directions

1. Combine simple syrup, herbal syrup, and extract(s) in a 12 oz. tumbler glass. Stir.
2. Add ice to fill the glass and stir to coat ice in syrups and extracts.
3. Stir in 1 oz. carbonated water of choice.
4. Slowly add more carbonated water to fill glass, mixing as necessary.
5. Top with optional 1 tsp. lime juice and add a lime wedge. Enjoy!

Strawberry Aphrodite Fizz for Love and Passion

This drink celebrates summer love and summer berries with a strawberry simple syrup (made with fresh or frozen berries) and one of our favorite herbal extracts: Elder Ultra, which is a blend of both elderberries and elderflowers. We also add Aphrodite’s syrup to this one, to bring in herbs that promote relaxation, stress reduction, and connectivity. Aphrodite’s syrup is a delicious blend of damiana leaf, rose hips, kava kava, cinnamon, and vanilla.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. strawberry simple syrup (see recipe below)
• 1 tsp. organic Aphrodite's syrup
• 15-20 drops organic Elder Ultra extract
• Carbonated water of choice
• Fresh lime or bottled organic lime juice

To make a 1:2 strawberry simple syrup with fresh or frozen berries

1. Combine 3/4 cups organic sugar with 1 1/2 cups water and 1 cup diced fresh or frozen strawberries in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir regularly until sugar is dissolved. 
2. Turn down heat to low and simmer until strawberries are broken down, about 10 minutes.
3. Remove from heat, cover with a lid, and allow to cool to room temperature.
4. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove all fruit pulp. 
5. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Remember to label jar with name and date made.

Pro Tips

• Try other berries in place of strawberries in the simple syrup. Raspberries and red currants are great options.
• Wondering what to do with the berry pulp after you’ve made simple syrup? Although you’ve already cooked most of the nutrients from them into the syrup, they still retain some flavor. Use them as sweet additions to smoothies or as topping on ice cream or pancakes!

Gingery Hibiscus Fizz for Immune Support

Hibiscus is incredibly nutritive and is one of my everyday herbal allies year round, but I particularly value this perfect plant when it’s hot out. As well as providing a host of wellness constituents, hibiscus tastes wonderful and makes it a pleasure to meet my hydration goals every day. Hibiscus simple syrup blends wonderfully in this fizzy drink recipe with Mountain Rose Herbs’ Elder Ultra extract, and we’ve added organic ginger syrup for its delicious zing and support for healthy digestion.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. hibiscus simple syrup (see recipe below)
• 1 tsp. organic ginger syrup
• 15-20 drops organic Elder Ultra extract
• Carbonated water of choice
• Fresh lime or bottled organic lime juice

To make a 1:2 hibiscus simple syrup with dried hibiscus

1. Bring about 2 cups water to a boil.
2. Pour over 1/4 cup dried, crushed hibiscus flowers into a heatproof vessel. Stir to combine, cover, and allow to steep for at least 10-15 minutes, or until room temperature. Strain through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove hibiscus flowers.
3. Combine 1 1/2 cups strained hibiscus tea with 3/4 cup organic sugar in a pan over medium-high heat. Stir regularly until sugar is fully dissolved. 
4. Remove from heat and set aside to cool enough to handle. 
5. Store in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Remember to label jar with name and date made.

Gingery Green Tea Fizz for Mental Focus

Mountain Rose Herbs’ Ginger Syrup is wonderfully refreshing and has an outstanding flavor (it’s so good we love it drizzled on ice cream). It is particularly spectacular when combined with an antioxidant-rich green tea simple syrup. We’ve added ashwagandha extract to this recipe for its vitality-boosting and grounding constituents. Although often considered a warming herb, a touch of sweet, uplifting cinnamon extract balances this blend and supports the digestive, nervous, circulatory, and urinary systems.

Ingredients

• 1 Tbsp. green tea simple syrup (follow directions below)
• 1 tsp. organic ginger syrup
• 10 drops organic ashwagandha extract
• 7 drops organic cinnamon extract
• Carbonated water of choice
• Fresh lime or bottled organic lime juice

To make 1:2 Green Tea simple syrup: Follow directions above for hibiscus simple syrup. Infuse long enough to make a strong tea but not a bitter one. I particularly like Gunpowder Green Tea for simple syrup, but choose your favorite.

Want A Festive 100% Alcohol-Free Summer Drink?

Try This Berry Summer Mocktail Recipe with Cooling Herbs!

You may also enjoy:

• Ayurvedic Cooling Drink with Amla (Indian Gooseberry)
• Minty Lemongrass Oxymel (Without Vinegar) & Summer Mocktail Recipe
• 5 Iced Teas for Summer