Summer Drinks

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the signature Seattle summer breeze is blowing. But despite the wind, summers are the hottest part of the year, and you deserve something other than tap water to cool you down. Here are four drinks to mix up during the three months you have before you have to do homework again.

One—Mango sago. To make this drink, you take coconut jelly, mango flavored jelly, mango chunks, and small white tapioca pearls, also known as sago. You can add other toppings like mango popping boba or anything else you deem suitable for the drink. Stir in enough evaporated or regular milk to cover the toppings and enough condensed milk to sweeten the drink. The only big difference between evaporated and regular milk is the texture. Evaporated milk is a little thicker than regular milk because a lot of the water content has been removed. If you want a stronger mango flavor, you can add mango puree to the milk. If you’re not a huge fan of mango, you could make a different flavored sago, such as strawberry or taro. Follow these same steps, but use different flavored ingredients instead.

Two—Whipped coffee. The perfect drink for all the coffeeholics. Take an equivalent amount of instant coffee, sugar, and boiling water. It is important to have as much sugar as instant coffee or else it won’t whip properly. Add all the ingredients to a stand mixer or a mason jar, and whip up the coffee. If you’re using a mason jar, put all the ingredients in it and shake it until it thickens and can hold its shape. You can also put the ingredients in a bowl and use a hand mixer. Once you’ve whipped your coffee, fill a glass with ice and milk before topping it with the coffee. If you want a thicker whipped coffee, put it in your freezer and wait an hour or two for it to firm up.

Three—Homemade milk tea, with optional boba. For those who love milk tea but are struggling to make it, here is a short guide on how to make the perfect milk tea. When making the tea, take Earl Grey and steep it for at least five minutes. Then, add as much brown sugar as you want, unless you’re using boba. Boba can be found at most Asian groceries in Seattle, and I recommend purchasing the dried kind. To cook the tapioca, follow the instructions on the back of the boba package. Then, soak it in a brown sugar syrup and add that to your tea. Once you add your milk of choice and ice, the drink is complete.

Four—A classy cup of water. Take a cool-looking glass and add ice until the glass is practically full. Then, aesthetically pour water into the glass the same way all the people in ASMR videos do. Take a summer straw and a mini umbrella and add that to your drink, completing your fancy glass of water, perfect for summer.

I hope these suggestions help you in your beverage endeavors, and I wish you the best summer filled with refreshing drinks!