My favorite refreshing drink recipes

And if there's one thing I've learned over time, it's that the little details make all the difference: ice cubes sprinkled with frozen fruit that melt slowly, a small glass frosted with sugar or spices, a carafe a little too beautiful to stay hidden in the cupboard.

With the return of outdoor dinners, I wanted to gather some of my favorite refreshing drink recipes. Recipes perfect for enjoying those long evenings in the warm air.

2 portions

Time: 10 minutes

FOR THE SYRUP

• ¾ cup of sugar
• ¼ cup of water
• The juice of a red grapefruit
• Sugar, for frosting
• 1 grapefruit, cut into quarters
• 1 cup of coconut water
• A few ice cubes

01 For the syrup, combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan, then bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, add the grapefruit juice and let cool completely.

02 Place the sugar in a small dish, moisten the rim of each glass by rubbing it with a grapefruit segment, then dip it in the sugar to frost it. Place the used grapefruit segments in the glasses.

03 Pour 3 tbsp of syrup into each glass, add some ice cubes, fill with coconut water and serve.

2 portions

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups of frozen peaches, diced
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• ½ cup of ice cubes
• 1 1/2 liters of sparkling water

FOR THE FILLING

• A few peach slices
• A drizzle of honey

01 In a blender, blend the peaches with the honey and ice cubes until smooth.

02 Incorporate the sparkling water.

03 Divide among the glasses and garnish with peach wedges and a drizzle of honey. Serve.

2 portions

Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups of watermelon, cut into cubes
• About 1/4 cup of chili powder.
• 2 lime wedges
• 2 tsp of honey
• 1 cup of sparkling water
• A few ice cubes
• 2 lime wedges, for garnish

01 In a blender, crush the watermelon, then pass through a sieve. Reserve the juice.

02 Pour the chili powder into a small dish.

03 Moisten the rim of two glasses by rubbing them with a lime wedge, then frost them by dipping them in chili powder.

04 Pour the honey into the glasses, then fill halfway with ice cubes.

05 Pour the watermelon juice, then fill the glasses with sparkling water. Garnish with a lime wedge and serve.

2 portions

Time: 5 minutes

FOR THE RHUBARB SYRUP

• 1 cup of fresh or frozen rhubarb
• 1 cup of water
• ½ cup of sugar
• 2 elderflower tea bags
• 1 1/2 cups of boiling water
• Sugar, for frosting
• 2 lemon wedges
• 3 oz of non-alcoholic gin (optional)
• A few ice cubes

01 Place the herbal tea bags in a teapot and pour in boiling water. Let it steep for about 5 minutes, stir, and remove the bags. Let it cool to room temperature.

02 Place the rhubarb in a pan with the water and sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the syrup has reduced by half. Strain to remove the rhubarb, then let cool.

03 Pour the sugar into a small plate. Moisten the rim of two glasses by rubbing them with the lemon wedge, then frost them by dipping them in the sugar.

04 Add about 3 tablespoons of rhubarb syrup to two glasses, then fill with ice cubes.

05 Pour the non-alcoholic gin (optional) and elderflower tea into the glasses and serve.