Summer is just around the corner. That means picnics, sunny days spent socialising, and plenty of iced coffees (naturally).

However, it's only natural to have that voice in the back of your mind going, “But won't I miss early nights and cosy evenings at home?”. Don't worry if you're not in the Summer spirit just yet. In fact, we've dedicated this blog post to help you get there.

And what better way to do it than with some flavourful Summer drinks? We may be biased, but we can't think of anything that gets us energised and excited quite like quality food and drink.

So we've used this blog post to help you get into the Summer spirit, our way. Below, you can find three of our favourite Summertime drinks recipes. These are health conscious (more about the famous Chaga mushroom later on), nutrient-rich and full of goodness. It's a perfect way to start off your Summer 2021.

 

10 quick tips to get you feeling Summery

1. Declutter your wardrobe. Get rid of any of last year’s clothes that you’re not at all excited to wear again.
2. Move your winter clothes, coats, boots and accessories into storage. Then, put your Summer gear in pride of place.
3. Top up your moisturiser. It’s a quick and healthy way to get a lovely Summer glow.
4. Make the most out of all the fresh fruit and veg that’s coming into season.
5. Eat mindfully. Turn off the TV when you eat, and really focus on enjoying your meals.
6. Spend more time outside. Think about when you can fit time outside (even if it’s just 10-minute intervals) into your day.
7. Restock your kitchen cupboards with herbs, vinegar and other Summer dish accompaniments.
8. Try making more of your meals plant-based.
9. Plan workouts to suit the season.
10. Get your spring cleaning done ASAP.

 

 

What are Chaga mushrooms?

Chaga mushrooms are one of the latest superfoods to shake up the food and drink scene, and their health perks are pretty stand-out.

A Chaga is a mushroom variety, which naturally grows on the bark of birch trees (it grows on the side of the tree, and just looks like a little stub of charcoal). It can be found across the northern hemisphere.

These funky little ‘shrooms have been used in traditional European medicines for many years. Amongst their first usage was the mushrooms being crushed into a fine powder, before being brewed into tea.

It’s medicinal properties are what the Chaga is most known for - this nutrient-rich superfood is a great antioxidant, it boasts impressive anti-inflammatory properties, and it also helps consumers to focus better, and feel less drained.

It may sound pretty exotic, but once again, we owe the internet our gratitude. You can easily buy Chaga mushrooms online - either ready to brew in teas, as a capsule, or as a powder.

If you’re still intrigued by Chagas, in a previous blog post, exploring the craze behind Chagaccinos, we found out more about this emerging drinks trend and the big benefits that it had to offer.

But for now, we’re moving on to our seasonal drinks of choice - in our opinion, the perfect way to be prepared for Summer.

Nutritious Summer Smoothie

Ingredients

• Unsweetened coconut milk, 350 ml
• Chagaccino powder, 15g
• Raw spinach, 130g
• Nut butter, 1 tbsp
• Banana, ¼
• Blackberries, 35g
• Hemp seeds, 1 tbsp
• Chia seeds, 1 tbsp
• Flax meal, 1 tbsp
• Cacao powder, 1 tbsp
• Coconut butter, 1 tbsp
• Ice cubes, 4

Method

• Add all the ingredients to a blender.
• Blitz until the mixture turns smooth and creamy. If it’s too thick, add a splash more milk.
• Pour the smoothie into two glasses, along with a couple of extra ice cubes.

Iced Chagaccino Recipe

Ingredients

• Strong espresso using your Smarter Coffee, 40 ml
• Chagaccino powder, 15g
• Cacao powder, 1 tsp
• Cinnamon, to taste
• Stevia, to taste
• Almond milk, 240 ml

Method

• Use your Smarter Coffee machine to brew the espresso.
• In a jug, mix all of the dry ingredients together, ensuring that you remove any lumps.
• Whisk in the macadamia milk and the coffee.
• Pour into glasses, and add in a few cubes of ice.

Hot Chaga Chocolate

Ingredients

• Boiling water, 350 ml
• Chagaccino powder, 15g
• Almond milk, 240 ml
• Good quality cacao powder, 2 tsp
• Maple syrup, ½ tbsp
• Coconut butter, 1 tsp

Using your Smart kettle, boil the water to 95ºC (203ºF). This precise temperature will ensure the maximum possible flavour extraction, without making the Chaga flavour overly harsh or bitter and pour into a job. Then stir in the Chaga powder.
Add the rest of the ingredients to the jug. Whisk together until all of the lumps are removed.



Although, so far, 2021 may not have been exactly what we'd hoped for, there's still every reason for us to remain hopeful and excited about the Summer. So, even if a staycation with the family is all you've got planned, make the most of it.

To help you prepare for the perfect drinks to accompany your Summer 2021, our iKettle and Smarter Coffee machine are just the tools you need. With these in your kitchen, you'll be whipping up decadent drinks all Summer long.

So, to get your kitchen ready for the Summer, head over to the Smarter online shop.

Written by Josephine Walbank