The scorching days of summer are approaching, which means it’s time to try some of the best cold drinks this world has to offer. Yes, I mean soft drinks from every country in the world: from Mexico to Italy and from Japan to India. Every culture has its own set of favorite ingredients for creating refreshing drinks, and who knows, maybe one of these drinks will become your favorite this summer? Here are 10 cold drinks from around the world to try right now.
Horchata (Mexico)
Mexico is known for its scorching summers and spicy cuisine, so a classic refreshing drink should be something absolutely different. Forks! Horchata is smooth, milky, frothy, and incredibly filling. It can be prepared with or without milk, but the main ingredients are the following: vanilla, sugar, rice, cinnamon and almonds. You can add almond milk or cow’s milk to the mixture and mix everything together. It tastes heavenly!
Neer more (India)
In countries with hot and humid climates, such as India, cold drinks are often made with dairy. They are cold, salty, spicy and offer the necessary escape from the sweltering heat that accompanies summers. Neer more is especially popular in the south of the country, where the climate is warm all year round. It’s made with buttermilk, lots of savory spices, and a pinch of salt. Asafoetida can also be used in the mix. This simple drink easily quenches thirst and also works as an excellent digestive stimulant.
Bandung (Malaysia)
If you still feel that sugary drinks refresh you better, then opt for the classic Malaysian bandung drink that is made with evaporated milk. It has a very pleasant taste due to the rose water, looking bright and cheerful in the glass. It gets its pink color from natural food coloring, so keep that in mind if you want your drinks to be 100% natural. Add a little sugar, ice and that’s it! It looks elegant and tastes delicious.
Latte E Menta (Italy)
Italians love coffee with milk, so it is not surprising that they drink it even in summer, although with slight changes of course. The Mint Latte is crisp, frothy, and incredibly icy, making it one of Italy’s favorite summer drinks. It’s basically an iced latte made with a bit of mint syrup and freshly ground mint. It’s tasty and more than refreshing!
Sour plum soda (Japan)
Cold summer sodas can be made in a variety of ways, but I bet you haven’t tried mixing them with sour plums. Called umeboshi in Japanese and suanmeizi in Chinese, sour plum is the perfect ingredient to create a sweet and sour drink that will quench your thirst this summer. Popular in every country in Southeast Asia, this drink combines the salty taste of umeboshi, the sweetness of sugar, and the joyous bubbly of sparkling water. It’s one of those drinks that will be a hit or miss for you.
