For family picnics, relaxing on the front porch, or brisk morning runs, refreshing drinks are a summer necessity. To give you the “bottoms up,” Natural Home assembled a discerning panel of drink divas to sample a score of beverages. Here are their picks. Cheers!
Natural Soda
Brand: Hansen’s Cherry, Vanilla Creme
Tasters’Notes: Rich cherry flavor mingles happily with exotic Madagascar vanilla
WhyIt’sHealthy: Triple-filtered water, all-natural Washington cherries; no preservatives, sodium or caffeine
Natural Energy Drink
Brand: Glacéau Vitamin Water, Essential Orange
Tasters’Notes: Just enough orange flavor to revive and refresh without weighing you down.
WhyIt’sHealthy: Abundance of vitamin C and electrolytes in vapor-distilled water
Organic Iced Tea
Brand: Tazo Brambleberry Iced Tea
Tasters’Notes: Like drinking a flower. Fruitiness balances evenly with tea flavor, so it’s not overly sweet.
WhyIt’sHealthy: Hibiscus flowers, rosehips, lemongrass; caffeine free
Organic Yogurt/Fruit Smoothie
Brand: Stonyfield Farm Peach Smoothie
Tasters’Notes: Shall I drink a peach? Creamy, light, delightful texture and taste. A hearty thumbs up from our five-year-old taste tester.
WhyIt’sHealthy: Live-active yogurt cultures, organic peaches and inulin (helps increase calcium absorption)
Sparkling Juice
Brand: Izze Pomegranate Sparkling Juice
Tasters’Notes: The often-overlooked pomegranate lends crisp, sweet-tart flavor to a summer MVP.
WhyIt’sHealthy: Every 12-ounce bottle provides a single serving of fruit.
