We absolutely love strawberries. Do you love those pretty little berries too? Who doesn’t?! They may just be the best berry out there.
Strawberries are sweet, juicy and such a beautiful color. They are especially great for making delicious mocktails, drinks and smoothies. All that juice inside a strawberry will add tons of flavor to your drinks in a natural and pretty way.
We use strawberries a lot in our recipes. We especially love these little berries in the spring and summer when they are ripe and in every store and farmers market. Seeing all those bright red berries lining the shelves…we just can’t resist!
We wanted to create a whole strawberry drink guide for all you fellow strawberry lovers out there. Everything you ever needed to know or wanted to know about strawberries is right here. We have tips and tricks for making strawberry drinks and lots of delicious strawberry drink recipes. With this guide on hand, you will make tons of fantastic strawberry drinks and never grow tired of those irresistible berries.
Okay, enough talking, let's get into all the berry details.
What Are Strawberries?
Strawberries are a small garden fruit that is grown all over the world. The fruit is bright red, juicy and sweet when ripe. Strawberries grow on low lying plants that can actually be quite invasive. This is good if you are a strawberry lover and want more plants!
Are Strawberries Healthy?
Strawberries are super healthy. They are actually considered a “superfruit”. Here are a few of the many health benefits of strawberries and a little bit about strawberry nutrition:
- Lots of vitamins and minerals- Strawberries are full of vitamins and minerals. They have vitamin C, manganese, vitamin B6 and potassium. They even have a little iron and vitamins B6, K and E. Such a powerful little berry!
- Antioxidants- There are lots of antioxidants in strawberries as well. Antioxidants are great for fighting free radicals in the body and keeping you healthy.
- Anthocyanins- Anthocyanins are the compound in strawberries responsible for that bright red color. They are associated with numerous health benefits, especially heart health.
- May regulate blood sugar- Strawberries may slow down glucose digestion and reduce spikes in glucose after a carb-loaded meal. This would regular blood sugar and help keep sugar levels steady.
- Prevent Cancer- Strawberries may help prevent certain kinds of cancer. They are able to fight oxidative stress and inflammation. The ellagic acid in strawberries has been shown to stop the growth of cancer cells in animal testing but more research needs to be done in humans.
- Low Calorie- Strawberries are low in calories. Strawberry calories are about 47 in one cup of whole berries. This is great because they will fill you up without weighing you down.
We could go on and on about the benefits of strawberries. They are really just an all around healthy food! But now let’s get into the taste of strawberries and why they are just so good in drinks.
What do Strawberries Taste Like?
Strawberries are a wonderfully sweet fruit when red and ripe. If the berries have a little white on them, they can be a little on the sour side. It is best to wait until the berries are super red before picking them (strawberries do not continue to ripen after being picked!).
Strawberries can be described as having a fruity, slightly minty and woody taste. They are a little acidic and tart but mostly just sweet and juicy. They are just purely delicious.
What Do Strawberries Taste Good With?
Strawberries go well with a lot of other flavors. It is such a versatile berry! Here are a few flavors that go really well with strawberries:
- Mint
- Chocolate
- Any other berries
- Banana
- Coconut
- Pineapple
- Vanilla
- Caramel
- Marshmallow
- Ginger
- Lemon and Lime
Do you have a favorite flavor to pair with strawberries? Tell us! We always want to try new combinations and tastes.
We also wanted to quickly point out a few flavors that are not that great with strawberry, just in case you want to get creative when making drinks. Try to avoid ___________________________
Why Are Strawberries So Good for Drinks?
There are actually quite a few reasons why strawberries are good for drinks. The first reason is that they are so juicy. Strawberries are actually mostly made of water. When they are blended or smashed, they become liquid. This is perfect for any kind of juice since the berries are literally juice themselves. They help bulk up any drink really well.
Strawberries are also healthy. We already talked a little about the benefits of strawberries and why they are such a healthy fruit. Anytime you add strawberries to a drink, you instantly get all those health benefits.
Strawberries also add a natural sweetness to your drinks. Ripe strawberries are very sweet. However, as we mentioned before, they won’t cause your blood sugar to spike. This makes them great for people with diabetes and anyone who may be watching their blood sugar levels. Strawberries are just a great sweetener!
Adding strawberries to your drinks will help make them super pretty. Strawberries have that beautiful red color that blends into a deep pink. Those berries are not only healthy and tasty, but they also just look so nice!
5 Trending Strawberry Recipes to Try
Strawberries are always quite popular. Strawberry is just such a classic flavor that it never goes out of season. Other food and drink trends come and go but strawberries are always trendy. Here are a few of our current favorite trending strawberry drink recipes.
1. Strawberry Acai Refresher
Acai berries are super trendy right now. They are the star superfruit that so many people are obsessing over. Acai berries and strawberries are both superfoods which means they are very high in antioxidants, fiber and fatty acids. Combining these two superfruits into one drink makes an insanely healthy beverage.
The best part of the strawberry acai refresher is that it also tastes incredible. Strawberries have that wonderful, sweet, fruity taste while acai berries have a rich, chocolate taste. The two fruits are a match made in heaven.
Refreshers in general are also very popular right now. Walk into any coffee shop and you will likely find refreshers on the menu. Refreshers are essentially fruity, fizzy, drinks that are, well, refreshing!
Between the amazing health benefits of the two fruits, the delicious flavors and the satiating effects of this drink, you can see why it is so popular. Definitely give this strawberry drink recipe a try ASAP.
2. Strawberry Basil Mocktail
Combining herbs and fruits is quite popular. The earthy flavors of herbs tend to go well with the sweet taste of fruits. This is definitely true of the strawberry and basil combination. They are perfect together.
Our strawberry basil mocktail is quite popular especially as a summertime drink. Strawberries and basil are both in season at the beginning of the summer so you may be able to find fresh, local ingredients to make the drink. Use fresh lemon and lime juice if possible, too. Fresh citrus juice has a brighter flavor and more powerful taste.
This strawberry basil mocktail recipe makes enough to serve 12. It is perfect for parties and large get-togethers. Make a big pitcher and everyone will surely be impressed by your trendy drink making skills!
3. Homemade Strawberry Soda
You would be hard pressed to find a drink more fresh, flavorful and refreshing than this. There is so much going on in one glass of this homemade strawberry soda that it is hard to believe! We know that you will fall in love with it in just one sip.
Many people have stopped buying soda and started to make it instead. It is actually very easy to make soda and you only need a few, fresh ingredients. Our recipe uses strawberries, sugar, lemon juice and sparkling water as the main ingredients. All things you can get at any grocery store!
Our recipe uses plain sparkling water to make our strawberry soda but you can also try flavored waters. Lemon sparkling water or lime sparkling water will add a great flavor. Try to stick to the flavors that are simple. You want your soda to taste as real and natural as possible!
4. Strawberry Mango Bubble Tea
Bubble tea is all over the place right now. It has been a growing trend for years and has finally made it onto almost every drink menu we see. But what exactly is bubble tea?
Bubble tea is a drink made with boba tapioca pearls. The jelly-like pearls are fairly large and sweet. They add a lot of chewy texture to the drink, making it almost like a full meal!
You can make your own boba pearls or you can buy them pre cooked. Both types of boba will work well! You can also try making this recipe with just strawberries. The mango is a great addition but pure strawberries will be delicious, too!
5. Strawberry Mojito Kombucha Mocktail
This recipe combines so many trends, it’s crazy. Mojitos are a super popular drink and kombucha is something everyone is trying out. Of course, mocktails in general are becoming more and more trendy (we love that one especially!). This means that our strawberry mojito kombucha mocktail is truly on fire when it comes to trends.
Mojitos are a classic fruit mint cocktail that are perfect for the summer. Kombucha is a naturally fermented, fizzy drink that has lots of health benefits. Combine these two drinks and you get a refreshing, flavorful mocktail that everyone will be grabbing for.
Be sure to save a few whole strawberries and lime wedges to garnish the glasses.
Amazing Strawberry Drink Recipes
Trends are always changing but the popularity of strawberries stays the same. We have a lot of incredible, classic strawberry drinks that are guaranteed to never go out of style.
These drinks are tried and true. They are recipes that people turn to often when they want something with that incredible strawberry flavor. We know that you will find recipes on here that you like. Probably even love. The love for strawberries is real.
1. Strawberry Ginger Lemonade
Lemonade is a classic summer drink that is loved by both kids and adults. We made that traditional lemonade even better by adding fresh strawberries and fresh ginger. These two additions have a powerful impact on lemonade.
Lemonade is already bright and zingy. Adding ginger to the drink gives it a little bit of spice. The strawberries add a ton of sweetness. We also love how the strawberries make the drink a pretty, deep pink color.
Ginger, strawberries and lemon juice are all super healthy. Our strawberry lemonade also has club soda which is good for gut healthy. You can choose to skip the club soda and make an uncarbonated version of this drink. We like both options!
2. Strawberry Banana Smoothie
You can never go wrong with a strawberry banana smoothie recipe. It is the standard, go-to drink of so many people. You can have it for breakfast, you can have it for a snack, it even makes a delicious dessert! Make strawberry banana smoothies all summer long and you are sure to be smiling the whole season.
We use Greek yogurt to make our strawberry smoothie. It makes the drink nice and thick while also adding a tangy flavor. Yogurt, bananas, strawberries and milk are all healthy ingredient, too. You can feel good about having a nice big strawberry smoothie, knowing that you are filling your body with goodness. Drinking healthy has never tasted so good! Thanks strawberries!
3. Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri
Daiquiris are usually made with rum but you know what? They are better without it. This virgin strawberry daiquiri is delicious and perfect for everyone. Kids love it. Adults love it. Everyone loves a good daiquiri.
So many strawberry daiquiri recipes at restaurants are made with fake strawberry syrup or strawberry flavor. Making this drink with fresh strawberries has such a huge impact. It is so much different than any bottled daiquiri you have ever had.
4. Chocolate Covered Protein Shake
We love chocolate and strawberries put together. It is one of the best combinations in the world. We especially love strawberry chocolate drinks. It is a great way to enjoy both delicious flavors in one sip.
Our chocolate covered strawberry protein shake is a fantastic breakfast or drink for after a workout. We use chocolate protein powder which is full of vitamins, minerals and lots of healthy protein. Fresh strawberries are added to the blender (of course) and Some banana and Greek yogurt are also tossed in. We like to add a little extra cocoa powder and honey to really make the drink perfect. You can never go wrong with more chocolate!
5. Strawberry Cucumber Limeade Mocktail
Strawberries and limes are often put together. This drink combines those classic flavors into one tasty drink. We also add cucumber to the mix to make it even more refreshing. The light, earthy flavor of cucumber goes well with the sweet berries and tangy lime.
This tasty strawberry drink is especially good when it gets to sit overnight, allowing the flavors to develop and grow. Try to plan ahead and make a big pitcher to keep in your fridge. You will be very happy it is there especially on hot days!
You can also add some raspberries to this drink, giving it an even fruitier taste. Lemon juice is also good added to the mix. We have even tried using club soda in place of sparkling water- it’s all good! This is just an all around delicious mocktail.
6. Pink Strawberry Coconut Refresher
Want to turn your strawberries into a tropical treat? Then you need to make this amazing strawberry drink. It is also one of the best looking drinks on our list. The white coconut and red strawberries blend together to make such a perfect pink, it is hard to believe it is natural!
Our strawberry refresher recipe is only made with four ingredients. Frozen strawberries, sugar, vanilla and coconut are blended to creamy perfection. The frozen berries make the drink almost like a strawberry milkshake.
If you have any extra refresher mix, try pouring it into popsicle molds. It makes delicious popsicles that you can enjoy all summer long. You can also store leftovers in ice cube molds and just pop them back in the blender anytime you need a tasty strawberry drink. The frozen refresher cubes will blend right into a yummy drink!
Can you believe how many great drinks there are that are made with strawberries? Does this make you want to get out there and start growing your own strawberry patch? It definitely makes us want to!
Tip For Keeping Strawberries Fresh
Lots of our drink recipes are made with fresh strawberries. Strawberries are a very perishable food so it can be hard to keep them fresh for very long. While we know you will probably use your strawberries right away, here are a few ways to help them stay fresh for longer.
- Don’t Wash Your Berries- Washing your berries will actually make them dry out faster. Only wash them right before you are ready to eat them.
- Vinegar Bath- Dip fresh, whole strawberries in a vinegar bath. Vinegar will kill the natural mold spores on the berries. Rinse the berries off after they are dipped in the vinegar then let them dry on a paper towel. Place the berries back in the container they came in or in a colander and keep them in the fridge.
- Store Strawberries in the Crisper- Most refrigerators have a crisper drawer that is designed to keep perishable fruits and veggies fresh. Place a paper towel in the bottom of the crisper drawer and pay your strawberries in a flat layer. They will stay fresh for over a week when stored this way.
- Keep Them Cool- No matter how you prep your berries for storage, the key is to keep them cool. Store strawberries in the fridge to prevent them from getting moldy.
- Freeze your Berries- If you plan to use your berries at a later date, the best idea is to freeze them. Cut off the stems of the berries and then place them in a freezer safe, zippered bag. Freeze the berries for up to three months.
When choosing which berries to buy at the store, make sure they are nice and red. The redder the berries, the juicier and sweeter they will be. Remember that strawberries do not ripen after they are picked. They aren’t going to get redder or sweeter in your fridge! You have to buy them ripe, store them well and they will be ready when you are!
So are you ready to head to your local strawberry farm to go strawberry picking? You should definitely grab some juicy, ripe berries and then start making some incredible drinks! There is so much you can do with strawberries that it is an ingredient you should just always have on hand.
Let us know which of these strawberry drinks is your favorite. Do you go for trendy drinks or do you like the classics best? Let us know! Enjoy.
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