3 seasonal fruity drinks that'll get you through summer

Most people don’t look forward to the intense heat and humidity of summer in Pakistan, but there is something to look forward to.

The very best thing about this time of year is the variety of fruit available, the cherries, peaches, lychee, and of course mangoes. While an elaborate fruit salad seems like the obvious choice, there are so many other ways to use them as well.

These fresh fruit drinks, served ice-cold, are the perfect antidote to beat the summer heat. Besides being delicious, they’re full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, and will instantly reenergize you.

Lychee Mango Cooler

Ingredients

2 cups peeled lychee (about 24 lychee)

1 cup cubed mango (1 large or 2 small mangoes)

1 cup coconut water (or plain water)

2 to 4 tablespoons sugar

A pinch of salt

1 cup ice

Method

1) Remove the lychee flesh from the seeds and add to a blender.

2) Add mango, coconut water (or water), sugar, salt and ice.

3) Blend until smooth. Strain if desired.

4) Serve over ice.

Serves 4.

Watermelon Peach Juice

Ingredients

2 cups cubed watermelon, seeds removed

1 cup peeled and chopped peaches

A pinch of salt

2 tablespoons sugar

1 cup ice

Method

1) Add the watermelon, peach, salt, sugar and ice to a blender.

2) Blend until smooth.

3) Serve over ice.

Serves 3 to 4.

Cherry Banana Milkshake

Ingredients

1 cup pitted cherries

1 banana

1 cup milk

1 to 2 tablespoons sugar

½ cup ice

Method

1) Add the cherries, banana, milk, sugar and ice to a blender.

2) Blend until smooth, and serve.

Serves 2.

Originally published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, July 17th, 2016