10 Delicious Drinks You May Not Have Heard Of

Who doesn’t love a delicious beverage to relax with? Whether you’re reaching for a cold one on a hot day, something to hydrate you after exerting yourself, or the kind of beverage that seems like a treat – a beverage can be exactly what you’re craving. And because they play such an important role in daily life, beverages are getting some extra attention.

May 6 marks National Beverage Day, a day where people celebrate all types of beverages. And while there’s nothing wrong with pouring yourself a favorite drink that you’re well-acquainted with, this could also be a great time to try something different.

Here we’ll take a look at 10 delicious drinks you might not have heard of before, and that you can enjoy at home.

Peach Mango Orange Cream Soda

Mango peach whole slices fruit isolated on white background
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kovaleva_Ka

You’re probably familiar with orange cream soda, and it may even be a favorite drink of yours. Here’s a chance to give it a more tropical, and arguably a more refreshing taste. Peach Mango Orange Cream Soda is a concoction you can blend at home, just be sure to make extra because you’re going to want it.

This one contains coconut milk, seltzer or club soda, water, agave nectar, fresh, canned, or frozen peaches, oranges, and mangos.

Italian Soda

Close up Italian cream soda over dark background.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Mallika Home Studio

There’s a good chance you haven’t heard of this one before but once you try it, you’ll want to make a staple in your diet. Italian soda is described as creamy and sweet. The base of the drink is sugar, water, club soda, ice, and cream. You then add fresh berries (of your choice), for flavor and color. Because any berry can essentially be used in Italian soda, you can customize it to your taste buds.

Be sure to check out the many versions of Italian soda recipes online so you can find one that appeals to you.

Latte with an Island Twist

Ice Pandan coffee latte with espresso
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Lattes both cold and hot are enjoyed by many all around the world, but let’s face it they can seem a bit boring after a while. A latte takes the standard drink that you’re familiar with and gives it an unexpected flavor – pandan extract. This is a common ingredient in Southeast Asian dishes. It’s not exclusively used in beverages but does tend to be best in desserts or sweet treats – which is why it works so well in a latte.

When searching for a recipe to use, try looking for “Pandan Iced Latte”, as that’s how it’s more well-known.

Thai Iced Tea

Making iced milk tea, pouring milk from tin can.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / aaleenaf

Thai Iced Tea is a great twist on traditional iced tea and represents another caffeine-based beverage on the list. The base of the drink is a standard iced tea but it is a bold brew and then a variety of spices and condensed milk is added. This beverage is typically found on street carts throughout Thailand and is wildly popular. It’s sure to give you that jolt of energy that you’re craving.

Espresso Martini

Boozy Refreshing Espresso Martini Cocktail with Vodka
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Brent Hofacker

The perfect drink to round out the caffeine options is the espresso martini. This is a more elegant and sophisticated drink and one you may quickly fall in love with. This drink contains coffee liquor, simple syrup, espresso, and vodka. It’s strong, it’s flavorful, and it will win you over.

Sake

Cherry blossoms and Japanese sake
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Chiristsumo

Craving an alcoholic beverage but want to step outside your comfort zone on National Beverage Day? Sake could be exactly what you need to open your eyes to other flavors. This is a popular drink that comes from Japan and is enjoyed as a shot or in a small cup. While not as strong as vodka, this clear beverage is a lot stronger than wine. Because you drink it straight hot, room temperature, or chilled, you’re in for a real kick.

Some describe it as a very dry wine with an extra kick, others describe it as cool and almost crisp.

Sangria

Red wine sangria or punch with fruits, mint and ice in glasses.
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Oksana Mizina

Nothing beats a flavorful glass of sangria on a warm day in May, and that’s exactly what we’re suggesting. Sangria is a drink that originates in Spain but has become popular all around the world. You can purchase it or make it. The base is dry red wine – no need to splurge on the high-quality stuff – and then you add fruit (fresh or frozen), a splash of brandy, and ice.

Because sangria tends to go down so easily, we recommend you mix up a pitcher that can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days. You can then have a glass whenever the mood strikes.

If you’re not a fan of red wine, you can always make a white wine sangria instead. For this version use your favorite fruits and white grape juice.

Dealcoholized Beer

A can of dark leffe, special Belgian beer with 0.0 or zero percent alcohol
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Farantsa

This isn’t an option you can make at home, but you can certainly pick up a case and enjoy it at home. For many people, beer is their alcoholic beverage of choice but it can be very high in carbs and expensive if you’re purchasing it often. So why not make National Beverage Day an excuse to try a cheaper and somewhat healthier version of beer?

Dealcoholized beer contains very little (trace amounts) if any alcohol, yet it retains all the flavors of beer. If you were to be blindfolded and given a glass of each to sample, there’s a good chance you may not even spot the difference. And what’s even better, it costs much less than the alcoholized version.

Aloe Lemonade

Homemade detox drink with lemon and aloe
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alena A

Lemonade is the kind of drink that people often crave on a hot and sticky summer day. It’s refreshing, it seems to cool you down instantly, and the combination of tartness and sweetness hits just right. Traditional lemonade depends on lemons for the flavor, but for many, that’s just the foundation of a great drink. Other berries and fruits can be added, it can be mixed with cold sweet tea and more options.

We want to challenge you a little further and suggest trying an Aloe lemonade. The drink begins with freshly squeezed and made lemonade, but the one difference is that you use Aloe Vera juice in it. Aloe has a distinct flavor that can take a little getting used to, but it’s exactly for hydration and even has some health benefits.

Creamy Lemonade

Brazilian Lemonade, Refreshing Creamy Lemonade or Limeade with Lime Slices and Mint
Image Credit: Shutterstock / Julie208

Just to prove the point that lemonade can be highly versatile, here’s another delicious drink to try on National Beverage Day. Creamy lemonade is basic lemonade with the addition of sweetened condensed milk. The best version is to use water, sweetened condensed milk and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The fresh stuff is always more tart and refreshing than a bottle of lemon juice.

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