If you love refreshing drinks for summer, try this virgin Frozen Blood Orange Pina Colada! Do you know what I really love? Unusual flavours that surprise and leave you wanting more! A few years ago I would’ve never thought of combining blackberries and basil in a drink. But after travelling around the world I learned better than to reject something new before giving it a try. I will never forgetting my first taste of apple basil gelato in Italy, and being absolutely thrilled by that discovery. The taste was just what one would want on a hot summer day. Light, refreshing and simply delicious. It turns out basil is a versatile herb. It compliments a heady tomato-based pasta sauce, adds a touch of extra flavour to some Southeast Asian curries and works brilliantly in fruit desserts. It also adds a bring, refreshing kick to drinks like lemonade. But if I haven’t convinced you, try replacing with mint!
Making lemonade
I love experimenting with new drinks as it’s pretty low time investment if experiments don’t work out. Luckily this one did!! When creating my lemonade I really wanted to use a combination of lemon and lime juice. I thought that would pair well with basil and frozen blackberries picked last August. Just squeeze the juice out of the lemons and limes until you have about a cup of juice combined. Not all lemons and limes have the same amount of juice, so you may have to grab one or two more. Add the juice to a food processor or blender along with the blackberries, basil and sugar. Blend until it is smooth and creamy. I love everything about blackberries – taste, colour, fragrance – but not the seeds! You really don’t want to chew your lemonade, so best to strain the mixture through a fine sieve to make it smooth and seedless. After that I was in the possession of the most delicious and visually stunning concoction! All was left to do is to add a couple of tablespoon of it to pretty glasses and top them with sparkly club soda!! Light and refreshing!
