In order to refresh yourself and contribute to your good hydration during the summer, consider using all citrus fruits, and in all their forms. What could be fresher than a real lemonade with a few fresh mint leaves or a good orange or lime sorbet?

In hot weather, citrus juices of any kind, iced or chilled, are all welcome. Fresh grapefruit is draining, refreshing and rich in vitamin C. If you like bitterness, you can opt for the classic grapefruit and if you prefer it a little sweeter, you can choose the pink or red grapefruit.

Oranges, as well as yellow or green lemons, can be used to make delicious lemonades to be served chilled. They will delight everyone. Remember that lemon is also draining and detoxifying for the liver. Good for the skin, it takes care of this important emunctory.

Citrus fruits (lemons, oranges or grapefruits) will be squeezed with a citrus press or put through a juice extractor (without the skin). Some will prefer them with pulp, others like it without. If this is the case, then the juice must be filtered.

Citrus fruits can be mixed or eaten on their own depending on taste and desire. They can also be sweetened with maple syrup, coconut sugar or a little honey.

To vary the pleasures, you can also mix them with crushed ice or very cold sparkling water. Everyone is free to make the mixture as long or as sweet as they like.

You can also add ginger (a few slices or grated), a few whole or chopped fresh mint leaves or, for those who like it, a few basil leaves to the various fresh juices served cold.

To be perfectly thirst-quenching, it is essential to keep the juice in the refrigerator for a good while before serving it cold in cocktail glasses (long drink type).

If we know well the tomato gazpacho, a Spanish specialty very refreshing during the summer heat, the cold fruit soups are less common. And yet they are delicious. Providing vitamins and minerals, they give free rein to the imagination of apprentice cooks.

To give you some ideas, here's an original recipe for a cold fruit soup made with strawberries and pink grapefruit*.

For 4 people, you will need: 750g of hulled strawberries (optional: 2 tablespoons of whole cane sugar or coconut sugar), the juice of 1/2 lemon, 10 cl of maple syrup, the juice of 2 grapefruits, about ten mint leaves.

• Finely chop 500 g of strawberries and divide them among 4 large glasses.
• Finely blend the remaining strawberries (with or without the sugar), add the juice of one lemon and 2 or 3 cl of water with little mineral content.
• In a bowl, mix (optional: maple syrup) the grapefruit juice with the chopped mint leaves.
• Pour the fragrant juice over the strawberries in the large glasses.
• Place the glasses in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.
• Just before serving, gently pour the strawberry coulis over the mixture (without mixing).
• The mixture of tastes delights the taste buds and the colors are a joy for the eyes!

Another recipe**...

For 4 to 6 people, you will choose 4 ripe avocados - 2 pink grapefruits - 1 liter of salted water with organic herbal salt (or other broth except the cubes with toxic additives) - 20 cl of fresh cream - Lemon - Tabasco or Espelette pepper (for those who like).

• Squeeze the juice of 1/2 grapefruit.
• Finely blend the flesh of the avocados, the lemon juice and the juice of the ½ grapefruit. Add the fresh cream.
• Add a few drops of Tabasco or a pinch of Espelette pepper to the mixture, as well as the chicken broth. Mix one last time.
• Add ½ cup of grapefruit flesh to the velouté
• Depending on taste, add extra lemon or grapefruit juice.
• Let stand in the refrigerator for at least two hours to serve the soup well chilled.

So, in this heat wave, get your citrus fruits!

* http://lacuisinededey.blogspot.com/2010/04/soupe-de-fraises-au-pamplemousse-de-c.html

** https://www.marmiton.org/recettes/recette_soupe-glacee-avocat-pamplemousse_81291.aspx