Summer Coolers

Cool down with these fresh, summer drinks.

Sweet, bitter, and astringent tastes are the most cooling, according to the principles of Ayurveda, so it's no surprise that thirst-quenching ingredients such as lime, cucumber, and coconut water make refreshing summer tonics. Try one of these cooling drinks created by niika Quistgard, Ayurvedic practitioner and founder of healing-arts blog Ayurmama.

Prana Fresca

Combine 1 cup honeydew melon chunks, 10 to 12 fresh mint leaves, 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, 1/8 teaspoon himalayan or sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon raw sugar, and 2 ice cubes in a blender. Add 1/3 cup filtered water and blend until smooth.

Ruby Spritzer

Combine 1/2 to 1 cup sparkling mineral water with 1/2 cup pomegranate juice and 1 teaspoon rose water. Sip through fresh lemongrass, as if it were a straw.

Coconut Splash

Combine 1 and 1/4 cups coconut water and 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice. Thinly slice a two-inch piece of cucumber and stir the slices into the drink. (if the cucumber is organic and unwaxed, leave the skin on; otherwise, peel before slicing.)

August 2012