Refresh Your Summer: Try This Herbal-Infused Slushie Recipe!

Who needs a summer cool-down treat? This delightful herbal-infused slushie recipe is just the thing you need to beat the heat! Unlike the artificially colored and flavored slushies you may have seen during childhood trips to amusement parks, this frozen treat is made of botanical ingredients that delight the senses and benefit the body and mind. Cooling herbs like mint and the calming taste of lavender enchant the senses and provide welcome respite to an overheated system. 

Herbal Summer Slushie: What’s In It 

Mint (Mentha spp.) 

Be it peppermint (Mentha x piperita), spearmint (Mentha spicata), or one of the other mint varieties, mint is a refreshing and delicious herb to enjoy, especially in the summer months. Known for its cooling properties and versatility, herbalists across many cultures have used mint for centuries. This charming, pleasant-smelling little green leaf can be made into infusions or tinctures, as well as sprinkled fresh on salad. Mint soothes indigestion, brightens the mood, and freshens the breath. When diffused, the essential oil offers a range of benefits, such as improving mood and cognition. Perfect for the dog days of summer, the menthol in mint helps to lower your body’s temperature and that invigorating flavor can help snap you out of your summer heat slump.

Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

Another herb of great versatility (and also hailing from the Lamiaceae or mint family), lavender is pleasant to eat, drink, and smell. Popular as a flavoring and garnish for sweet treats and beverages alike, this fragrant floral is adored for both its culinary uses and health benefits. Known to soothe and relax the nervous system, lavender has also long been associated with cleansing and purification. When used topically, the herb does indeed have valuable antimicrobial properties while at the same time calming irritated, reddened skin. Its overall energetic effects are quite similar—the cool, calm, clean aroma of lavender washes away the stress of your body’s discomfort from the sweltering heat. Plus, the taste is oh-so-lovely when paired with mint; you’ll be hydrated in no time after making this Herbal Summer Slushie! 

Lemon (Citrus x limon) 

A well-loved food item and then some, lemon adds both cheer and hydration to this botanical slushie. Lemons are used across herbal and culinary traditions to assist in digestion and the absorption of nutrients such as iron; Ayurveda teaches that drinking warm lemon water first thing in the morning boosts the agni (digestive fire). Furthermore, lemons are the richest source of vitamin C of any citrus and, though acidic, have an alkalizing effect once inside the body. This pleasant and clean-smelling fruit is also known for its ability to lessen instances of kidney stones and to assist the liver in its detoxification process, making one less likely to feel cranky when temperatures are on the rise.  

In Closing,

The burst of flavor in this herbal slushie recipe comes through the rush of coolness you get from each sip. Enjoy the combination of citrusy lemon, floral lavender, and cooling mint. Summer never tasted this good!