Frangelico is a brand of hazelnut-herbal liqueur with caramel coloring coming from Canale, in the Piedmont region of Italy. Before we dive into the history of the liqueur and the nuances behind its flavor, let’s talk drinks. Below I’ve compiled and tinkered with a few very easy Frangelico cocktails that require little ingredients and experience. …
Grand Marnier is a brand of liqueurs based out of France, largely out of brandy and distilled with orange essence, bitters, and sugar. Before we dive into the history and production of this liqueur, let’s get into the fun part right away: DRINKS. Below I’ve compiled a handy list of 35 different cocktails with which …
Jam cocktails. It’s breakfast and happy hour all in one. If you’re looking to jam some jam in your next cocktail (or brunch, charcuterie spread, or cabin fire-side picnic), grab a spoon. Saltspring Kitchen Co. offers handmade savory, spicy, and sweet jams + preserves, and full-flavor funky hot sauces. Melanie started sharing the creations she made …
Amaretto is a classic Italian liqueur that is sweet and complex, often characterized by a strong almond and vanilla flavors as well as a distinctive dark amber color. Related: Tequila Cocktails | Whiskey Cocktails | Gin Cocktails | Rum Cocktails | Vodka Cocktail | Mezcal Cocktail | Cognac Cocktail | Grand Marnier Cocktail | Frangelico Cocktails …
Ah, la délice du cognac – this French spirit made by distilling white wine grapes is one of the most iconic worldwide, an eau-de-vie with a reputation long-characterized by luxury and excellence in flavor. Cognac is technically a style of brandy from a specific region in France – the varied characteristics of brandy and its …
Mezcal is a unique, oft-smoky, and always delicious spirit that hails from the Jalisco region of Mexico. Using the agave plants native to this part of the country, mezcal distillation has long-been a central tradition in the culture and consumption of Mexican people as well as those that lived there far before. The word mezcal …
Between Daiquiris, Pina Coladas, and getting caught in the rain, rum is one of the most commonly-enjoyed spirits on the planet, possessing a wide range of utility and flavors that positions it as a central ingredient in the home bartender’s collection. Equally, it is a spirit with an important history and a dark past. To …
Quicklist: Tequila Cocktails Classic Margarita Cucumber Margarita/Tequila Eastside Jalapeño Margarita Tequila Sunrise Paloma Mint Paloma Tequila Collins Tequila Martini Dirty Tequila Martini Brave Bull Tequila Sour Ranch Water Agave Mule/Mexican Mule El Diablo La Siesta Bloody Maria Tequila Old Fashioned Tequilano/Tequila Negroni The Marble Queen (Fishbowl @ Dream Midtown Bar, NYC) El Agresor (Dorsey at …
In Russian it means ‘little water’, but this name can be deceiving. Vodka is far from water, with a large range of cocktails and effects. On the surface, it is unassuming yet far-reaching, transparent yet full of possibility. In a way, this nebulous spirit is unique among the other aqua vitae we’ve explored thus far. …
No such thing as a girly drink. Bright, refreshing, and a lovely shade of pink, the Cosmo is perfect drink to get the night started or as a tart liquid dessert after a good meal. Double-straining is a must – you don’t want any ice chunks in this drink. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating …
An interesting riff on the French 75 I came up with. Using vodka and some Lillet gave the drink a completely different structure, but it still worked really well as a combination. The drink is a little rounder, a little sweeter, and a little more downplayed. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Moscow 77 …
Sparkling wine and amaro always go together. Add a little bit of vodka to your spritz and turn the 5-7 happy hour on the patio to a full-blown night on the town. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Spiked Spritz Vodka Cocktail Recipes Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
One of my personal favorite vodka drinks. Mellow, not too strong, and easy to drink in any situation. Simplicity is key. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Vodka Gimlet Cocktail Recipes Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
A bit more personality than the Vodka Soda. For when you’ve had a couple of drinks and you want something tasty but not feeling a beer or a full-on cocktail. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Vodka Tonic Cocktail Recipes Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
A much simpler and pragmatic take to the White Russian. It has its place and is a delicious digestif cocktail. It’s also incredibly easy to make. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Black Russian Vodka Cocktail Recipes Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
These are sneaky drinks so don’t underestimate them. Peach Schnapps does this thing to the texture of a drink that is so good and I find myself chugging drinks when they have that ingredient. The Hairy Navel adds a bit of vodka to the Fuzzy Navel and gives it a bit of bite. This is …
A delicious ginger and vodka drink. If you have the chance to make a ginger syrup, I strongly recommend it. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Moscow Mule Vodka Cocktail Recipes Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
Easy to make and if you have frozen fruit that can work really well. I like using a blend of different berries if I have the ability to. The Peach Schnapps and some crushed ice can really serve to elevate this drink. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the Vodka Berry Smash Cocktail Recipe Related …
The classic. The inimitable. The Vodka Martini. I like mine with a splash of vermouth and a twist. How to make and the ingredients of the Vodka Martini Cocktail Recipe Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
Like a milkshake with some pep to it. I personally like the texture of the heavy cream, which is diluted in the shaker and gives the drink an ice-cream consistency. Like Christmas in a Collins glass. Step-by-step instructions and ingredients for creating the White Russian Vodka Cocktail Recipes Related to: All Vodka Cocktails Recipes
Beverages hydrate and supply the body with minerals, vitamins, proteins, fats, and other essential nutrients that it may need to operate optimally. However, choosing the right one for your body’s needs might be daunting, given the numerous options available.
For this reason, I researched and discussed the different types of beverages you can find across the globe, their features, significance, and downsides to help you make informed decisions about their consumption. Please, keep reading to learn about them.
A beverage refers to any drink that is safe for human consumption, like plain water, yogurts, beer, wine, sodas, smoothies, etc.
The drinks feature different production procedures and formulas to fit them to their intended roles in the human body. For instance, some carbonated drinks like sodas are ideal for quenching the body, while others like hard liquor are meant to improve your mood, among other things.
Want to learn more about beverages? Let’s dig deeper into the different types of beverages, their composition, and their roles in the body.
Beverages fall into alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage categories discussed below:
As the name suggests, alcoholic beverages contain between 1% and 75% of ethyl alcohol or ethanol as the intoxicating ingredient.
While most alcoholic beverages improve mood, scientists associate them with improving cardiac health and reducing the risk of ischemic stroke and diabetes, among other functions. Alcoholic beverages are further classified into undistilled and distilled drinks explained below:
Undistilled alcoholic drinks are the ones that have been prepared through fermentation, a process through which the yeast converts the sugar into ethanol. Typically, drinks made through fermentation contain less alcohol than their distilled counterparts.
The main types of undistilled alcoholic beverages include:
Beer is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world. The key ingredients include water, malted cereal grains, and flavorings (like hops).
During its brewing, the malted cereal grain (starchy component) is converted to a sugary fluid, and then fermented with yeast to make beer. The hops are added to kill the strong malt smell.
The final products of the brewing process come in different flavors including bready, bitter, sweet, and sour flavors, depending on the nature of the cereals and the degree of their roasting. Examples of beer include German Bock, Pale Ale, Porter, Stout, Pilsner, etc.
Typically, most beers feature an alcohol content of between 4% and 6%.
Besides alcohol, beer contains B vitamins, magnesium, and potassium, which work in tandem to ensure good heart health and counter diabetes.
On the flip side, consuming beer in excess can impair your judgment.
Wine is another type of undistilled fermented drink. Its main ingredients include water, grapes, and yeast. Besides the grapes, wine may be fermented from other fruit varieties like red plums, pomegranate, cherry, elderberry, and currant.
During the fermentation, the yeast converts the sugar in the fruits into ethanol and carbon dioxide (as a by-product). The manufacturers then transfer the wine into bottles after fermentation.
Wine comes in two main types — red and white wine. According to sources, wine is rich in antioxidants, and it can enhance your cardiac health, counter diabetes, and regulate blood pressure, among other functions.
In addition, wine contains alcohol, whose effects depend on the amount of wine taken.
For instance, taking it moderately can improve your mood, confidence, and sociability, and decrease your anxiety.
On the flip side, its excessive consumption may impact your body negatively and impair your judgment.
Cider is a distilled alcoholic beverage that comes from fermented apple juice. It is a popular drink in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom (West Country).
If you love brewing cider at home, can you use the Fuji, Golden Delicious, Gala, Red Delicious, and Cortland Apple varieties for a sweet cider?
Fond of that acidic tort flavor? Try out the Braeburn, Pink Lady, and Jonathan apple varieties.
To prepare the cider, the manufacturers extract the apple juice, then ferment it with yeast to convert it to alcohol. After the fermentation, they add tannins and other flavorings before bottling them.
Generally, cider contains between 3% and 8.5% alcohol. However, some continental flavors may contain up to 12% Alcohol.
Why should you choose apple cider over other alcoholic beverages? The fermented apple cider contains polyphenols and antioxidative compounds, which avoid the damage of the body cells by free radicals, reducing the risk of some chronic illnesses like cancer, diabetes, cardiac problems, etc.
On the downside, apple cider is acidic, and its long-term consumption may erode the tooth enamel or the throat.
Distilled alcoholic beverages are potable drinks that contain at least 35.5% alcohol. They are purified from fermented substances like beer, wine, fermented cereals, etc., to attain a higher concentration of alcohol in the distillate.
Examples of distilled alcoholic beverages you can find across the globe include:
Hard liquor is an umbrella term for all alcoholic beverages that have been produced through the 2-step process of fermentation and distillation. Examples of beverages that meet the above description include whiskey, tequila, vodka, brandy, gin, and tum, among others.
The alcohol by volume (ABV) in the hard beverages may vary slightly depending on the quality of the materials and the amount of heat applied in producing them.
You can take them with ice cubes, hot water, or soft drinks. Alternatively, you can take them as they are to enjoy their true test and flavor.
Distilled alcoholic beverages can be tonic and deadly at the same time. Taking the recommended levels can be good for unblocking the arteries and veins. It can also aid in preventing some types of cancer and diabetes.
On the other hand, exceeding the recommended levels can cause devastating effects like liver cirrhosis, stroke, high blood pressure, and so on.
A cocktail is an alcoholic drink featuring a blend of a spirit/s and other ingredients like cream or fruit juice. Cocktails can have a high or low alcohol concentration, depending on the type of alcoholic beverage included in the blend.
Examples of the famous cocktails you can find in most parts of the globe include Cosmopolitan, Mojito, And Passion Fruit Martini, among others.
You can take the cocktail with ice cubes or as it is.
Drinking cocktails come with a double benefit. First, the antioxidative compounds in the hard liquor inhibit the destruction of your body cells by free radicals.
Additionally, your body benefits from other ingredients used in blending your cocktail. For instance, citrus juice can impact your body’s immunity positively.
Note: When taking mixed drinks, it can be hard to tell how much alcohol you have taken, and the chances of overindulgence might be high. And you know what is likely to come from excessive alcohol consumption.
Non-alcoholic beverages are potable drinks that contain zero alcohol or whose alcohol content has been reduced to almost zero. In other words, their preparation process doesn’t include using any yeast to convert any sugary content into alcohol. Below are the different types of non-alcoholic beverages you can find in different parts of the globe.
Plants are great sources of alcoholic (discussed earlier) and non-alcoholic drinks. This section discusses the various plant-based non-alcoholic beverages that you can find in different parts of the world.
Generally, cereal-based beverages use grain suspension as their main ingredient. They can come from different sources like barley, oats, rice, corn, wheat, malt, rye, etc.
The cereal-based beverages can be fermented or unfermented. For instance, The Russian Kvass is a fermented non-alcoholic drink produced from rye. It is believed to enhance immunity in people of all ages, cleanse the blood, and combat allergies and some liver problems.
Horchata is another good example of plant cereal-based alcohol-free beverages. This nutritious Mexican drink is extracted from white rice and cinnamon stick suspension. It is believed to be rich in magnesium, calcium, iron, and vitamins E and C, which are ideal for optimal functioning of the body cells.
Another example of cereal-based beverages is champus, which is native to Ecuador and Colombia. It is extracted from a blend of maize, seasonings, and fruits and is believed to deliver various health benefits to the body.
In a nutshell, different parts of the globe offer varied versions of cereal-based beverages. And, since each drink utilizes a different blend of ingredients, you should expect to gain different health benefits from each drink.
Also. ensure that you take the different cereal-based beverages to the recommended levels. Remember, too much of everything is poison.
Tea is the second most-consumed non-alcoholic beverage across the globe after water. It is planted in different parts of the world, including India, Kenya, China, and Srilanka.
Tea growers harvest the Camellia Sinensis tree leaves and then process them to make different tea products, including black, oolong, yellow, green, herbal, yerba mate, and other tea varieties.
The most basic way to consume tea is to mix it with hot water and then take it as a hot drink. In some cultures, tea is blended with milk, some flavors, and some sugar to enhance its taste. You can pair it with fruit salads, cupcakes, pastries, etc.
Perhaps you are asking, “what’s so special about tea?” Tea is taken hot, making it a great drink on cold days. Besides that, tea contains caffeine and amino acid L-theanine, which work in tandem to enhance the functioning of your brain and keep you alert.
Some reliable sources indicate that tea contains polyphenols and flavonoids, which act as antioxidants, preventing the damage of body cells by free radicals.
Like any other beverage, taking tea in excess can trigger unwanted side effects like iron intolerance, pregnancy complications, lack of sleep, etc.
As the name goes, fruit juice is a type of beverage extracted exclusively from the flesh of fresh fruits, including their rinds. You can extract the juice from one or multiple fruit types, depending on your targeted final taste and flavor.
The commonly used fruit types include pineapples, oranges, melons, pomegranates, apples, and grapes.
You can make a custom fruit juice at home or go for ready-made juices at the local grocery or supermarket. I’m fond of the custom-made juice since the fruit juices from these parties may contain added sugars and additives.
Fruits are great sources of vitamins A, C, E, and K and minerals like phosphorus, zinc, magnesium, folic acid, etc., which play different roles in the body. However, since different juices may contain fruits with different nutritional values, the best bet is to check the juice’s ingredients to confirm whether it will satisfy you.
Vegetable juice, on the other hand, is a drink extracted from a mix of vegetables. Examples of the commonly used ingredients in making vegetable juice include carrots, lettuce, beetroots, spinach, watercress, celery, tomatoes, etc.
Vegetable beverages are lower in calories than fruit juices, making them the perfect drink for weight watchers.
Besides, study reports indicate that fruits and vegetable juices contain antioxidants, fiber, nitrate, and oligosaccharides, which may initiate prebiotic-like effects.
Coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from roasted coffee beans. In other words, Mature coffee beans are harvested from the coffee tree, dried, roasted, and then ground into fine particles, which are then brewed with hot water. Examples of the main coffee types in the market include arabica, robusta, espresso, and cappuccinos.
Most coffee lovers take it without sugar to feel its true character.
If you are a coffee enthusiast like me, you would identify a high-quality coffee by its perfect balance of acidity, body, and flavor. You can add milk and sugar to counter the acidity and the bitter taste.
When taken moderately, coffee can help you manage weight, optimize your blood sugar levels, and help you stay focused.
On the downside, too much can cause insomnia, increased heart rates, breathing rates, and even stomach upsets due to its high caffeine content.
The cocoa drink is an umbrella term for all beverages produced using roasted and ground cocoa beans. These may include drinks from ground cocoa varieties like the natural cocoa powder, the dutch process cocoa powder, and the black cocoa powder.
The beverage is best taken hot. All you need is to add it to boiling water, top up some sugar and then stir to give it a taste.
Want to add some flavor to your drink? Sprinkle a pinch of nutmeg, anise, cinnamon, or any other flavor you feel like taking.
Why cocoa? Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, and other antioxidants, inhibiting body cell damage by free radicals. They also help prevent chronic illnesses like some types of cancer and diabetes.
However, it’s important to note that cocoa contains a higher amount of caffeine, and consuming it in excess can lead to nausea, insomnia, disturbed stomach, and other effects of caffeine.
The other types of non-alcoholic beverages you can find in the market include:
Dairy-based beverages refer to milk and other drinks, including milkshakes, yogurts, fermented milk, etc.
Taking a glass of milk or its related products gives your body calcium, zinc, iodine, phosphorus, vitamins, and other nutrients that work synergistically to enhance your overall wellbeing.
However, you should not try out dairy beverages if you’re allergic to dairy products or have lactose intolerance.
Soft drinks refer to any potable non-alcoholic beverage that has been sweetened with natural or artificial sweeteners. They are intended to hydrate, cool, and energize the body.
The main soft drinks include coco-cola products like sprite, coke, and PepsiCo beverages like mountain dew, sierra mist, Tropicana juice drinks, AMP Energy, izze, and Naked Juice, among others.
One advantage of these beverages is that they come in different flavors, giving you options. You can mix them with hard liquor if you need something more uplifting or take them as they are. Alternatively, you can offer them to your kids at home as you ride with alcoholic beverages.
However, you should limit your intake of soft drinks to the recommended one up to two glasses daily to avoid consuming excess sugar.