Is it just us, or did summer come knocking at our doors early this year? while summer cocktails may not be everyone's tea, we know cold drinks for summer that are non-alcoholic will be enjoyed by everyone! With the heatwave blowing, these drinks will be your life saviour. So we compiled some of our favourites and here we have the recipes for you!

Firstly, the classic -

Lemonade

Ingredients-

• 1 cup sugar (can reduce to 3/4 cup)
• 1 cup water (for the simple syrup)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 2 to 3 cups cold water (to dilute)

Method

1. Place the sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir so that the sugar dissolves completely and remove from heat.
2. While the water is heating for the simple syrup, juice your lemons. Depending on the size of the lemons, 4 to 6 of them should be enough for one cup of juice.
3. Combine lemon juice, simple syrup, water. Add 2 to 3 cups of cold water and taste. Add more water if you would like it to be more diluted.
4. If the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.
5. Refrigerate 30 to 40 minutes. Serve with ice, sliced lemons.

Lemon Iced Tea

Ingredients-

• 4 cups Water
• ¾ - 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 10 tea bags black tea
• The juice of 6 fresh lemons
• 4 lemon slices

Method-

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.
2. In a large, heat-proof pitcher/jug, combine the boiling water, baking soda & sugar mix well to dissolve the sugar. Add the tea bags and let steep for 10 minutes (the longer you steep the stronger the taste).
3. Remove the tea bags.
4. Add the lemon juice and fill the rest of the pitcher/jug with cold water.
5. Refrigerate until chilled.
6. Add lemon slices and ice to the glasses and pour the tea over the ice and lemon slices to serve.

Watermelon Limeade

Ingredients

• 3 cups Cubed Watermelon
• 4 tbsp Sugar, adjust to the sweetness of your watermelon
• 1/4 cup Mint Leaves
• 3-4 Lime Wedges
• 500 ml Club Soda or Sparkling Water
• Ice Cubes

Instructions

1. Place chopped watermelon in a blender jar and purée. Sieve it well. Set aside.
2. In a bowl or a jar, muddle together lemon wedges, mint leaves, and sugar such that mint leaves are bit bruised.
3. Using 4 glasses, add ice cubes, mint-lime mixture, watermelon purée, and club soda or sparkling water. Mix them very well.
4. Garnish with mint, lime slice, and watermelon slice.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Peach Iced Tea

Ingredients

• 3 Ripe Peaches plus more for serving (pitted and sliced)
• ½ - ¾ cup Granulated Sugar (you may add more as per your liking)
• 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
• 8 cups Water (divided)
• 1.5 tablespoons Loose Leaf Black Tea (or 3 Tea Bags)
• Fresh Mint Sprigs (for serving)
• Few Ice Cubes (For serving)

Instructions

1. In a high-speed blender jar, add sliced peaches, sugar, lemon juice and 1 cup water. Blend everything together until smooth.
2. Transfer the prepared peach mixture into a small sauce pan, heat and bring it to a boil. Once the juice boils, simmer for 30 seconds and then take it off the heat, our homemade peach syrup is ready.
3. Transfer the syrup in a pitcher. 
4. In a medium sauce pan, add the remaining water and bring it to a point when it starts to bubble.
5. Add tea leaves and bring to boil, simmer for 2 minutes only. Beyond this time, the tea can get bitter. However, if you want the tea to be stronger, add more tea and brew for another 2 minutes.
6. Once brewed, switch off the heat and let it rest for 5-6 minutes. Strain out the tea leaves and add it to the pitcher with syrup, stir and refrigerate.
7. Put few ice cubes along with thin peach slices and few fresh mint leaves into serving glasses, stir and pour the iced tea mixture and serve!

Hope you enjoyed our favourite cold drinks for summer recipes, tell us in the comments! For the best summer cocktails recipe, click here!