# What can I drink in the summer that is 'healthy' **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol, beer\ **Created:** [May 10, 2024, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330 "2024-05-10T02:45:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/21 "2024-05-10T19:06:45Z")
He talks about sweet tea, like it’s the only way to drink iced tea. Here in Texas, unsweetened is pretty common. It used to be the most common, but weirdos from the rest of the South are bringing that syrupy garbage here, and it’s becoming more common. I personally like mine unsweetened and somewhat dilute. Luzianne is the tea brand of choice in my family- get the bags intended to make a quart at a time (maybe it’s “family size”?) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/22 "2024-05-10T19:25:52Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > Too often, the stuff coming out of the tap is vile. Depending on the region where you live, tap water can be loaded with minerals. I personally detest mineral water. > > I drink water, a lot of it. And I buy bottled water. I try to be responsible and recycle the bottles. Have you tried filtering your water? It is cheaper (much) for you and (much) better for the environment. Yes, the filters are expensive but still less than buying bottled water which is very expensive. All sorts of options out there from pitchers with a filter to one you stick on your faucet to bigger units you mount under the sink (mine is built into my fridge but it is a new(ish) model). I’m also fortunate to live in Chicago which has excellent tap water. A couple decades ago a fancy restaurant somewhere (I forget now) did a water taste test with all sorts of bottled water. Chicago tap water won. (I will say New York City has very good tap water too.) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/23 "2024-05-10T19:29:35Z")
I’m unsweetened tea, all the way. Luzianne is the best I can buy. I’m sure there’s fancier ones. Lipton is crap. The only way to take it is sugar water plus tea. Blech!! I don’t do this, but I’ve heard people put a teaspoon of Arm and Hammers soda in a gallon of tea meant for iced tea. I assume it’s to counteract the bitterness some teas have. Or makes overloading it with artificial sweetener or sugar easier. Still, I stand by water as the best bet. Try alkaline water. 80oz of that per day might not be good. Have you checked out why you are so thirsty? ETA: aren’t Arnold Palmers usually alcoholic. I’ve heard vodka is the addition to make them gooder. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/24 "2024-05-10T19:37:17Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > ETA: aren’t Arnold Palmers usually alcoholic. I’ve heard vodka is the addition to make them gooder. If you order an Arnold Palmer then it is non-alcoholic. But, I can see it being very suitable for adding a shot or two of vodka but you should have to ask for that. As an aside, just cuz it’s funny…my brother and Ted Lasso agree on tea (35 seconds): [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YJn17lwukCc/maxresdefault.jpg "Ted Lasso Tea 01") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJn17lwukCc) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/25 "2024-05-10T19:39:47Z")
> [@SOJA](#): > > Water gets boring after a while Sparkling water from a sodastream. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Read the OP. They had a whole paragraph about iced tea. Certainly did- but how many posters said “drink water”? This is MaPSIMS, and I drink iced tea and sparkly water from a soda stream. > [@Beckdawrek](#): > > ETA: aren’t Arnold Palmers usually alcoholic. I’ve heard vodka is the addition to make them gooder. Not normally but I have seen a “hard Arnold Palmer” once. No double meaning intended. 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/26 "2024-05-10T19:44:58Z")
Oopsie, on the video clip. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/27 "2024-05-10T19:51:19Z")
It’s playing now. Thx @Whack-a-Mole . ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/28 "2024-05-10T20:34:41Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not normally but I have seen a “hard Arnold Palmer” once. No double meaning intended Look near the Twisted Teas at the store. But that’s relatively new. I’ve always known them to be non alcoholic. ---
**Author:** ![TXRebel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6de8d8/32.png) [@TXRebel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TXRebel)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/29 "2024-05-10T20:57:10Z")
My favorite drink, I drink it all year around is a little grapefruit juice (100% juice) and plain seltzer water. It’s refreshing, low in calories (don’t t go overboard on the grapefruit juice) and is never too sweet. You can use other juices, sometimes I use cranberry but I’m a big fan of the grapefruit. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/30 "2024-05-10T21:29:18Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If you order an Arnold Palmer then it is non-alcoholic. But, I can see it being very suitable for adding a shot or two of vodka but you should have to ask for that. I’ve heard alcoholic Arnold Palmers referred to as a John Daly. ---
**Author:** ![Apodder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apodder/32/17727_2.png) [@Apodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apodder)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/31 "2024-05-11T01:00:53Z")
I have the Pu-erh mini cakes and make a big (16 oz) cup of tea in the morning with one. Then I make iced tea with the used (and now mostly caffeine-free) leaves. I can get at least another half gallon of iced tea from them. I know you talked about iced tea but this has a different taste from the typical Luzianne/Lipton-type of black tea. A drop or two of stevia is nice in it, too. Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/32 "2024-05-11T15:09:50Z")
@Whack-a-Mole We do the filtered thing. At our AZ house, we have well water, which is excellent in every way, except it contains so much iron, you can practically hear the nails clunking in the sink as the water comes out of the faucet. We got a whole-house RO filter. That cleans up the water so my fixtures aren’t orange and the laundry looks acceptable. It still doesn’t taste right to me. So, I have used various filtering pitchers, and again, it’s the taste thing. I keep going back to bottled water. I’ve got misbehaving kidneys, so I’m supposed to stay well hydrated. I try to be ecologically aware\*, but my need to consume water and my persnickety taste buds will keep me with the bottled stuff. \*Hey, I still cut apart the plastic rings that hold cans of soda/beer together! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Zyada](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zyada/32/3028_2.png) [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2024, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/33 "2024-05-11T19:13:39Z")
It’s not clear from your OP, are you wanting pre-made tea? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/34 "2024-05-12T22:32:34Z")
Do you like soft drinks? If so, the ‘zero’ soft drinks taste pretty close to the real McCoy, but without the sugar. My wife drinks Coke Zero and Canada Dry Ginger Ale Zero, and has been quite happy with them. I enjoy A&W Root Beer Zero. The only ‘zero’ beverage I’ve found that’s been a disappointment is the ‘zero’ version of cream soda. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/35 "2024-05-12T22:38:27Z")
> [@SOJA](#): > > I’m just stuck around the crappy Lipton gallon bags and a slice of citrus or something. There’s no excuse for using Lipton for anything. Benner, the Aldi house brand, is significantly better than Lipton, for half the price. Also, you’ll get better iced tea by making hot tea, and then chilling it. Sun tea works, but not as well. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2024, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/36 "2024-05-12T23:12:51Z")
I buy diet tonic water with lime and mix a little [Pratt Standard ginger syrup](https://www.prattstandard.com/products/true-ginger-syrup) into it. Very refreshing. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/37 "2024-05-13T01:05:22Z")
I heard on a Western movie today that cold buttermilk is quite refreshing. I’m skeptical. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/38 "2024-05-13T01:07:55Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I heard on a Western movie today that cold buttermilk is quite refreshing. _blurp_ I cannot even begin to imagine. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/39 "2024-05-13T01:20:39Z")
Me too…not seeing it. To be fair, I only occasionally use it in cooking although I have tried it (a normal swig to drink). Not a fan to drink it. Of course, others may love it. ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330/40 "2024-05-13T01:31:21Z")
Go old school and drink [switchel](https://www.almanac.com/history-switchel). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-can-i-drink-in-the-summer-that-is-healthy/1001330.md?page=3)