Celebrate Hanukkah with Syfo Beverages this holiday season. In addition to being one of the healthiest beverages on the market, the Syfo is certified Kosher by the largest and most widely respected Kashruth agency — the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. Syfo is sold at all Publix Super Markets throughout the Southeast, Winn-Dixie in Florida and many independent grocers throughout the region.

Try these delicious and festive drink recipes to enjoy during Hanukkah this year.

Manischewitz Spritzer

6a00e554e5d8fe883301901bc9d1f7970b-800wi
This is an adaptation of a recipe that we found on the Manischewitz website:

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1½ cup of mixed frozen berries
  • Syfo Kosher Wild Cherry Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water
  • Manischewitz Blackberry Wine

PREPARATION:

In a large pitcher, mix 1 part of Syfo Sparkling Water and 1 part Manischewitz Blackberry Wine. Mix in frozen fruit and add in ice if needed. Enjoy!

 

Adult Hanukkah Beverage

Blue cocktail splash

This recipe is a variation of the many blue-themed drink recipes that are common for Hanukkah:

INGREDIENTS:

  • Blue Curacao Liqueur
  • Syfo Kosher Lemon-Lime Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water
  • Ice
  • Citrus Flavored Vodka

PREPARATION:

Mix 2 parts of Syfo Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water, 1 part Blue Curacao and 1 part citrus vodka, with ice. Stir gently in a glass and drink up!

 

Non Alcoholic Hanukkah Blue Beverage

alcohol blue cocktail drinks with cherry

Here’s a blue recipe for the kids!

INGREDIENTS:

  • Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid
  • Syfo Kosher Lemon-Lime Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water
  • Ice
  • White Grape Juice

PREPARATION:

Combine 1 part Kool-Aid, 1 part white grape juice and 1 part Syfo Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water. Pour over ice and of course serve with a blue bendy straw.

 

Honey Hanukkah Punch

airmail-punch-290x290
A tasty but not too sweet punch, adapted from a recipe on Liquors.com

INGREDIENTS:

  • Dark Rum or Light Rum
  • Fresh Lime Juice
  • Honey Syrup (two parts honey, 1 part water)
  • Syfo Kosher Lemon-Lime Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water

PREPARATION:

Combine 2 part rum, 2 parts Syfo Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Water, 1 part lime juice and desired amount of honey syrup. Mix gently and pour over ice in a glass. Sprinkle a bit of ground nutmeg for garnish, if desired

 

Rosemary Gin Cocktail

Rosemary-Gin-Cocktail
From ahealthylifeforme.com, here’s a refreshing gin cocktail that’s perfect for Hanukkah and includes a homemade rosemary syrup.

INGREDIENTS:

For the rosemary syrup:

  • 1/4 cup ground Rosemary1/2 cup water1/2 cup of sugar

For the cocktail:

  • 1 and 1/2 oz of Gin (we used Saphire)
  • 3/4 oz Rosemary syrup
  • 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice (about 1/2 of a lemon, squeezed)
  • Syfo Original Seltzer
  • Sprig of Rosemary for garnish

PREPARATION:

Bring the water to a boil, add the sugar and rosemary and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and steep the mixture off heat for 45 minutes.Strain the syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl.Fill glass with ice. Add gin, lemon and Rosemary simple syrup and stir.Top with a splash of Syfo Original Seltzer, stir briefly and garnish with a rosemary sprig.We hope you enjoy these recipes and everyone at Syfo would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Hanukkah.

 

Thanksgiving is the holiday that gathers family and friends for a day of feasting and giving thanks.  Much planning goes in to the preparation of Thanksgiving dinner, but what about the beverage menu? Below are delicious recipes to add to your menu this season.

 

Cranberry Thanksgiving Punch

 

fresh-cranberry-ginger-orange-punch-thanksgiving-drinks

Ingredients:

  • 2 bottles of chilled cranberry juice
  • 2 containers of lemonade or orange juice concentrate
  • 1 bottle of Syfo Seltzer or Syfo Tangerine-Orange Sparkling Water

Preparation:

Mix all of the ingredients right before serving.  For an extra flavor boost, you can try a cranberry juice blend such as cranberry apple, cranberry blueberry or cranberry grape.

Acknowledgement: Based on a recipe idea from punchbowl.com.

 

 

Orange, Rosewater, and Mint Sparkler

 

orange-rosewater-mint-sparkler-table-thumb-625smIngredients:

  • 1/4 cup mint leaves (about 25 leaves), loosely packed and removed from their stems
  • 6 ounces (3/4 cup) fresh orange juice (from 2 medium oranges)
  • 2 drops rosewater
  • 6 ounces (3/4 cup) Syfo Original Seltzer

 

 

Preparation:

Muddle the mint leaves gently in a mixing glass. Add orange juice, rosewater, and seltzer, stir gently to combine. Pour the sparkling orange juice mixture into two ice-filled Old Fashioned glasses and serve immediately.

Acknowledgement: Photo and recipe from seriouseats.com

 

 

Pear Rosemary Cocktail

 

Ingredients

  • 6 to 10 pears
  • 12-16 fresh rosemary sprigs
    • 4 cups of vodka
    • ½ cup of sugar
  • 1 ½ cups of pear nectar
  • 4 cups of Syfo Peach- Pear Sparkling Water

 

 

 

Preparation

To prepare pear infused vodka, place pears in a large 48 ounce jar to fill. Pour vodka over the pears to fill, then seal the jar. Allow the pear- vodka mix to sit at room temperature for about 2 weeks (Hint: if infusing your own vodka isn’t your style, pear vodka such as Absolut can be found at most stores).

To make your simple syrup, heat sugar and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over medium to high heat, and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add rosemary springs and remove from heat. Allow the mixture to cool for 30 minutes. Remove the rosemary sprigs and continue to cool the mixture completely.

Fill glasses with ice. Combine 2 ounces of vodka, 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of simple syrup, and 1.5 ounces of pear nectar. Top with ½ cup of Syfo Peach- Pear Sparkling Water and garnish with rosemary springs.

Acknowledgement: Photo and recipe from marthastewart.com

 

Thanksgiving Brunch Tonic

 

tonic copysm Ingredients

  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup of water
  • 4 fresh rosemary sprigs
  • 4 cups of chilled cranberry juice cocktail
  • 2 cups of fresh orange juice (use about 6 oranges)
  • 3 cups of chilled Syfo Original Seltzer

 

 

Preparation

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 4 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Add rosemary; simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Pour sugar syrup into a bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight.

Uncover sugar syrup; remove and discard rosemary sprigs. Combine the sugar syrup, juices, and soda in a large pitcher. Serve immediately over ice.

Acknowledgement: Photo and recipe from myrecipes.com

Keeping track of and cutting down on your sugar consumption can be the key to your health this year and the years to come. But it’s not always an easy thing to do.

The FDA has recently changed the Nutrition Facts label where the “Total Sugars” section now has a line saying “Includes (amount) Added Sugars”. This has caused confusion among some consumers, leading them to believe that they only need to be concerned with the “added sugars” on the food labels versus the “total sugars” (total sugars often includes what is referred to as natural sugars).

Unfortunately, this is not the case. When natural sugars are highly processed, they will have fundamentally similar properties as added sugars. In this article in Augusta Health, dieticians who advise diabetics gave this example with fruit juice: The food label will tell you that 8 ounces of orange soda has 23 grams of “added sugar” while 8 ounces of orange juice (without pulp) has 23 grams of “natural sugar”. While both will cause a rapid spike in blood sugar and a fall, the juice sounds “healthier”. But that is really not the fact.

Now if you chose to eat a medium orange instead, it would contain 10-13 grams of natural sugar as well as fiber and water. The fiber and water will fill you up and keep you from overeating. Also, your body will have to break down the cells of the orange before the sugar can be released and the sugar is absorbed into your blood more slowly. So eating the whole fruit is healthier than either example above.

When it comes to “added sugars”, per the American Heart Association, the daily goal for women is about 24 grams (6 teaspoons) and for men, it is about 36 grams (9 teaspoons). To put that into perspective, a 12-ounce can of cola contains 10 teaspoons of sugar and 2 tablespoons of bottled BBQ sauce contains about 4 teaspoons of sugar. You can see how quickly this can add up, especially if the diet is high in processed foods.

The dieticians in the article give you a few tips to help you start reducing sugars in your diet:

• Cut back on sugary drinks. Instead, drink more water, sparkling water, herbal teas, black tea, or black coffee.
• Change your desserts. Instead of cakes, pies, donuts, and ice cream, try fresh fruit, Greek yogurt with cinnamon, or dark chocolate.
• Limit sauces, condiments, and dressings with added sugars. Choose more herbs and spices, mustard, vinegar, lemon juice, pesto, or mayonnaise.
• Choose canned goods without added sugars. Avoid versions that are packed in syrup. Instead, look for “packed in water” or “no added sugar” on the labels.
• Limit sugary breakfast foods. Breakfast cereals, even “healthier” versions, are often loaded with sugar as are muffins and pancakes. Instead, try plain Greek yogurt with added fruit and nuts or eggs with cheese and vegetables, or toast with nut butter (without added sugar).

Understanding the amounts and types of sugar in your diet and cutting back on them where possible will go a long way toward getting off to a healthier start this year. And Syfo Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters and Original Seltzer are a great way to eliminate the unnecessary sugar you get in soft drinks. Made with 100 percent purified water, our products contain no sugar, sodium, preservatives or artificial sweeteners. Just pure natural goodness.

You can read the entire Augusta Health article here.

The sizzling summer heat is upon us and one way to stay cool is with a refreshing summer cocktail. Recipes with sparkling water have a distinct advantage too, because they give you a little hydration to beat the heat. Here are a few of our favorites:

WHITE WINE-BERRY SANGRIA

sangria_2thb

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Bottle of Dry White Wine
  • 1 cup Syfo Lemon-Lime Sparkling Water
  • 1/2 cup Raspberry Vodka
  • 1/4 cup Brandy
  • Honey (optional)
  • Chopped Fresh Strawberries
  • Fresh Raspberries
  • Fresh Blueberries
  • Ice

PREPARATION

In a pitcher, combine wine, Syfo, vodka and brandy. Add warm honey to add sweetness if desired. Toss a few raspberries and a small handful of chopped strawberries into the bottom of each glass and muddle the fruit. Fill the glass with ice, then with sangria. Add a few blueberries and stir.

Recipe adapted from tasty-trials.com

 

Watermelon Peach Spritzer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 liters of Syfo Lemon-Lime Naturally Flavored Sparkling Water
  • Frozen sliced peaches
  • Watermelon, cubed
  • Ice cubes

PREPARATION

Put about 5 frozen peach slices in the bottom of each glass. Also add about 5 pieces of cubed watermelon to each glass as well. The amount of fruit you can add will depend on your glass size. I found about 5 peach slices and 5 watermelon cubes worked well for my glass sizes.

To each glass also add 2 ice cubes. Then fill up each glass with the lemon-lime sparkling water. Stir each glass to mix the fruit throughout the drink. If desired, place a piece of watermelon on the rim of each glass.

Recipe courtesy of whatscookinglove.com

 

Americano

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first drink James Bond ordered in the novel Casino Royale, the first in the series. Recipe adapted from The Robb Report

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1.5 oz. Campari
  • 1.5 oz. sweet vermouth
  • 4 ounce of Syfo Original Seltzer
  • Ice

PREPARATION

Combine Campari and sweet vermouth in a tall glass over rocks. Top with Syfo Original Seltzer, stir to combine and garnish with an orange peel.

 

Watermelon Mojito

Here’s a delicious summertime treat from a WebMD feature on low-calorie cocktails.

mojitocropped

This is a refreshing take on the Cuban mojito that’s light on the calories. Instead of using sugar, use a wooden pestle or a big spoon to gently crush cubes of watermelon with fresh mint leaves. Add rum and Syfo Original Seltzer or your favorite flavor of Syfo Naturally-Flavored Sparkling Waters for a sweet mojito. At 100 calories, it has half the calories of a usual mojito.

 

 

Ranch Water 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ranch Water is basically a highball made with tequila. Place 2 shots of tequila in a glass (3 ounces).Mix in the juice of 1 lime (that’s about 1 ½ ounces). Fill the glass with ice and top it off with Syfo Original Seltzer (about ½ cup). Recipe adapted from a couple cooks.

 

Things are heating up in the Southeast and across the country, just in time for the Fourth of July weekend. The heat and increased outdoor activities that go with the holiday weekend and the summer can be a dangerous combination, as people sometimes don’t realize the dangerous health effects heat can have if they don’t take the proper precautions. So here are some basic tips for handling the heat from University of California Davis (spoiler alert: they include drinking beverages like Syfo):

Drink before you’re thirsty —  Thirst is often the first sign of dehydration. Experts recommend those who work outdoors drink one quart of water per hour. Those who work indoors should consider setting a “water alarm” to remind them to stay hydrated.  The same can be said for anyone engaging in outdoor or indoor activities. Pay attention to your thirst.

Acclimate yourself to the heat —  It can can take time for your body to acclimate itself to the heat in the summer months. The UC Davis article quotes an expert as saying that you need to be mindful that your water requirements will increase with the heat.

Skip the caffeine —  Environmental physician Sheri Belafsky says: “It’s tempting to reach for a soda or iced tea on a warm day to quench your thirst. But people aren’t aware that the caffeine they’re consuming is doing the exact opposite of what they need. It’s dehydrating.” Instead, she recommends opting for herbal iced tea that’s decaffeinated, sparkling water, or creating your own “spa water” infused with fresh fruit.  (We recommend Syfo Naturally Flavored Sparkling Waters of course.)

Exercise indoors or limit activities during the coolest parts of the day — As the Noel Coward song goes, only mad dogs and Englishman go out in the midday sun, meaning it’s foolish to ignore the physical demands of the midday heat. As sports medicine physician  Brandee Waite  says in the UC Davis piece: “People who exercise regularly often don’t consider the effects of heat on their performance and overall health. Make sure to plan your outdoor physical activities during the cooler morning and possibly evening hours.”

Wear breathable fabrics —  Try wearing lightweight cotton, linen or a blend that feels cool to the touch and is breathable. Avoid synthetic fabrics like polyester that don’t allow the body’s natural cooling system to work. If you’ll be in and out of buildings with air conditioning, experts suggest wearing light layers.

Take regular timeouts amid outdoor activities —  “Schedule a minimum of 10 minutes in the shade for every hour of exercise or activity,” Waite told UC Davis. “Children, older people and those who are less fit need more rest.” She notes that youngsters aren’t always aware that they need rest periods and water breaks.

Know your personal risk —  “Certain populations are more vulnerable to the heat,” Belafsky said. “including people with chronic kidney disease or diabetes for example. It’s important to understand how extreme temperatures affect your medical condition.” Belafsky in the UC Davis article also shared that common medications can impact a person’s ability to stay cool or hydrated. Thyroid medication and diuretics that treat blood pressure can cause excessive sweating and salt depletion that leads to dehydration. Beta-blockers for heart conditions can impair sweating, which makes it hard for the body to cool itself.

So be prepared, stay hydrated and cool this Fourth of July and throughout the summer with Syfo. Our products contain no sodium, preservatives, artificial sweeteners or any other additives. With four delightful all-natural flavors, Syfo is a great way to stay hydrated this weekend and throughout the year.

Happy Fourth everyone!