Summer’s here!
With heat and sun comes the increased need for hydration. As a child, my camp counselors often repeated the phrase, “A hydrated cell is a happy cell.”
Indeed.
Corny as it is, I still abide by that saying. Sometimes, though, I need an extra zip to my water.
Adding mint, frozen fruit, and the occasional splash of honey or maple syrup helps hydrate, cool, and give an extra boost of natural sugar to keep me going through long days in the field.
Here are my favorite herbal spritzers:
MINT + LIME
- Any mint will work here; I typically use a 1:1 blend of peppermint and spearmint
- Slice of lime
- Ice
- Seltzer
Roughly tear mint leaves and add to glass. Put 2-3 ice cubes over the mint and muddle with a wooden spoon. Pour seltzer over mint, squeeze a wedge of lime in, and enjoy.
STRAWBERRY SPEARMINT
- Spearmint
- Frozen Strawberries
- Seltzer
Roughly tear spearmint leaves and add to glass. Put 5-6 frozen strawberries over the mint and muddle with a wooden spoon. Pour in seltzer and enjoy.
*This is also delicious with flat water. For a more intense flavor, let the strawberry-mint mixture steep in the fridge for an hour or more.
BLUEBERRY PEPPERMINT
- Peppermint
- Frozen Blueberries
- Seltzer
Follow the same instructions for strawberry spearmint spritzer.
LEMON BALM + HONEY
- Lemon balm
- Honey
- Seltzer or Flat
- Pinch of Salt
Roughly tear lemon balm and muddle in glass with a wooden spoon. Pour water (bubbly or flat) over lemon balm, add honey to taste and a pinch of salt. Let steep for an hour in the fridge. For an extra zing, add a few slices of ginger.
GINGER MAPLE SODA
- Ginger
- Maple Syrup
- Seltzer
Pour seltzer into glass. Squeeze ginger through a garlic press to release the juices directly into seltzer. Add maple syrup to taste.
