Introduction: Making Drinks Yourself
Homemade drinks are easier than many people think. With fresh ingredients, a little water and a few simple steps, you can create refreshments that taste exactly the way you like them – with the amount of sweetness you choose yourself.
In this article we present two simple recipes, explain which kitchen equipment is worthwhile, and give tips on storage and shelf life. Whether for the morning, the afternoon or the evening, the suggestions are easy to adapt.
If you prefer something even quicker, you will find an alternative with TEABALLS at the end.
Why Make Drinks Yourself?
Using Fresh Ingredients
Fresh ingredients bring plenty of flavour to the glass: citrus fruit, berries, ginger or herbs can be combined in countless ways. This lets you put together drinks to your own taste and for any occasion – from simple lemon water to a creamy smoothie.
When you make drinks yourself, you decide what goes into the glass. You choose the ingredients, decide whether and how much sugar is used, and can do without flavourings or colourings. You also know exactly which ingredients are in your drink – including when it comes to allergens.
You can also steer a good deal when shopping. Seasonal fruit and vegetables from the region often have shorter transport routes, and preparing only as much as will be drunk avoids food waste.
Deciding on Ingredients and Sugar Yourself
Industrially produced drinks contain, depending on the product, sugar, flavourings, colourings or preservatives; the list of ingredients on the packaging shows exactly what. When you make drinks yourself, you decide the ingredients.
This applies especially to sugar. If you prefer less sweetness, you can reduce the amount gradually or leave it out altogether and rely on the sweetness of the fruit. Bear in mind that, according to the WHO, honey, agave syrup and maple syrup also count as "free sugars" – so they are not a sugar-free substitute.
Preparing drinks at home also means you can use carafes and reusable bottles and so avoid single-use packaging.
Easy Recipes for Drinks
Lemon-Ginger Water Recipe
Lemon-ginger water is a refreshing drink that can be made with a few ingredients and without sugar. The lemon adds a fresh, tart note, the ginger a slight heat.
You only need a few simple ingredients: one lemon, a piece of fresh ginger about 2 cm long and around one litre of water. Cut the lemon into slices and the ginger into thin slices or small cubes. Put both in a jug or carafe and top up with the water. Leave the mixture to infuse in the fridge for at least an hour so the flavours can develop. For a more intense taste, you can also let the water infuse overnight.
The recipe can be varied as you like, for example with fresh mint leaves, cucumber slices or slightly warmed water as a warm version. As a refreshment between meals, it is an alternative with no added sugar to sweetened lemonades or juices.
Berry Smoothie Recipe
A berry smoothie is quickly blended and works as breakfast or as a snack between meals. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries provide fruity flavour and a vivid colour.
Start with a cup of fresh or frozen mixed berries. A banana makes the smoothie creamy and gives it a natural sweetness. A glass of milk or a plant-based alternative such as almond milk works well as the liquid. For a thicker consistency, you can blend in a tablespoon of flaxseed or chia seeds. Put all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
If you like, blend in a handful of baby spinach; the colour becomes darker, while the taste stays mostly fruity. If you want the smoothie sweeter, use a riper banana. Serve it chilled, garnished with a few fresh berries or mint leaves.
Preparation Tips
Kitchen Equipment You Need
For most drinks, a few appliances are enough. A powerful blender is especially useful for smoothies, as it processes fruit and vegetables to a fine consistency. Make sure it can also handle larger quantities if you are preparing drinks for several people.
A citrus press makes squeezing oranges, lemons and limes easier. Freshly squeezed citrus juice is a good base for many drinks; however, fruit juice counts as free sugars under the WHO definition, so it is best used sparingly.
A soda maker turns tap water into sparkling water, which you can refine with fruit, herbs or slices of ginger. This gives you an alternative to soft drinks with no added sugar, where you decide the ingredients yourself.
Storage and Shelf Life
Choose clean, tightly closing containers for your homemade drinks. Glass bottles and jugs are neutral in taste and easy to clean. Close the containers well so that as little air as possible gets in.
Always keep freshly prepared drinks such as lemon-ginger water, fresh juices, smoothies or plant-based milk in the fridge and use them up promptly. Check the smell and taste before drinking and discard the drink if anything has changed.
Freezing can extend the shelf life of drinks considerably. This is especially useful if you want to prepare larger quantities. Remember that liquids expand when they freeze, so do not fill the containers completely. Leave a little space to prevent breakage. Thawing should be done gently in the fridge to preserve the quality and taste of the drink.
A Quick Alternative: Flavoured Water with TEABALLS
If you are in a hurry, flavoured water can also be made without cutting or blending: of the 16 TEABALLS varieties, which can be drunk hot or cold, 3 to 5 pressed pieces go into a glass of water (approx. 3 dl) and dissolve as you stir. There are 24 varieties in total, 8 of them organic, which are for drinking hot only. No variety contains added sugar; four varieties (Energy, Mango, Blueberry & Coconut, Watermelon) contain the sweetener sucralose, the other 12 TEABALLS varieties and all 8 organic varieties contain no sweetener.
You will find more ideas in the article Flavoured water without sugar; all varieties are listed under all TEABALLS products.
Conclusion: Making Drinks Yourself Made Easy
Preparing drinks at home is easy and gives you more control over the ingredients. With the recipes presented for lemon-ginger water and berry smoothie, you can make refreshing drinks without much effort.
You can experiment with flavours and ingredients until the drink matches your preferences, and avoid single-use packaging by working with carafes and reusable bottles.
Enjoy trying out and drinking your homemade drinks!
