Italian summer drink to try at home

Summer is nearly over and what a better way to say her goodbye than with a typical Italian summer drink to try at home? Maybe while having a few nibbles with friends and family and creating the perfect homemade aperitivo or brunch. Among Italian summer drinks there’s something for all tastes: if you’re keen to alcoholic cocktails you can indulge creating Aperol Spritz, Peach Bellini and Hugo Spritz or if you prefer something non-alcoholic you should try shakerato, lemon sorbet and Italian granita.

Aperol Spritz is the classic summer Italian drink par excellence, it hails from Veneto and is made with Prosecco, soda and Aperol. This last is an Italian aperitif, made with gentian, rhubarb and cinchona and has a bright orange color, bittersweet taste and low spirit. Aperol Spritz is super easy-to-make since you just need to follow the “3-2-1” rule: 3 parts Prosecco, 2 parts Aperol and 1 part soda and mix them together with ice. In Italy, this sunset-colored drink is typically consumed before dinner and is often garnished with a green olive to enhance its sweet flavor.

Peach Bellini is an Italian summer drink named after the Venetian artist Giovanni Bellini. The reason lies behind the color: Giovanni Bellini used a unique shade of pink in his paintings that recalls this drink’s colors! This fancy drink is made with Italian Prosecco or sparkling wine and peach juice that confer its typical peachy color. Over these years it has become a must during summer brunches since it’s light, refreshing and is extremely easy to make: just mix together the Prosecco you love the most with peach juice and you are ready to amaze your guests.

Even though Hugo Spritz is not as famous as Aperol Spritz or Peach Bellini, it has suddenly become one of the best summer Italian drinks. Born in South Tyrol, this drink is made with a simple blend of Prosecco, elderflower syrup, fresh mint leaves and lime juice. Thanks to the natural freshness of mint and lime, it has a fragrant, herbaceous and slightly floral blend and it’s the perfect drink to quench your thirst. Hugo is incredibly simple to make and can be also made with an alcohol-free Prosecco if your guests don’t drink alcohol or if you just want to serve it in a lighter version.

No summer can start without the refreshing and bright flavors of Italian granita to cool you off. Granita originates from Sicily and is a non-alcoholic drink made from water, sugar and various flavorings. Traditionally, Sicilian granita is blended and frozen until icy, then flaked with a fork and frozen again: the result is a creamy texture drink perfect to be consumed alone or with the typical Sicilian brioche. You can easily make granita at home in a whole range of flavors, from the simple lemon and strawberries to the traditional Sicilian pistachio or almond granita.

Being Italians, we can’t renounce to coffee even during hot days! When summer comes, most of Italians start making shakerato at home: one of the easiest Italian summer drink recipes. Shakerato is simply a shot of espresso shaken with sugar on ice and can be finished by adding cocoa powder or milk according to ones taste. Thanks to the vigorous shaking that aerates the coffee, the result will be a velvety and capped coffee with a creamy foam that can be enjoyed especially after a long lunch to help digestion.

If you like citrus flavor, then chances are that you’ll love lemon sorbet! It may be confused with Italian gelato, however as opposed to it, sorbet is naturally dairy free, is made with just water, fresh fruit juice and sugar and has a soft consistency. As a rule, Italians serve sorbet quite soft and creamy that can be positively drinkable straight from the glass. You can make your lemon sorbet at home with no effort and enjoy it as a snack or at the end of a meal as a cool and refreshing palate cleanser that’s welcome after a fish dinner or a mixed grill. Now that you've discovered some of the most famous Italian summer drinks, you are ready to invite friends and family to try them all!