It’s safe to say that 2020 has brought us the most unique summer in modern history. While we’ve had to reimagine many of our favorite summer activities, one thing hasn’t changed: fruity, refreshing drinks are still the perfect treat on a hot day! Whether you’re sitting alone by a pool or dining al fresco with your quarantine crew, making healthy versions of festive summer cocktails is a great way to show friends and family how delicious fresh, organic ingredients can be.
This summer I enjoyed a mocktail that I came up with The Strawberry Basil Breeze. This blended, icy concoction is the perfect drink for warm summer afternoons and evenings. It’s also packed with ingredients that support our immune system, which we know is more important than ever.
In this mocktail, I include a generous dose of WishGarden’s newly relaunched immune support formula, Kick-Ass Daily Immune With Elderberry & Astragalus. This blend of nourishing herbs provides gentle support for a healthy immune response and is safe for long-term use. Consistently nourishing (but not overstimulating) our immune system is the key to creating a healthy internal balance. The main herb in Kick-Ass Daily is Astragalus, which has been used as an immune tonic in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. This formula also contains Echinacea, Burdock, Nettle, Red Clover, Cleavers and Hawthorn.
Other immune-supporting ingredients in this mocktail include:
Strawberries — Did you know that strawberries provide a better vitamin C concentration than oranges?! They are one of our best commonly available food sources of vitamin C. Strawberries also contain high levels of antioxidants
Coconut water — Rich in minerals and electrolytes to promote hydration, recovery and energy on hot summer days
Raw or Manuka honey — Honey is truly one of nature’s wonder foods. Not only is it delicious, but it is also rich in phytonutrients, free radical scavengers and support for healthy microbial balance.
At WishGarden we love mocktails because they make herbal medicine fun, relaxing and delicious. They offer us a creative way to integrate herbs into our daily lives that is different from the hot teas and tinctures we are all used to. Making herbal medicine mocktails is especially great for people who want the benefits of herbs but struggle with the taste of tinctures. I think you can convince just about anyone to get their daily dose of herbal immune support with this delicious drink.
Strawberry basil breeze recipe
(for 2 servings):
Ingredients:
- 1 full cup frozen strawberries (remove stem, cut in half and freeze or buy pre-frozen)
- 4-5 ice cubes or crushed ice
- ½ cup coconut water
- 1 tablespoon raw or manuka honey
- 6 fresh basil leaves
- ¼ teaspoon pure lemon juice or squeezed ¼ lemon
- 5 full droppers of Kick-Ass Daily Immune
Instructions:
- Add strawberries, ice, coconut water, lemon, honey and basil to a blender. Mix on high until smooth.
- Add Kick-Ass Daily and mix on low for about 10 seconds
- Pour into two glasses and garnish with berries and basil leaves
The Daily Immune Builder tastes pretty good as far as herbal tinctures go and will work well in all kinds of mocktails. Mix it with kombucha or juice with sparkling water if you don’t have the above ingredients on hand. Some of my favorite options are Wild Tonic Raspberry Goji Rose kombucha or Santa Cruz Organic Strawberry lemonade.
The video below takes you through the entire process. Enjoy!
Jamie McKeown has a BA in Film from the University of Michigan and studied herbal medicine with Julie James at Green Wisdom Herbal Studies in Long Beach, CA. She is a holistic health coach and sales representative and teacher in Los Angeles for WishGarden.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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