This is a collaborative post: With the lockdown still ongoing, many of us are wondering how the wonderful world of drinks might be able to help us through. It’s no fun being stuck inside all the time. But while the pandemic is ongoing, we might as well take advantage of the situation and indulge in a few drinks here and there.
In this post, we run through some of the top beverages for seeing you through a lazy lockdown afternoon.
Check them out below.
Spirulina Smoothie
Have you heard of spirulina?
It’s a massive hit in the health industry, thanks to its purported ability to lower inflammation and improve energy levels.
Spirulina is a type of algae – actually three species – with a bright green colour.
By itself, it doesn’t taste great. But when you add it to a smoothie, it adds depth and allows you to get the rest of your five-a-day. (Remember that?)
Making a spirulina smoothie is super simple. You don’t have to follow any specific recipe. However, you must include banana if you want it to taste good. Banana contains a bunch of special plant compounds that actually help mask any unpleasant flavours.
Filipino Hot Chocolate
If you’ve never had Filipino hot chocolate, you’re missing out.
It’s insanely rich and thick. And it encapsulates a level of decadence that you can only find in the East Asian country.
So how do you make it?
To make the healthy version, add some almond milk, cocoa powder, dates and a thickening agent (either cornflour or xanthan gum) to a food processor. Then, when you’ve blended all the ingredients, pour it out into a pan and heat until the mixture cooks and thickens.
It should taste intensely chocolatey. If it doesn’t, it means you didn’t add enough cacao.
Whisky On The Rocks
Pouring Scottish whisky over the rocks is one of life’s unmitigated pleasures. And, as it turns out, a great way to spend your lockdown afternoons.
Put on the fire, slap on a film, and pour yourself a glass.
If whisky is a little strong for you by itself, it makes an excellent mixer. Just add it to cola or make it into a cocktail.
Cold Hibiscus Infusion
Fancy something super healthy?
You might want to check out a cold hibiscus infusion.
What the heck is hibiscus, you might ask? It turns out that it’s a type of leaf found in the vast majority of herbal teas.
Usually, it’s the number one ingredient.
Making cold hibiscus infusion is easy. Go to the supermarket and find your favourite herbal tea. Check the back to make sure that it contains hibiscus.
Then place several tea bags in a jug and cover in boiling water. Wait for the tea to cool and then place it in the refrigerator with some slices of lemon and lime, leaving the tea bags where they are.
Over the following hours, all the flavours will infuse.
When you take it out, it should be cool and refreshing. You can sweeten it using a safe sweetener like erythritol if it tastes a little bitter.
Carrot And Orange Cocktail
If you’re in the mood for something weird, you might want to try a carrot and orange cocktail.
It’s easy to make.
You’ll need orange juice, carrot juice, some fresh oranges, and a bottle of vodka.
Peel the oranges and then place the peel in a jar. Then add the rest of the ingredients and shake well.
Then pour out into your favourite cocktail glass, making sure that none of the peel actually winds up in your drink. Top off with some clover leaves.
Quarantini
Quarantini – now that’s a good name for a lockdown drink!
But what the heck’s in it? Or is the recipe on lockdown?
It turns out making a quarantini is easy.
You can make it by combining 2pts spirit and 1pt vermouth or fortified wine. Then just add a dash of bitter and stir over ice.
The bitterness aspect of this drink is particularly appealing, given how many of us feel right now. Make your taste buds shrivel!
Coffee With Irish Cream
Rounding off our list is perhaps the most intense and luxurious drink of them all: freshly-made coffee mixed with Irish cream.
It was only a matter of time before somebody discovered the combined magic of Irish cream and coffee. The two flavours seem to work together almost perfectly. It’s the sort of drink you can go back to again and again, such is its power to both relax and energise.