These refreshing iftaar drinks are a great change from the usual sharbat and doodh soda

This year’s Ramazan may be a long one. Not only because of the long hours but mostly because of the scorching summer heat. While we’re fasting all day and enjoying delicious treats at iftaar, your body probably craves one thing – fluids. While we SHOULD all be drinking tons of water to hydrate ourselves it’s just sooooo much nicer to enjoy a nice, cold, refreshing drink at iftaar time. Some families (including my own) open their roza with red sharbat every day – it tends to get a little boring and monotonous.

So, to make iftaari a little more creative, here is a list of refreshing summer drinks and their recipes that you can easily make this Ramazan – and trust me you won’t regret it.

1. Strawberry Lemonade

To make this summery drink, take one and a half cup of fresh or frozen strawberries and three tablespoons of fresh lemon juice and purée in a blender until smooth. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the seeds. Add the strawberry mixture back into the blender with 3/4 of a cup of sugar, three cups of cold water, and one cup of lemon juice. Blend until combined and serve over ice.

2. Mint Margarita

This drink is simple, refreshing, and a Pakistani favorite. In a blender, blend together one cup of water, half a cup of sugar, 1/3 of a teaspoon of salt, 10-12 mint leaves, half a cup of lemon juice and ice cubes. Pulse until the ice is crushed completely. Add 1/3 of a cup of chilled Sprite or 7up into each glass and then pour in the blended mixture until the glass is full. Garnish with mint leaves and serve.

3. Electric Lemonade

Now this is a great twist to your usual iftaar drinks. In a blender, combine half a  cup of frozen blueberries and once up of cold water. Pour the mixture through a fine sieve to remove the seed and pour back into the blender. Add two and a half cups of cold water, 2/3 of a cup sugar, half a cup of fresh lemon juice, and three cups of ice and blend until ice is crushed. Pour into glasses and garnish with lemon and mint.

4. Peach Cooler

Peel, pit, and chop three peaches into small pieces. Place into a blender with half a cup of orange juice and blend until smooth. Add in two and a half cups of cold water, half a cup of sugar, and two cups of ice. Blend until the ice is crushed. Pour 1/3 of a cup of chilled Sprite or 7up into a cup and fill with the peach mixture. Garnish with sliced peaches and enjoy.

5. Lemon and Ginger Surprise

In a saucepan combine one cup of sugar, five cups of water, and eight small slices of fresh ginger. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat, strain the mixture into a pitcher, and cool for one hour. Once cooled, stir in one cup of fresh lemon juice. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices.

6. Tropical Mango Punch

Peel and chop two large mangoes into small pieces. Add the mangoes into a blender with one cup of cold water and puree until smooth. Add in half a cup of lemon juice and blend. Add the mixture into a pitcher and slowly stir in three cups of Sprite or 7up. Stir well and serve in ice-filled glasses.

7. Summer Melon Slushie

If you’ve wondered about frozen iftaar drinks, we have the perfect one for you. Take three cups of chopped seedless watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew and add into a blender along with two tablespoons of sugar, half a cup of lemon juice, and two cups of ice. Blend until ice is crushed and serve.

8. Hot Pink Cooler

If you’re feeling healthy, take one medium-sized beet (boiled, chilled, and peeled) and chop into small pieces. Add into a blender with one cup of orange juice, one small piece of ginger (finely chopped), and the juice of one lemon. Blend until smooth and serve chilled.

9. Frozen Pina Colada

Place one cup of frozen pineapple chunks and half a cup of ice into a blender. Pour in one cup of pineapple juice and one cup of unsweetened coconut milk and blend until smooth. Pour into chilled glasses and garnish with pineapples or a maraschino cherry.

10. Mango Peach Fuzz

In a blender, puree two cups of chopped peaches, two cups of chopped mangoes, the juice of one small lemon, and 1/4 of a cup of honey until smooth. Let the mixture chill in the freezer. When ready to serve, blend two cups of the puree with one cup of sprite or 7up. Serve in chilled glasses and enjoy.

11. Watermelon Chiller

Add four cups of chopped watermelon (seedless), half a cup of water, eight mint leaves, and one cup of ice into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and garnish with mint leaves and slices of watermelon.

Hope everyone is having an amazing Ramazan. Comment below with your favorite iftaar drinks.

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cover image source: sbs.com.au