23 Recipes, Accessories, & Ingredients to Brew The Best Summer Drinks
After a long day of fighting capitalism, the patriarchy, climate change, and our own inner turmoil, baddies deserve a little treat and a moment to put our feet up. But when you are a sustainable baddie, your fun bevvies must be conscious of plastic waste, ofc! And the best way to limit your plastic waste is to make your silly little drinky at home. Whether it is a happy hour bevvie, a morning pick me up, or an afternoon treat, making your own drinks at home is fun, delish, and usually waste-free!
Contrary to popular belief, making the little drinks that give your life purpose at home is just as fulfilling as paying $10 to get one in a plastic cup! In the long run, you’re saving money, lowering your plastic consumption, and training to be a barista/bartender all at once! These recipes can easily be made at home using your go-to ingredients or from the brands we’ve included.
Drink Recipes
Caffeinated Drinkies - for the baddies nodding off in the afternoon
It’s summer, and it’s a hot one. Refresh your afternoon with a little matcha sparkler. A little sweet, a little bubbly – it’s the perfect thing to accompany your 2 pm Zoom.
An iced rose chai blends refreshing floral notes with spiced flavors. The aromatic essence of roses infused with the soothing properties of chai makes it a uniquely satisfying choice for the hottest summer days.
Thai iced tea is a bold, creamy, sweet drink. The blend of black tea, condensed milk, and spices satisfies both the craving for a cooling beverage and an indulgent treat.
We all hope that the days of Zoom happy hour are long behind us, but if your office or even your family is still trying to corral you to your screen every Friday at 5 pm for a little chit-chat, whip yourself up one of these bad boys.
Non-Caffeinated Drinkies - for the baddies with a little too much anxiety.
When you want a little something to help cool off in the heat of the afternoon or to spice up your next rooftop get-together, make these syrups and add them to sparkling water, lemonade, or even coffee! (P.S. This is a great way to use up extra herbs or produce!)
So you might be thinking…wtf? But believe us and Everything Alex Cooks, because this Cilantro Smoothie is delish and a great way to get in extra vitamins in your afternoon—another recipe to use some of those fridge greens.
This lemonade is for our sweet-and-sour baddies. Perfect for storing in the fridge in your thrifted glass carafe and pulling out when your neighbor stops in to borrow a cup of sugar.
Agua Panela con Limón is a traditional Venezuelan drink (also drank in other Latin American countries) that combines the natural sweetness of panela, unrefined cane sugar, with the zesty tang of fresh lemon juice.
Agua Frescas are a popular Mexican drink made from one or more fruits, cereals, flowers, or seeds blended with sugar and water. This watermelon agua fresca blends the juicy essence of ripe watermelon with cool water and a touch of lime for citrusy freshness. It's light, sweet, and hydrating!
Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Iced Tea) is a popular Latin American beverage made from water and dried hibiscus flowers. The tea is usually sweetened with sugar or agave syrup to balance the natural tartness of the hibiscus. Apart from being a delicious and hydrating beverage, agua de jamaica is known for its potential health benefits, as hibiscus is believed to have antioxidant properties and may support cardiovascular health!
Stock Up Your Barista Bar
If we are prioritizing avoiding plastic, then you gotta stock your kitchen and pantry with all the necessary (susty) ingredients and equipment for your perfect waste-less drink experience. Of course, a lot of these items can be found on eBay or the thrift store, but if you are struggling to source these used, check out our favorite susty brands below.
Equipment & Accessories
Um, are you kidding me? A MOOka pot? Need we say more?
Good Citizen is a Nashville-based coffee company and lifestyle brand dedicated to sustainability, conservation, and exceptional coffee. Through their Flora & Fauna Initiative, they support coffee farmers by investing 5% back into their land, ensuring healthy, biodiverse soil for future generations. Good Citizen's brewing accessories, like the Ceramic Tea Infuser Mug, are expertly designed to enhance the tea-drinking experience while promoting a more sustainable future.
Founded by Shiza Shahid, Our Place designs drinkware and products to make cooking and sharing meals more joyful, celebrating traditions from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Their drinkware is made from a portion of recycled glass and sand.
Susty Ingredients
This Black woman-owned superfoods brand is making crowd-pleasing matcha that comes in its very own metal tin, so there’s no plastic in sight.
If you are a baddie who likes a little supplement or a little extra somethin’ in your daily drinks, then Moon juice is perfect for you. Choose from all their products for loads of different benefits that all come in glass containers!
It might sound daunting, but it’s true; you can make your own kombucha at home. Don’t be afraid of the big bad scoby – he is your friend. This kit is plastic-free and very user-friendly. Get fermenting!
Founded by Spoorthi Kumar and Anand Patel, Hidden Grounds is a vibrant coffee and chai destination with multiple locations in New Jersey and Brooklyn. Their roast-to-order “Roaster Recommended” coffee subscription is tailored to your taste buds!
Royal Rose Syrups and Mixers craft their products in Maine using only certified organic, whole ingredients with no artificial flavors or preservatives. These small-batch syrups and mixers are the perfect complement to your bevvies, ensuring each element maintains the same quality, sustainability, and attention to detail as their grain-to-glass spirits at Split Rock Distilling, where they are made and bottled.
What’s your favorite summertime bev?