Recipe: Pick-me-up summer coolers that combine health and taste

Planning a summer party planned? Or are your kids' friends coming over to play? Whatever the occasion, everyone loves a refreshing drink in the sweltering heat.

However, we often end up consuming packaged drink that have added sugar and do more harm than good.

So, we spoke to Chef Rana Dominic Gomes, Executive Chef, Hotel Royal Orchid, Bangalore for recipes that are healthy yet yummy.

Here are his secrets to stay hydrated this summer:

Kamaruddin sherbet



An Apricot cooler drink, Kamaruddin sherbet is a famous drink in Syria and many Middle-east countries. Popular during the fasting season (Ramadan), it has a cooling effect on stomach.

Ingredients
Kamaruddin (dry apricots): 250 gms
Sweetener (sugar, date syrup, honey): 100 gm
Chilled water: 750 ml
Ice cubes: 250 gms
Blossom water: 25 ml
Mint sprig

Method
- Sock the dry apricots in hot water for at least 4 - 5 hours or over night
- Deseed and churn in a food processor to make a fine paste
- Pour the paste in mixing bowl, add chilled water, sweetener, mint sprig and stir till the solvent becomes sweet
- Add blossom water
- Serve in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice
- Garnish with lemon slice and mint

Hibiscus Cooler



A Jamaican cooler, this drink not only cools your body but also brings your blood cholesterol under control.

Ingredients
Water: 500ml
Fresh or dried hibiscus flowers: 250gms
Agave syrup or any sweetener of your choice (sugar, honey or sugar free): 120 gms
Lemon: 1
Cinnamon sticks: 10 gms

Method

- Clean the flowers and sock in cold water for 1 hour
- Take 500 ml water, 120 gm sweetener, half cut lemon, cinnamon stick in a sauce pan and bring it to boil
- Take off from the burner and add the hibiscus flowers. Make sure you don't overcook or else it will turn black
- Allow it to cool, remove lemon, cinnamon. Pour the syrup and flowers in a blender to make a paste
- Store the paste in a container, use as required.

To make the drink:
- Take a bowl add 100 ml hibiscus paste, 1 tea spoon lemon juice, 250 gms crushed ice
- Add sweetener as desired
- Stir and serve in a tall glass
- Garnish with lemon slice, mint or flower petals.