Although some of summer’s most fun moments are those accompanied by a frosty, foamy lager, a chilled glass of wine or a frozen margarita, it’s good form to have a few go-to nonalcoholic drinks in your rotation. Sugary sodas have their place, but their cloying nature can become tiresome.
In contrast, Herbarium’s line of sparkling herbal teas, brewed with botanicals from Flourish Farmstead, are light and refreshing. The bubbles are restrained, making themselves known but never dominating the party. We especially liked the ginger-roselle tea, with the roselle (a member of the hibiscus family) giving the drink a distinct shade of pink and a hint of tartness. That’s balanced by the ginger’s mild spice, but everything here is in balance. The lavender-lemongrass flavor offers a solid alternative option, but why not have both? With no alcohol and only 40 calories per 12-ounce can, you can afford to have a second.
Old Bakery Beer Co., 400 Landmarks Blvd, Alton, drinkherbarium.com
This article appears in August 2024.
