10 Alternatives to Cold Brew

There are so many things to like about cold-brew coffee — it’s strong, tasty, and can be incorporated into a number of different drinks. But whether you’re a coffee addict or not, it’s easy to overdo-it on caffeine if you’re not careful. There’s no shame in not being able to resist an extra soy latte on a hot day, but having too many on the regular is not good for anyone.

Did you know that even drinking only two cups of coffee a day has been linked to an increase in blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, and the presence of inflammatory markers in the body? Chronic dehydration, stomach ulcers, insomnia, and mood swings are other unpleasant downsides of downing too much coffee. The good news is, there are plenty of beverages that contain no caffeine but are just as delicious and refreshing as coffee. Next time you’re parched, ditch the cold-brew and try any of these tasty alternatives to quench your thirst.

1. Coconut Water

Phu Thinh Co/Flickr

If you’re looking for something sweet and refreshing, coconut water is the perfect drink for you. Packed with natural sugars, vitamins, minerals and amino acids, it makes a great post-workout drink. It contains an impressive amount of minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, copper, and selenium!) and is a good source of antioxidants as well.  Besides its nutrient punch, coconut water also has the benefit of reducing high-blood pressure and bloat.

Want to know more about coconuts? Check out Why is Coconut Water Better Than Sports Drinks? and The Amazing Health Benefits of Coconuts (with Recipes!)

2. Kombucha

This trendy fizzy drink will give you the energetic buzz of caffeine without the negative effects. If you didn’t know, kombucha is a fermented beverage made with tea leaves, bacteria, yeast, and sugar. As such, it is an amazing source of probiotics, which can help your digestion and immunity, as well as ward off parasites. Kombucha’s health benefits don’t stop there, though — the drink also contains antioxidants and B-vitamins that contribute to keeping our immune system in tip-top shape.

If you’d like to attempt making your own at home, check out our guide on How to Make Kombucha. Then give this delicious Lychee and Kombucha Spritz and this Fizzy Coconut, Lime and Mint Kombucha Elixir a try. We promise you won’t regret it!

3. Smoothies

Take advantage of the abundance of fresh fruits and veggies and make yourself a smoothie. A fruit smoothie is a great pick-me-up when the afternoon lull hits. Smoothies are also a good way to sneak greens into your diet without much effort. Did you know that less than 11 percent of Americans are meeting the USDA guidelines for fruits and veggies consumption?

It’s really a shame, because fruits and greens are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, and they’re a rich source of antioxidants which can protect us from cardio-vascular disease, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Smoothies are also a good source of fiber, which will improve your digestion and keep you fuller longer.

If you’re ready to give your health a boost, try this Mango Lassi Blueberry Smoothie, this Coconut Chocolate Chip Smoothie or this Mint-Citrus Smoothie. These amazing smoothies are proof of how good health can taste!

4. Cocktails (or Mocktails)

Is there anything better than having a Healthy Piña Colada on a hot day? Indulging in cocktails or mocktails to beat the heat is a totally valid choice if you ask us. After all, there’s fruit in it!

Speaking of fruit, this Peach Ginger Sangria is fruity, light, crisp, and perfectly bubbly. This Papaya Colada is also great and packed with vitamins. Did you know that papaya is full of vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and fiber? It’s also packed with antioxidants that give it incredible cancer-fighting powers.

If you’re looking for another great cocktail, you can try this Green Mojito Juice. It’s perfect with brunch or for a late afternoon chill-out with friends. This Watermelon Rose Drink and this Vanilla Pear Cardamom Cocktail are also great drinks to serve guests (or drink by yourself!) by the pool.

5. Iced Matcha Drink

Matcha tea seems to be everywhere these days — and that’s not without reason. This Japanese drink is a total superfood. It contains a powerful antioxidant named EGCG that contributes to a healthy heart and healthy metabolism. The antioxidants found in matcha also protect us from cancer and chronic diseases through their anti-inflammatory properties. Chlorophyll, the pigment that gives matcha its famous green tint, can help your skin clear up and prevent inflammation in your body. That’s yet another bonus of consuming matcha on the regular.

If you want to reap the benefits of matcha, try our Cafe Matcha Tea Vegan Latte or make this delicious Iced Matcha Green Tea Frappé With Coconut Whip at home.

6. Chai

Chai is a unique drink, typically comprised of black tea, ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, fennel, and other spices, and is said to improve digestion, immunity, and circulation. Chai also has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antibacterial properties because of the many antioxidants found in black tea and the other spices.

Next time you get thirsty, swap your cold-brew for this creamy, invigorating, and perfectly refreshing Creamy Chai Latte. You can also try this Nourishing Autumn Chai Smoothie or this delicious Chai and Vanilla Chaga Mushroom Tea.

7. Lemonade

This refreshing classic is famous for being Beyoncé’s latest album title, but it really should be on your radar for its health benefits as well.

Lemons have incredible properties, they are filled with vitamin C and ascorbic acid, an antioxidant that can help rejuvenate your skin, fight free-radicals to relieve inflammation in your body, and keep your immune system healthy. If you want to up the benefits even more, check out This Magical, Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Glow Lemonade.

For a twist on the classic, try this Jal Jeera: Refreshing Indian Spiced Lemonade.

8. Cold-Brewed Cacao

Everjean/Flickr

Cold-brewed cacao (also called cold-brewed tea) has all the upsides of coffee without any of its drawbacks. Made with roasted cacao beans steeped in hot water then cooled, this brew is delicious and healthy.

Theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant in cacao beans, can give you a small buzz without the negative effects of caffeine because it doesn’t affect your central nervous system. It’s also good for your health, as it lowers blood pressure and fights free radical damage through its anti-inflammatory properties. So next time you’re in the mood for a cold-brew, switch the coffee beans for cacao beans, and you won’t regret it!

Want more cacao inspo? Check out these 5 Magical Ways to Enjoy Healthy Cacao Beans and Cacao vs. Cocoa: What You Need to Know.

9. Plant-Based Milks

Almond, cashew, soy, rice, flax, and oat milk are some examples of plant-based milks you can enjoy on a hot day.

Plant-based milk sales are on the rise these days and with reason. They’re a good source of calcium, easy to digest, low in calories, and most importantly, they are cruelty-free. It’s also good to note that going dairy-free means IGF-1, an insulin growth hormone linked to cancer cell growth and acne, is not coursing through our bodies.

Making your own plant-based milk is incredibly easy. Check out our guide on How to Make Your Healthy Homemade Plant-Based Milk Taste Like the Ones Sold in Stores. You can also try this tasty Creamsicle Cashew Milk or this Maple Pecan Milk next time you want something refreshing.

10. Chilled Herbal Teas

Teas are packed with antioxidants, which make them a drink of choice any day, but they’re especially good as a chilled refreshment.

Did you know that tea can benefit your immune system and has cleansing properties? Some teas like chamomile and green tea can even help reduce acne breakouts and heal scarring. Consuming tea regularly is also linked with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer. If that’s not a good enough reason to drink up, we don’t know what is!

Give this Cooling Herbal Tisane or this Rooibos Tea and Homemade Ice-Cream Float a try next time the thermometer hits scorching temperatures. You can also check out our guide on How to Make Herbal-Infused Water in 3 Easy Steps.

Recommended Resources and Recipes to Get You Started

Want to find more info and recipes about healthy refreshments? Here are a few articles that might interest you:

• 8 Drinks, Besides Coffee, That’ll Wake You Up
• The 5 Healthiest Alternatives to Coffee
• 12 Fun and Refreshing Beverages for Your Summer Days and Nights
• 10 Must-Try Healing Turmeric-Powered Elixirs
• The 5 Best Ingredients for Your DIY Wellness Drinks
• 5 Healthy ‘Shots’ To Alkalize Your Body in the Morning

If you enjoy articles like this and want to find more ideas for cocktails and other tasty beverages, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App. For those that don’t have it, it’s a brilliant Food app available for both Android and iPhone and can also be found on Instagram and Facebook. It’s a great resource for anyone looking to eat healthier, cut out or reduce allergens like meat, dairy, soy, gluten, eggs, grains, and find more awesome recipes, cooking tips, articles, product recommendations and how-tos. The app shows you how having diet/health/food preferences can be full of delicious abundance rather than restrictions.

The Food Monster app has over 8000+ recipes and 500 are free. To access the rest, you have to pay a subscription fee but it’s totally worth it because not only do you get instant access to 8000+ recipes, you get 10 NEW recipes every day! You can also make meal plans, add bookmarks, read feature stories, and browse recipes across hundreds of categories like diet, cuisine, meal type, occasion, ingredient, popular, seasonal, and so much more!

Lead image source: Tulsi Chai Concentrate