Good cold beverages?

starmanbrand

So I drink too much coke, and I probably made this thread last year..But Im weak. Damn you all.

I need to get off coke and start gettin some, hopefully, tea. I hate hot tea, though. So I want some teas that taste really good cold. And not typical Iced Tea (Black tea, i think?) because that shit blows. I want something that isn't super sugary, but has some taste to it.

Also, what are some things other than tea? And I know, I know, water. But man I'm tryin to ween myself off soda. Water is good ice cold, but to just drink it doesn't have much taste.

capnrico

When I was weaning myself off of soda, I drank these things called Izze. Blackberry in particular. Basically carbonated water sweetened with fruit juice, so it's relatively healthy, and it satisfied the bubbliness and sweetness that I craved from soda. They used to be a health food store type thing but I've seen them in most stores lately.

Mike Danger

I like Propels (those flavored waters)--at first I was skeptical of the taste but they're quite good. Lemon is especially refreshing.

Personally, I like the super-sugary iced tea, but I also like Arizona Iced Tea and Snapple Iced Tea.

Something I really like is Arnold Palmers: half iced tea, half lemonade. You can buy 'em premixed in big jugs from Arizona, but it's more fun to make it yourself.

ProPatriaMori

capnrico wrote: »

When I was weaning myself off of soda, I drank these things called Izze. Blackberry in particular. Basically carbonated water sweetened with fruit juice, so it's relatively healthy, and it satisfied the bubbliness and sweetness that I craved from soda. They used to be a health food store type thing but I've seen them in most stores lately.

I buy club soda and fruit juice concentrate from the store for this purpose. I'm sure that club soda and fruit puree or somesuch would work just as well.

MurphysParadox

I'm a big fan of Honest Tea's Honey Green Tea. They have a few dozen flavors ranging all kinds of teas (green, white, black) and a line of juice under the title Honest Aid. Personally I find the Just Green Tea to be too bitter, but the honey addition (which is not very much at all) gives it just enough sweetness. My wife finds it to be too sweet, so your mileage, as they say, may vary.

If you have a Whole Foods or Trader Joe's near by, I recommend hitting it up and checking out the beverage section. If not, what about a Wegman's, Bloom, or even a new-ish 'normal' grocery store such as Safeway or Giant (or even Walmart)? Most stores are getting into the idea that people want to drink things other than soda and have started to stock shelves with a variety of different options. The more mainstream the store, the less of a spread, but it is worth a look-see.

ihmmy

I like lazy man's lemonade... cold water, ice, and some lemon juice (lazier yet, from teh bottle). I don't bother adding sugar, because I like the tartness of lemon (find it extra refreshing) and I don't go nuts with the lemony flavour

Improvolone

Why do you want to stop drinking so much coke? That way we know what not to suggest.

starmanbrand

Basically, too much money is spent on something with no nutritional value. Too many calories, too much sugar. Blah. I really like those arnold palmer premixes, maybe ill start getting those again and attempt to drink them sparingly.

Ideally, I want something that I can make a big batch of, like iced tea but not that horrible traditional black iced tea, and keep in the fridge. While I would be willing to concede and get some individually packaged things (One of the chief reasons I drink a lot of canned cola is because of the convenience), I need to just get away from that whole situation.

Improvolone

Iced Chai is wonderfull.

DouglasDanger

Iced black tea is delicious if you make it properly. I have a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker, so I cheat a little, but if you find the right amount of sweetener and the right strength of tea, it is delicious.

Improvolone

If you are going to be making teas, learn to make a simple syrup too.

Kate of Lokys

I actually really like Cool Quenchers. They're one of those frozen concentrated juice things that you add water to. The juice to sugar-water content is pretty low, but what I like about them is that they use sucralose in addition to sugar and HFCS, which keeps the calorie count down without ruining the sweet taste. One cup of Cool Quencher made at full strength has 50 calories, compared to the 100 calories in a cup of Coke (or the 120-140 calories in most frozen juices and punches). Even with the lower calories, though, it's still delicious, and it comes in a wide variety of flavours.

DeathPrawn

If you don't want iced black tea, perhaps try making iced green tea or iced oolong?

starmanbrand

What are some good tea brands of green tea? Or are they all pretty much the same? I've only had the kind you buy premade.

DeathPrawn

I personally buy all my tea looseleaf (usually from http://www.uptontea.com), so I'm not too down on what good brands you'll be able to buy in a supermarket or whatever. The green tea they sell at Costco (I think it's just labelled "Japanese green tea") is very good.