In a small saucepan, combine the granulated sugar with 1 cup of water. Heat over low, stirring frequently, just until sugar dissolves, about 3 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the celery and parsley leaves.
Set aside to steep at room temperature for 1 to 2 hours.
Strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on the solids.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Now, here in the Southern Hemisphere, it is the start of summer, and that spurs our cravings for all things refreshing, juicy and iced. That and when we welcome the fullness of the sun, we also welcome, if unprepared, dehydration, which speeds up signs of ageing by depleting your cells. Hydration is the basis of all health and wellness. Your body is 60 per cent water, after all. Understanding exactly how your body is thirsty—is your digestion out of sorts, is your skin dry, are you constantly fatigued? Do you have headaches? Second is treating that thirst in the best way possible. When nurtured properly, optimal cellular hydration means vivaciousness, a youthful complexion and a detoxification system that hums.
Incorporating herbs and plants with skin benefits is one way to quench your body's thirst with additional benefits. Last weekend, we prepared five straightforward drinks sans the alcohol or hard-to-acquire ingredients that will add sparkle to your happy hour or create space for incorporating tea rituals during the summer months. Read on for hydration that makes space for antioxidants, polyphenols and bioflavonoids—all compounds that create system-wide health, but also, importantly, a glowing complexion and efficient digestive system. And, therefore, good skin!
Hibiscus clears damp heat, which is when excess fluids and heat combine to form a ‘wet inflammation.’ Which no one wants. Because of that, hibiscus can be useful in helping to resolve skin conditions like acne and psoriasis. The addition of tulsi keeps this iced tea feeling fresh, and floral and soda or sparkling mineral water make this a refreshing anytime drink. Magic.
Hibiscus tea
3 cups filtered water
3 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
2 tsp dried tulsi, optional
Drink
90 ml hibiscus tea
60 ml soda water or sparkling water
Ice
Hibiscus to garnish
Method
Boil water and pour over the dried hibiscus flowers. Allow to steep for at least 5 minutes. Chill.
To prepare the tonic, strain tea into a glass with ice and top off with soda or sparkling water.
Garnish with hibiscus or citrus peel.
A fizzy citrus-loving libation courtesy of grapefruit and lime, both rich in collagen-protecting vitamin C. Add generous lime zest, the rind abundant in bioflavonoids and the phytochemical limonene for added anti-inflammatory benefits. An antioxidant extra, grapefruit or pomelo in Espagnol is a source of magnesium that helps convert macronutrients into energy and helps promote elimination to ensure your skin appears bright and digestion runs smoothly.
Drink
90 ml freshly squeezed pomelo
15 ml simple syrup
15 ml lime juice
90 ml soda water
Ice
Method
Add ice to a glass.
Pour over the fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice with simple syrup and lime juice. Generously add lime zest for added anti-inflammatory benefits. Top with soda water and stir. Add lime for garnish and a squeeze.
On the hottest of summer days, the perfect way to satiate is with a smoothie, but it’s the holidays, so make it extra. Still, we like to keep ours supercharged with functional foods, yet extra simple. Orange blossom is regarded as a treatment for anxiety and insomnia and to promote a healthy digestive system. Many skin problems, including some types of acne, are related to poor digestive function, so because of this, orange blossom can assist in clearing skin irritations. It’s also delicious.
Mango yoghurt
1 cup coconut yoghurt
½ cup mango (fresh or frozen)
½ teaspoon orange blossom water
1 teaspoon sea salt
Drink
60 ml mango yoghurt
15 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
120 ml soda water
Dried calendula to garnish
Ice
Method
In a blender, blend the yoghurt, mango, orange blossom and sea salt until smooth.
To prepare the golden sunset, add ice to a glass.
Pour over the yoghurt and orange juice.
Top with soda water and stir.
Add dried calendula to garnish.
A refreshing post-meal digestif that feels fancy but is as straightforward as ever. Celery leaves contain a compound called apigenin, which increases gastric acid secretion and relieves indigestion. We have used Storm + India Detox Evening because the blend of functional herbs is designed to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and detox pathways, including Liquorice Root, Peppermint Leaf, Fennel, Tulsi Herb and Chamomile Blossom. Use the herbs with the qualities you'll want in your regimen.
Detox tea
2 detox tea bags or 2 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea
lemon peel
Drink
10 ml herb simple syrup
90 ml iced tea
Ice
Juice from 1 lime
Method
Brew the tea with the generous addition of lemon peels. Allow to steep for 3 minutes. Keep chilled in the refrigerator.
To prepare the detox herb sour, mix the herb simple syrup and iced tea.
Add ice and lime for garnish and a squeeze.
Water-rich cucumbers, mint and ginger combine to upgrade our cellular hydration and skin’s radiance big time. Mint, which you'll taste most prominently, provides antispasmodic properties to reduce bloating and digestion issues. The juice of lime adds a healthy dose of vitamin C and antioxidants, transforming tonic water into a sparkling afternoon pick-me-up.
Cucumber mix
2 cucumbers, ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
3-inch piece fresh ginger, scrubbed and chopped
1 lime
1 cup filtered water
Drink
60 ml cucumber mix
120 ml tonic water
15 ml syrup
Ice
Method
Juice the cucumber and ginger in a blender and blend on high until emulsified.
Zest the lime right over the blender, then squeeze in its juice.
Pour in 1 cup filtered room-temperature water and purée on high until smooth.
Pour the purée through a fine-mesh strainer. Refrigerate leftover syrup.
To prepare the cucumber mint fresca, strain the liquid from the shaker into the chilled glass.
Add ice and garnish with a sliver of cucumber.
