The 5 Coolest Healthy Iced Drinks to Get You Through a Heat Wave

Photo: Cocoon Cooks
Going into the hottest months of the year, your go-to iced beverage can't be guzzled fast enough. But if you're completely over the taste of your herbal iced tea, can't shell out $6 for another cold brew, or are finding the taste of plain water boring, it's time to shake things up with a new drink to stick your straw into.

The following recipes are full of superfoods—think turmeric, matcha, and chlorophyll, among others—but don't let the flashy ingredients fool you: these iced drinks are still easy enough to make at home. (That's the sound of your wallet thanking you from the depths of your purse.)

Originally posted August 16, 2016. Updated June 30, 2017.

To shake up your hydration habit, take a sip of one these five thirst-quenching, super-healthy iced drinks.

Photo: Get Inspired Every Day
Photo: Get Inspired Every Day

Golden Milk Iced Latte

Don't let the name fool you; this creamy iced beverage gets its flavor from turmeric rather than espresso. And if you've never heard of golden milk, prepare to have your mind (and tastebuds) blown. The mix of milk (often coconut), spices, and a bit of (natural) sweetness makes for a new way to enjoy the natural anti-inflammatory superfood. Super-sweet mochas have nothing on the deliciousness of golden milk.

Photo: Green Evi
Photo: Green Evi

Matcha Iced Tea with Cucumber

Matcha wins the superhero award in the beverage category. The antioxidant-rich powdered tea is known to prevent disease, boost metabolism, and regulate blood sugar—and that's just for starters. Green Evi blogger Evi Oravecz adds cucumber and lime to her iced version, and sometimes replaces regular H20 with coconut water. Not even uber-trendy Cha Cha Matcha has that on the menu.

Photo: Gourmande in the Kitchen
Photo: Gourmande in the Kitchen

Lemon Goji Switchel

You'll want to have way more than a spoonful of this switchel, thanks to the clever combination of apple cider vinegar, lemon, ginger, goji berries, and a touch of sweetener. "The ginger gives it a nice zing, while the apple cider offers a crispness and tartness that’s nicely balanced by just a touch of sweetness from the honey and a hint of spice from the molasses," says Gourmande in the Kitchen's Sylvie Shirazi. A few reasons (besides the taste) to drink up: Switchel aids in digestion, is packed with vitamins, and quenches thirst. 

Photo: Cocoon Cooks
Photo: Cocoon Cooks

Blackberry & Lime Chia Fresca

One easy way to shake up your normal glass of water? Just add chia seeds and a bit of fresh fruit. "The benefits include healthy doses of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins from the blackberries, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from the chia seeds, and the detoxifying and alkalizing properties of lime," raves Cocoon Cooks blogger Rita Parente. 

Photo: Emily Pearson
Photo: Emily Pearson

Chlorophyll Gingered Lemonade

It's time to set up a superfood lemonade stand, because this take on the summer classic has come leaps and bounds from the sickly-sweet powdered version of your childhood. Lemon promotes alkalinity in the body, and chlorophyll has major detoxifying properties. And while it sounds like exactly what the doctor ordered to beat the heat, feel free to sip this beverage all year long to take advantage of the drink's cold- and flu-fighting properties.

Craving a cold coffee drink? This adaptogenic blended version will leave your usual cup of joe feeling very jealous. And if the summer heat has you itching to crawl into the freezer, these creative uses for ice cube trays may be calling your name.

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