The urge to quench your thirst is at its peak during the warm days of summer. Also, it is the perfect weather to go for picnics and organize outdoor outings. Along with good finger food, it is necessary to create a good drinks menu as well. Here are recipes for five best drinks for the summer. These not only look good but are also quite refreshing. You can make these on day prior and keep them refrigerated.

1. Blueberry Ginger Mojito: This drink looks quite lovely when you make a whole lot in a pitcher. With its sharp lavender shade, it combines the flavors of ginger and blueberries quite well. In a pitcher, muddle a cup of blueberries (fresh, if you can find), lime wedges (of one lime) and handful of fresh mint leaves. Refrigerate this for a coupe of hours. Just before serving, add a cup of ginger syrup, 4 ounces of vodka and 5 ounces of club soda. Stir the mixture and pour into glasses filled with ice cubes. Serve with a garnish of blueberries and mint.

2.Frozy Naval: This drink is sunshine in a glass with its bright yellow shade. In a blender, combine concentrated orange juice, frozen peaches, orange liquor and schnapps. Serve with a garnish of a piece of peach.

3. Mimosa Sangria: This fruity drink is classy and quite easy to make. The recipe calls for three bottles of champagne, one-fourth cup raspberry liqueur, two cups orange juice, and one and half cup pineapple juice. Combine all these in a pitcher. Add one cup of diced pineapple, strawberries and raspberries each. Stir and chill it for a couple of hours.

4.Champagne Float Cocktail: This fun drink needs a little bit more effort. It needs to be made just before serving. However, the end result is quite delectable and the drink looks very Instagram-ish. Pour melted white chocolate of a shallow dish. In another dish, pour handful of rainbow sprinkles (any other flavor if you like). First, dip your champagne glass in the white chocolate. Then dip the rim in the dish of sprinkles. In the glass, add one-two scoops of sherbet. Pour champagne and serve.

5. Pina Colada: This sweet tropical drink is a favorite vacation drink. In a blender, combine one crushed cup ice, one ounce of coconut cream, two ounces of white rum, and 3 ounces of pineapple juice. Blend everything until you get a smooth creamy consistency. Serve with a garnish of pineapple slice wedged on the rim of your cocktail glass.

Along with healthy food, it is necessary to pay attention to what you sip as well. Drinking healthy is also essential to maintain a balanced diet and keeping your body healthy. Here are a few best drinks recipes or combinations that are healthy for you.

1. Warm Lemon Water: Having a glass of warm lemon water it on an empty stomach helps to detoxify your body early in the morning right after you wake up. Warm a glass of water and squeeze the juice of a half a lemon. Add a teaspoon of honey to make more appetizing. Honey also adds certain benefits such as regulating blood sugar levels and reducing gastrointestinal disorders. Enriched with Vitamin C, this drink helps to fight infections and common cold. Also, it boosts your immune system and balances the pH levels of your body. Add a dash of ginger for an extra kick. Having warm lemon water regularly is known to aid in weight loss as well.
2. Cucumber-Apple: This drink combines the coolness of cucumber and goodness of apples. This is like a magic potion for your skin and hair. It cleanses your skin pores and gives your healthy glowing skin. Also, it helps to improve the luster of your hair. Loaded with minerals such as potassium, magnesium and silica, this green drink of cucumber and apple is a good drink to hydrate your body. The cucumber also helps in relieving stress. You can add ginger and celery as well to load it up with extra nutrients.
3. Carrot-Beetroot: A combination of carrots and beetroot might sound unappetizing, but you will be surprised to know that the flavor is quite earthy and sweet. You can add a slightly spicy twist by adding some grated ginger. Along with a slight hotness of flavor, ginger will also add anti-inflammatory benefits to your body. Loaded with Vitamin A, beta carotene, folate and antioxidants, this drink will help you keep your eyes in good health and make your skin healthy. This combination of carrots and beetroot is great for improving endurance. If you had a heavy workout or if you are going out for a run, gulp this power drink down to raise your stamina up.
4. Liquid Celery: If you have intense sweet cravings, sip on this juice. It is a combination of celery, apple and a dash of cinnamon. This drink will help to get rid of the occasional cravings for something sweet. Also, this drink will replenish your body with essential electrolytes and alkalizing minerals. You blood sugar level will be regulated by the compounds present in cinnamon. This helps in assuaging sweet cravings.

Bloody Mary is quite an ironical drink: an alcohol-based cocktail that is known to to be sure shot cure for a hangover. With a splash of vodka and mix of tomato juice, lemon juice, Tabasco and other spices, Bloody Mary seemed to have come out of nowhere. Although the cocktail has no relation to Queen Mary I of England, its origin is quite uncertain.

One claim is that the cocktail was discovered by Fernand Petiot, a bartender at the New York Bar in Paris. The bar later changed its name to Harry’s New York Bar. Another claim is that Bloody Mary was first served in the Hemingway Bar at The Ritz Paris. Despite two conflicting stories, one thing is certain. The racy vodka-tomato based cocktail originated in the glamorous world of Paris. Also, it is related to Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was a frequent patron at the New York Bar. It is quite interesting that a cure for hangover was concocted in a bar frequented by a writer who was known to be a chronic alcoholic.

Also known as Red Snapper, the Bloody Mary can be given several twists and twirls by adding different ingredients. Here are four quirky twists to make Bloody Mary.

• Green Bloody Mary: This gives a complete 180 degree twist to the classic Bloody Mary. Red tomatoes are not required for this one. In a pitcher, mix tequila, tomatillo juice, green bell pepper juice, cucumber juice, celery juice, lime juice, salt, white pepper, celery salt, white balsamic vinegar, horseradish, green Tabasco sauce. Chill the mix in the refrigerator for a couple hours.
• Asian Bloody Mary: This one uses the super-hot Sriracha. Mix vodka, tomato juice, sriracha (just little bit, you don’t want to set your mouth and head on fire), wasabi, salt and pepper. Refrigerate the the combination. Serve with a garnish of a celery stalk.
• Smoky Mary: This one gives a smoky twist to your conventional Bloody Mary. Combine together mezcal, fresh tomato juice, lime juice, cucumber juice, celery juice, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, horseradish, Tabasco, chopped cilantro, a bit of liquid smoke and salt. Keep the pitcher in which you have mixed everything in the refrigerator. Serve with a garnish of pepperoncini, radish and olive on a skewer.
• Caprese Mary: This salad in a glass version of Bloody Mary is quite popular in a Chicago-based pizzeria. In a pitcher, mix together gin, basil-lime syrup, and lime juice, Shake all the ingredients together. Wrap a cherry tomato with a basil leaf. Garnish your Caprese Mary with skewer laden with the basil-wrapped tomato and a piece mozzarella cheese.

Do you know that the tiny Caribbean island of Puerto Rico celebrates a National Pina Colada day? Yes. You read that right. Every year on July 10, Puerto Ricans pay tribute to the fruity sweet cocktail beverage. Why? Because Pina Colada has its origin in Puerto Rico. The people of Puerto Rico are so proud of the cocktail that they have made the Pina Colada their national drink. And why should they not? The cocktail’s basic ingredients (coconut and pineapple) are abundantly available. The cocktail is refreshing and suitable for the eternal summer of Puerto Rico.

The best way to celebrate National Pina Colada day is to give interesting twists to the drink. The original recipe calls for mixing white rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice and crushed ice. All these are blended until smooth. The resultant cocktail has a creamy consistency, sweet flavor, and a fruity aroma. Whether you’re celebrating National Pina Colada Day or not, you can certainly make different variations of the tropical cocktail. Here are a few interesting twists to the pretty looking Pina Colada.

• Berry-Packed Piña Colada: This one is also known as Lava Flow for its vibrant reddish-black color that resembles lava. For this, you have to do away with the coconut milk altogether. Blend in strawberry daiquiri mix and flavored rum with fresh strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries.
• Staten Island Ferry: The basic flavors of this variation of Pina Colada is the same as the classic recipe. Instead of coconut milk, you use coconut rum. Fill your cocktail glass with ice. Over the ice, pour pineapple juice and the coconut rum. Unlike the classic Pina Colada, this one will not have a creamy consistency.
• Bourbon and Coconut: In this twist to Pina Colada, rum is replaced with bourbon. Blend bourbon with coconut cream and pineapple juice to have this very grown-up version of the tropical cocktail.
• Amaretto Colada: This recipe calls for mixing rum and amaretto by half and a half. Mix coconut cream and pineapple juice. Blend everything together. Top it off with a generous amount of cherries.
• Belizean Pina Colada: This recipe gives a Belizean twist to the tropical Pina Colada. Blend evaporated milk, white rum, pineapple juice and crushed ice until you get a smooth mixture. Pour it into a cocktail glass and serve with a slice of pineapple wedged on the rim of the glass.
• King Henry: this royal-sounding variation of Pina Colada has a pithy second name, Chi Chi. The origin of this name is unknown. In this, replace the rum with vodka. Mix the vodka of your choice with pineapple juice and coconut milk.

In 1979, British-born American singer Rupert Holmes wrote a single with a wacky title Escape (The Pina Colada Song). With its catchy tune, this song about rekindling romance through a shared love for Pina Colada and rain has been used in the soundtrack of popular movies such as Guardians of Galaxy, Grown Ups, and Shrek.

The lyrics of Holmes single are so simple that the words get stuck in your head and makes you crave for Pina Colada and go dancing in the rain or maybe somewhere out there to a beach. Perhaps to the idyllic beaches of Puerto Rico, where Pina Colada was first made? Just a year before Holmes wrote his song, Pina Colada became the national drink of the Caribbean Island in 1978. Puerto Ricans are so proud of their creation that they celebrate National Pina Colada Day every year on 10 July.

Made with pineapple juice, coconut milk, and rum, the cocktail has a Spanish-origin name. Pina Colada literally means ˜strained pineapple’. The credit for the original recipe of Pina Colada is owned by Puerto Rican bartenders: Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez and Ramon Portas Mingot.

According to one story, Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez made the first Pina Colada drink by mixing rum and coco lópez, that is, cream of coconut. This was in 1954 at Caribe Hilton Hotel’s Beachcomber Bar in San Juan where Perez worked. Another story claims that Mingot created the drink in 1963 at Barrachina Restaurant in Old Juan.

Perez and Mingot were given the formal ownership of the drink in a contest held all over Puerto Rico. However, despite these claims, the original Pina Colada has a far more interesting story. Roberto Cofresi, a Puerto Rican pirate, saw that his crew was losing their enthusiasm. To energize them, Confresi, who was also known as El Pirata Confresi, concocted a beverage by mixing coconut cream, pineapple juice, and white rum. Thus, this sweet cocktail has its origins in the 19th century

Who would have known that such an innocent-looking beverage with its sweetness and fruity aroma would have such a beginning in the wild wild world of Puerto Rican pirates? Apparently, the original recipe was lost after the death of El Pirata Confresi. According to official records, Perez and Mingot revived the drink, which was later made popular worldwide by the Rupert Holmes song. The next time you order a Pina Colada, you will know the innocent-looking tropical drink has had a far more interesting story than you would have imagined.

Lemonade iced tea is one of the most popular beverages. A quick sip of lemony iced tea can instantly freshen you up. Having lemonade iced tea is a great way to sooth stress and add a lot of healthy minerals and nutrients to your body. You can have it unsweetened or sweetened, although the version with added sugar is more popular among the two. However, to get the best health benefits of lemonade iced tea, you need to have the unsweetened version.

Lemonade iced tea can be made using green tea as well as black. Historically, the original recipe called for green tea. However, over time, black tea has come to be used popularly in homemade iced teas as well as in the commercially-made ones. In addition to lemon, you can add other ingredients  such as mint and ginger to increase the health benefits of your iced tea. Adding these will also make the drink more flavorsome.If you are not keen on using ice, you can just chill the concoction overnight or over a couple of hours and have it later. You can make pitchers-ful or just for two-one serving. Check out some of the popular health benefits of lemonade iced tea.

• Lemonade iced tea is refreshing and keeps you hydrated. Unlike carbonated beverages, it does not make you crave for more and does not add to your calorie intake. Without the sugar, lemon iced tea calms the nerves and helps you relax.
• Tea, in any form, is good for your general health. Loaded with antioxidants, it helps your heart and skin. The antioxidants work against cell-damaging free radicals.
• Lemonade iced tea has the added benefit of lemon. The astringent property of lemon helps in fighting gum problems and improves the health of your teeth. Also, the vitamin C content of lemon aids in fighting infections and illnesses such as common cold and sore throat.
• If you use black tea in your Lemonade iced tea, it will have a good proportion of manganese. Manganese helps in improving your metabolism and strengthening your bones. Also, if your diet meets the minimum daily requirement of manganese, you body˜s ability to heal wounds also increases.
• Whether you use green or black tea while preparing your lemon-flavored iced tea, rest assured that you will be helping your heart to stay strong. Tea helps to lower LDL cholesterol, which is known to be bad for the heart. Instead of having unhealthy soda-based beverages, you should have lemonade iced tea so that you reduce the risk of cardiac attacks.

The best thing about lemonade iced tea is that it can be had anytime, irrespective of the season. Easy to make and versatile, lemonade iced tea is the best healthy beverage you can find!

Smoothies are the talk of the town when it comes to health drinks that are tasty! Plus, if they are almond milk smoothies, then they are one of the most sought-after smoothies ever! Almond milk smoothies do not appear as simply almond milk smoothies, they are the basic ingredient of the smoothie but are concocted with other ingredients that makes it something unique. People try their hand at combining different elements- fruits or vegetables with almond milk and come up with their own almond milk smoothie recipes. You can replace your breakfast with these smoothies and yet your daily intake of nutrition won’t take a beating. When people mix and match the ingredients to conjure their own almond milk smoothie recipes, at times they are successful and at times, their smoothies would taste worse than their defeat. Here are some of the popular tried-and-tasted almond milk smoothie recipes that you can DIY!

• The almond milk strawberry smoothie: This is one of the most popular smoothies ever! This smoothie is made of fresh strawberries, unsweetened almond milk and ice! The strawberries are the ones that would appeal to your sweet tooth and also, is the source of rich antioxidants that strengthens your body.

•  Almond milk banana smoothie: This is the smoothie that would keep you feeling full for a long time. Blend the banana, almond milk and ice in your mixer and add some vanilla essence to it and in no time your almond milk banana smoothie is ready!

•  Almond milk and peanut butter smoothie: For the peanut butter lovers out there, this is the perfect smoothie to keep your love for peanut butter intact. Peanut butter on bread is not a healthy option since bread isn’t what you turn to when you wish to lose some pounds. So, blend some quick oats, unsweetened almond milk, peanut butter, frozen bananas and a few ice cubes in your blender and finally, enjoy your creation!

• Almond milk and spinach smoothie: If you are an ardent health enthusiast, this smoothie would suit you just right! Spinach is known for its abundance in minerals and fiber and blending it with unsweetened almond milk, bananas, ice, flax seeds and berries, you would have the perfect health drink.

These are some of the highly popular and easy to make almond milk smoothies. You can search other almond milk smoothie recipes online and get creative with the same. There’s no rule about not getting creative in the kitchen. So combine taste and health for the smoothies and make sure you blend them well!