Cucumber Mint Refresher with Aloe Vera Cubes

Cucumber Mint Refresher with Aloe Vera Cubes

Crisp cucumber and cool mint blend into a light drink studded with chewy aloe vera cubes.

Total 3 hr Makes 16 servings Calories 55/serving

Dietary

Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescatarian, Wheat free, Dairy free, Nut free, Halal, Kosher, Kosher for passover, Ashkenazi kosher for passover

This refresher muddles cucumber and mint into a lightly sweetened base, then tops it with chewy aloe vera cubes for added texture. Served over ice, it makes a hydrating drink for warm afternoons or as a palate-cleansing addition to a brunch spread. The combination of cooling cucumber, bright mint, and tangy aloe gives it a spa-like quality without any special equipment.

Ingredients

  • 2 English cucumbers, peeled and chopped
  • 1 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
  • 6 cups cold water
  • 1 1/2 cups prepared aloe vera cubes in syrup, drained
  • 1 cucumber, thinly sliced, for garnish
  • 8 sprigs fresh mint, for garnish
  • 4 cups ice cubes

Method

  1. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring, until the sugar dissolves completely to make a simple syrup, about 3 minutes.

  2. Remove the syrup from heat and let it cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

  3. In a blender, combine the chopped cucumbers and mint leaves with the cooled simple syrup and lime juice. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.

  4. Strain the cucumber-mint mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

  5. Stir the 6 cups cold water into the pitcher until well combined.

  6. Cover and refrigerate the mixture until well chilled, at least 2 hours.

  7. Stir the drained aloe vera cubes into the chilled cucumber-mint base.

  8. Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the refresher over the ice, spooning extra aloe cubes into each glass.

  9. Garnish each glass with a cucumber slice and a sprig of fresh mint before serving.

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    Cucumber Mint Refresher with Aloe Vera Cubes

    This refresher muddles cucumber and mint into a lightly sweetened base, then tops it with chewy aloe vera cubes for added texture. Served over ice, it makes a hydrating drink for warm afternoons or as a palate-cleansing addition to a brunch spread. The combination of cooling cucumber, bright mint, and tangy aloe gives it a spa-like quality without any special equipment.

    3 hr 16 servings 55 cal

    Ingredients

    • 2 English cucumbers, peeled and chopped
    • 1 cup fresh mint leaves, loosely packed
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1/2 cup water
    • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice
    • 6 cups cold water
    • 1 1/2 cups prepared aloe vera cubes in syrup, drained
    • 1 cucumber, thinly sliced, for garnish
    • 8 sprigs fresh mint, for garnish
    • 4 cups ice cubes

    Method

    1. 1

      In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and 1/2 cup water. Heat over medium, stirring, until the sugar dissolves completely to make a simple syrup, about 3 minutes.

    2. 2

      Remove the syrup from heat and let it cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

    3. 3

      In a blender, combine the chopped cucumbers and mint leaves with the cooled simple syrup and lime juice. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute.

    4. 4

      Strain the cucumber-mint mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pitcher, pressing with a spoon to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

    5. 5

      Stir the 6 cups cold water into the pitcher until well combined.

    6. 6

      Cover and refrigerate the mixture until well chilled, at least 2 hours.

    7. 7

      Stir the drained aloe vera cubes into the chilled cucumber-mint base.

    8. 8

      Fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the refresher over the ice, spooning extra aloe cubes into each glass.

    9. 9

      Garnish each glass with a cucumber slice and a sprig of fresh mint before serving.