There used to be a saying known as the ‘Five Cs’ in Singapore. It referred to having a car, condominium, cash, country club membership and credit cards. But we seemed to have forgotten about the fundamental ‘C’ that should have been included - cold drinks! With Singapore’s unbearable heat, cold drinks are everyone’s ultimate necessity. Check out these 7 cold drink recipes below which you can also store in your Thermos® One-Push Tumbler!
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Not only appealing for its aromatic scent and flavoursome taste, this ginger iced tea recipe also provides a powerful anti-inflammatory benefit to combat the heatiness from eating too much junk food and the unpredictable weather in Singapore. You can also have this in the morning for its detoxifying properties. For taste, scale down the use of ginger if you’re sensitive to the heat from the ginger, or add more lemon if you like it zesty and refreshing. Tip: Give it a dash of grounded turmeric for an added boost of anti-oxidants.
2. Chia Fresca
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If you haven’t already caught up with the recent food trends, chia seeds are now labelled as ‘superfood’ for its high antioxidants that fight oxidative stress and ageing-related diseases. It is mixed into salads and Acai bowls, but you can also consume it in a drink - like this recipe that only needs some lemon juice, water, chia seeds and sugar. Give it a quick stir, throw in some ice cubes and voila, there you have yourself a bottle of icy-cold, fuss-free and easy-to-make daily drink to boost your mornings!
3. Lemon Barley
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Lemon barley is an easy, homemade comfort drink with everything to love! The ingredients in this recipe help to aid weight loss, flush toxins and improve overall digestive health. You can opt for the traditional candied winter melon strips to add texture to the drink, or substitute sugar with honey for a healthier choice. Pandan leaves can also be added when boiling the water for a nice, subtle aroma. Finish it off with some ice cubes for a refreshing drink on the go!
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Google Spirulina and you’ll know why it’s on this list. It’s packed with so many different nutrients, has anti-cancer properties, is great for allergic rhinitis and is a naturally-occurring blue-green algae found in both fresh and saltwater. Also, NASA uses them as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions, so you know it’s good! If you’re up for it, you can incorporate spirulina into your diet with this beautiful mermaid lemonade recipe!
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When life hands you some lemongrass, you’d want to boil it with some pandan leaves. Seriously, can you imagine the sweet aroma of pandan infused with the slightly-spicy yet zesty scent of lemongrass? It’ll perk you right up! Plus, it’s so simple to make. Just boil a pot of water, add both pandan leaves and lemongrass, some ginger and brown sugar if you’re up for some heat and sweetness, and let it simmer. Chill it in the refrigerator before pouring it in your Thermos® Tumbler.
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As much as we love our lemonades and superfood ingredients, we can’t help but give a little love to our traditional herbal teas. This recipe uses 3 naturally-sweet ingredients: red dates, longan and goji berries (also a superfood), meaning that sugar can be taken out! The tea is also great for boosting one’s complexion. However, be careful not to drink too much in one go (do your best to resist!) as it can be a little ‘heaty’ for the body.
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A step up from the usual matcha lattes and also perfect if you’re lactose intolerant, this matcha-mint dairy-free sparkler recipe is all you need to beat the heat while fixing your cravings for some earthy, matcha goodness. Get some matcha, lime, mint, sugar (substitutable with honey) and set aside 15 minutes of your time to prepare this concoction!
Find more of your favourite beverage recipes here!
