Blackberries have a relatively short season, so I always pounce when they arrive in the shops. The intense colour and flavour means a little goes a long way, so you only need a scant handful of blackberries for this lovely cocktail.
Mango juice is quite thick, so I’ve added the juice of a freshly squeezed orange to thin it out a bit. Use Bos ice tea or regular apple juice instead of orange juice if you prefer. Sir Fruit is far and away my favourite brand of mango juice – so rich and thick, it’s almost a sauce. I like pouring some over ice cold slices of fresh pineapple for a refreshing snack when the summer heat gets unbearable.
Talking of heat, all the fruits used in this cocktail have cooling, cleansing and soothing properties. This blackberry booster is a real powerhouse of anti-oxidants, beta-carotene, calcium and magnesium. That makes it good for your skin, hair and bones, too!
The combination of fruits in this cocktail is also very alkalising, so it’s a good remedy for excess acidity like rheumatism and inflamed, sore joints.
Orange and lime cool fevers and are mildly antiseptic, which is good not only for flu and colds, but also the digestive system and conditions like cystitis.
Mango is especially cooling and soothing, especially for thin, nervous people who are overactive and tend to feel the heat easily. Mango calms the mind and emotions whilst giving an energy boost.
The first peaches of the season are very watery, which makes them ideal for juicing since they don’t have much flavour anyway. Peaches are cooling to the digestive system and are mildly laxative and diuretic, working in a gentle way to relieve dryness and heat.
For a cocktail that’s more like drinkable dessert, that’s a whole lot of goodness in a glass!
Blackberry Booster
Serves 1
Ingredients:
scant handful of blackberries
2 peaches, peeled, stoned and chopped
3/4 cup (180 ml) mango juice
juice of one orange
juice of half a lime
Method:
- Liquidise the blackberries and peaches until smooth. Add the mango, orange and lime juices, stir briskly and enjoy!