Beverages

Chia seeds look like poppy seeds, but when soaked in liquid for a while, they bloom and develop an awesome gummy texture. This limeade is made using the whole lime, which gives it a slight bitterness, but trust me: it’s so good you won’t want to make it any other way.

The literal translation of the name of this drink is “the Virgin’s tears,” as the red color of the beets resembles tears of blood said to have been shed by the Virgin Mary. This beverage originated in the state of Guanajuato, maybe as long ago as the end of the sixteenth century. I found a few different variations, but this one seemed to be the most common, and it’s quite special. Although this beverage is customarily prepared during Lent for the festivities of Friday of Sorrows (the Friday before Good Friday), it’s a wonderful drink during fall, when beets and apples abound. This recipe makes a large batch to share at your next gathering.

This refreshing nonalcoholic drink recipe is flexible and easy to make. Adjust the sweetness levels to your taste and swap in whatever ripe fruit you have on hand.

Aguas frescas, water-based fruit drinks, are a cool way to make your fresh fruit go further—especially in the summertime when you might have a larger watermelon than you know what to do with, or peaches that are starting to shrivel.

This method is endlessly adaptable: Swap the black bass for salmon; use spinach instead of cabbage. Don’t like mushrooms? Skip ’em!

The combination of garlic and ramps may seem like overkill, but we promise it’s not. The garlic will mellow as it cooks while the ramps stay pungent.

This gin cocktail gets a bitter kick from Fernet-Branca.

Agua de limón, or Key lime water, is probably the most common agua fresca. This recipe is a fun spin on the traditional, using lemons instead of Key limes and adding avocado to acknowledge the very classic combination of citrus and avocado, but out of their normal context. 

This frozen G&T skips the fizz and gets frosty instead. You’ll need to use tonic syrup, not tonic water (tonic water won’t add enough flavor), but don’t let that stop you—this drink is too refreshing to skip.

This bitter and juicy highball is one of the greatest hits at Fort Defiance in Brooklyn.

This version of horchata mixes both the nut version and the rice version in what is a creamy, rich, and very satisfying drink.

This is Sasha Petraske's sly retort to the popularity of the Cosmopolitan, as the name coyly indicates. Indeed, the drink, piquant and slightly fruity, fills much the same purpose, tastewise, as that ubiquitous cocktail—only more so. 

Although very simple to make, its flavor complexity is unbelievable, especially for how light it is. Although whole cacao beans are ideal—you can find them at a local spice store or specialty chocolate shop—cacao nibs work too.

A brisk bitter stirred tequila drink that's a bit lighter than a Negroni.

The perfect romantic-comedy homage in a drink—a little sweet, a little bitter, and HOT.