Yogurt drinks to keep you cool all summer long

Yogurt drinks are great for your health as well as tasting amazing.

You can use any yogurt but of course "live" yogurt (or yoghurt) is best.

What is live yogurt?

Yogurt made with live cultures which are still live when you buy it and still live when you eat it! The best yogurt drinks use a live culture.

Live yogurt is sometimes called Bulgarian yogurt. The culture used is acidophillus.

Yogurt has been used for centuries and is one of the very best health foods still today. It is very good for our digestive systems as the cultures have a good effect on our intestinal bacteria, promoting the growth of "good" bacteria and inhibiting the growth of "bad" ones.

If you want to be absolutely sure that the yogurt you are eating is "live", look carefully at the label - it should say.

Yoghurt and orange zester (smoothie)

I don't like the name smoothie - it sounds a bit dodgy, somehow! I prefer to call it a "zester" as it more describes the effect.

For one person, take two tablespoons of fresh organic yoghurt and put them into a glass jug or similar.

Squeeze the juice from at least one orange - two is better - and whisk into the yoghurt.

Add a good dollop of wildflower honey, preferably one with a light taste so as not to overwhelm the fruit juice.

Picture right: fresh yogurt and grapefruit zester

Whisk again and drink immediately while it is still fizzing and bubbling.

This is the most energizing drink I know.

If you use pure, organic ingredients where possible this is a great health drink at any time of the year. I don't believe any commercial drink can match it because it positively fizzes with fresh vitamins and enzymes.

Not one to put into the fridge or freezer - if you can, mix it fresh every time. If you don't have an electric whisk or blender, an ordinary hand-held whisk works just fine.

This zester works great as a pick-me-up, or just as a cooling summer drink.

Elderberry and peach yogurt zester

More yogurt drinks:

You can make endless variations on the above orange zester recipe.

For example, elderberry cordial or syrup can be mixed with yogurt and then topped up with another fruit juice, such as apple or peach to make a more liquid drink. If you are lucky enough to have fresh dessert apples and an apple press or juicer, so much the better.

For this version, you don't really need the honey... shame really!

Elderberry Recipes for a Healthy Winter

Lassi - the ultimate cooler

When the temperature climbs, try this traditional Indian drink. Lassi is made from just yogurt and water with a little salt.

Sounds unpromising, doesn't it?

It's actually one of the best yogurt drinks! It is versatile and easy to make. Here is how to make lassi.

Whisk together a couple of tablespoons of good quality live yogurt and about half a pint of water. Add salt to taste and a couple of cubes of ice.

Brilliant! This is a real cooler on a hot day.

Ok, some people just don't get it...maybe it sounds a bit too puritanical. If you don't think it's good, try the sweet version.

Instead of salt, add a little sugar and a squeeze of fresh lime. On the other hand, if you are feeling hardy, try adding a little chilli powder to the salt version!

Yogurt is the most amazing food - and drink. If you would like to know more about its health-giving qualities, please see Why eat fermented food? which has a section on yogurt and its nutritional qualities.

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