Best Summer Drinks To Keep You Cool All Season Long

When the sun is blazing and temperatures soar, nothing beats a refreshing summer beverage to cool you down and quench your thirst. That’s why we keep our coolers and shelves stocked with the most refreshing beverages Oregon has to offer. Here are a few highlights for best summer drinks from our beverage department and beyond.

Sparkling Water Mixers

Mixing your own flavored sparkling water is a fun way to stay cool and hydrated throughout the summer months. Our beverage experts recommend mixing your favorite brand of sparkling water with Portland Syrups. Meyer Lemon is a particularly refreshing flavor on a squelching day, but PDX Syrups has a large selection of unique flavors to choose from, like Grenadine, lavender or yuzu.

Get creative, try mixing fresh cucumber slices or strawberries with sparkling water in an insulated bottle for a cool and flavorful beverage you can take anywhere. Here are a few ingredients you can forage straight from your garden, or the Produce department at your local Market of Choice.
Fresh Fruits and Berries: from sweet strawberries to Oregon marionberries, and tangy lemon, incorporating fresh fruits into your drinks can elevate them to a new level of sophistication. Try muddling fresh berries for a burst of color and flavor, or infusing your drinks with slices of lemons, oranges, or grapefruit for a refreshing twist.

Herbs and Spices: toss some fresh mint leaves into your sparkling water for a refreshing twist. Or try basil, rosemary and thyme to add depth and complexity to your refreshing summer beverage. Dare to experiment with other spices too, like cinnamon, ginger or cardamom for a touch of intrigue.

Refreshing Functional Beverages

Functional beverages are super popular these days, and it’s not hard to see why. These non-alcoholic drinks taste amazing and they’re enhanced with wellness ingredients such as CBD, adaptogens, and nootropics. Sipping on functional beverages is a great way to get your daily hydration and boost your health and wellness. Here are some of our top picks for functional beverages.

• Tropink (formerly Pink Cloud)
• Maté Party
• Ablis CBD Drinks
• Be Goat Clean Energy Drinks

Cool Off with Ice Tea

Ice tea is a classic refresher that’s perfect for hot summer days and outdoor BBQs. From black or green to herbal and hibiscus flower, these are a few of our favorite ice teas for summer.

• Teakoe
• Hibisbloom Hibiscus Flower Tea
• Hoptonic Sparkling Tea

Switch from Hot to Iced Coffee

For many of us, coffee is a morning ritual we look forward to. But when it’s hot outside, a hot cup of Joe isn’t quite as satisfying. We recommend switching it up and brewing your coffee over ice. Cold coffee stays fresh in the fridge for days, so you can brew a large batch and have it on hand for about a week.

We love our local roasters and we’re proud to keep their coffees on our shelves. Look for coffee from these amazing local roasters in our coffee and tea aisle, all of which are great for making iced coffee or cold brew at home.

Oregon-Made Kombucha

We just wouldn’t be true Oregonians if we didn’t mention kombucha. This ancient beverage is made with fermented tea, fruit juice and live cultures for a tasty, fizzy summer beverage that’s great for your gut health too. Here are a few of our favorite kombucha drinks made by Oregon brewers.

• Kinergy Kombucha
• Brew Dr. Kombucha
• BNF Kombucha

Summer Beers

There’s nothing like cracking open an ice-cold beer on a hot day. Whether you like it hoppy, light or sour, we’ve got a few suggestions for Oregon-made beers that really beat the summer heat. Check these out next time you visit the Beer & Wine department of your local Market of Choice.

• Grand Fir Trail Bloom
• Boss Rambler
• Cascade Brewing Sour Ales
• Xicha Brewing Mexican Style Lagers

Zero-Proof Cocktails

Being your own mixologist offers a certain kind of satisfaction that only comes with stretching your creative muscles. Whether you like them shaken or stirred, we have a few refreshing, zero-proof summer cocktail recipes you’ll love trying with friends, at summer BBQs, or just on a regular Tuesday night.

• Hibisbloom Hibiscus Apple Cider Lemonade
• Plants By People Elderberry Blueberry Lime Mocktail
• For Bitter For Worse Baby I love Your Way
• Here We Go

When it comes to refreshing summer beverages, Market of Choice has you covered. With our wide range of sparkling water, functional beverages, ice teas, coffee, kombucha, refreshing beers and ingredients for mixing your own drinks, you’ll never go thirsty or unsatisfied this summer. Indulge in all the outdoor fun, and be sure to stop by your local market to grab some refreshing summer beverages or ingredients for making your own creative drinks at home.