It’s starting to feel like summer here in San Diego! With warmer days ahead, now is a great time to break out a refreshing drink recipe.
One of my favorite simple drinks to make is sparkling water with a squeeze of lime juice. The addition of mint was inspired by the surprise mint growing in my front yard – as you can see, it’s really taking over.
Cucumber rounds out the fresh flavors, and is a great alternative to more overly sweet dessert-like drinks. This drink would be a great addition to an outdoor picnic, sipping at a backyard barbeque, or enjoy while relaxing on an outdoor patio.
This drink is a great combo of:
Aromatic mint
Sour and tangy lime
Crunchy fresh cucumber
Fizzy sparkling water
Caffeine free
Sugar free
Non alcoholic – but I bet it would also taste great with something like gin or vodka!
Chinese Medicine Ingredients
Mint – acrid, aromatic and cooling, enters the Lung and Liver channels to disperse wind-heat, benefit the head, eyes and throat to alleviate headaches, red eyes, and sore throat. Mint can also be used to help vent early stage rashes to speed recovery, and can be used to help with indigestion and stomach pain.
Cucumber – frequently used for its cooling properties, cucumber is sweet and cool, and goes to the Stomach and Bladder channels to clear heat, alleviate thirst, and promote urination.
Finally, it is important to note that there is no ice in this drink! In Chinese medicine, the digestive system is like a fire, and generally does best with warm foods. When you eat a lot of cold food and drinks, this can be hard on your digestion. ice cold drinks and raw and cold foods require more energy from your body to warm up and digest the food, leading to less efficient nutrient absorption. If you’re having issues with indigestion, bloating, gas, stomach cramps, loose stools, fatigue and/or feeling tired after eating a meal, your digestion isn’t working as optimally as it could be. So, stick with room temperature or slightly chilled sparkling water, but hold the ice!
Ingredients
Serves 1
6 mint leaves
2 round slices of cucumber, sliced into half circles
¼ lime, sliced into 2-3 thin slices
12 oz sparkling water (1.5 cup) – chilled or room temperature
Directions
In a sturdy walled glass, add the mint and cucumber slices. With a wooden spoon, gently mash the cucumber and mint to release some of the cucumber and mint juice and release the aromatics qualities. When it smells nice and minty and cucumber-y, squeeze the lime juice into the glass and stir gently to combine.
Pour the sparkling water into the glass and garnish with a cucumber slice and lime wedge. Sip and enjoy!
Substitutions / Alterations
The glassware in the photos is a 14 oz whiskey glass. Feel free to adjust the amount of mint, cucumber, and lime based on the size of your glass, or taste preference.
You could add a little bit of sugar for sweetness, but I think it tastes great without it.
References
Recipe inspiration from The Minimalist Baker.
Bensky, D., Clavey, S., Stoger, E., & Gamble, A. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, 3rd Edition. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press, Inc.
Wang, Y., Sheir, W., & Ono, M. (2010). Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life. Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.