Summer is heating up which means an abundance of delicious fruits like mango, lychee, and citrus! Take advantage of these amazing, seasonal flavors with a few fail-proof recipes to cool you down and up your tropical fruit game.
Flavored Water
For some heat-free cooking options, one of the easiest ways to bring a little flavor and hydration into your culinary experience is with the use of herbs. We all know about the lemon slice in ice water but what about a sprig of fresh rosemary? Or a few cooling cucumber slices? Try one of our ʻĀINA Flavored Water recipes or create your own with herbs, citrus, and other fruit from the garden!
Here’s a recipe for one of our most popular blends “Pineapple Refresher”:
Ingredients:
● 1 gallon water
● 1 cup pineapple spears or the fibrous middle core
● 1⁄4 cup mint leaves, thoroughly washed*
● Ice *optional: muddle leaves between your fingers or with a pestle to release more flavor
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a clear water dispenser. Serve immediately or let stand to allow flavors to meld.
Simple Syrup
With natural fruit sugars and a little time, transform overripe or excess fruits into simple syrup! Simple syrup can be enjoyed with bubble water, as a mixer, or simply diluted with water and a little ice. To make your own, combine equal parts water, sweetener of choice, and fruit.
Got lychee? Try this Lychee Simple Syrup recipe:
Ingredients:
● 1 cup organic raw sugar (or sweetener of choice)
● 1 cup water
● 1 cup peeled, seeded lychee
● Juice from 1 lime
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a medium pot. Bring to a boil, then simmer, stirring/mashing occasionally to fully dissolve sugar and release lychee juice. Reduce for about 10 minutes, then cool, strain and enjoy with bubble water or the mixer of your choice.
Fruit-Sicles
There are so many ways to take advantage of fruit sugars so why not replace store-bought popsicles with a natural, delicious alternative? Combining fruits and healthy fats, you can make your own delicious blends with minimal effort. And bonus, there’s no added sugar, artificial flavors, or colors!
Mango Melt Popsicles
Ingredients:
● 2 cups mango, peeled and seeded
● 1-2 local bananas
● 1 cup yogurt, coconut milk, or juice of choice
● Honey to taste
● Popsicle sticks
● Ice tray/ popsicle molds
Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Add honey to taste. Fill an ice tray or popsicle mold with mango blend. Add a popsicle stick in the middle of each. Freeze for at least 8 hours or overnight.