Because sometimes you don't need a glass of wine. You just need something cold, beautiful, and served in a glass you really like.
I have a theory that sometimes an ordinary day can be dramatically improved by a little drink. Not necessarily that kind of drink, I'm talking about the kind of drink that requires ice. Maybe a pretty glass. A tiny garnish if we're feeling ambitious. Something that makes an otherwise ordinary Tuesday afternoon feel like you've briefly been transported to a hotel somewhere with very good robes.
If you've spent any time on TikTok or Instagram lately, you've probably encountered @undiagnosed_anthony and his enthusiastic appreciation for a “little sweet treat.” I think the sentiment applies beautifully to beverages too. Sometimes you simply need a little treat. A strawberry matcha after a long morning. A lavender latte before opening your laptop. A sparkling citrus spritz when everyone else is ordering wine.
The good news is that your little treat doesn't have to involve an elaborate recipe, an expensive café, or enough sugar to make you reconsider your life choices thirty minutes later. These are the homemade drinks I've been dreaming of when I want something that feels special but still fits into the rhythm of everyday life.
Consider this your permission slip to romanticize your beverages.
Why We're All Looking for Little Drinks
There has been a noticeable shift in the way we think about drinking. More people are exploring alcohol-free options, wellness beverages have become a category all their own, and suddenly everyone has a very specific opinion about their preferred matcha preparation. But I think the appeal goes beyond wellness.
A special drink gives the day punctuation. It creates a tiny transition between work and home. Morning and afternoon. Motherhood and five uninterrupted minutes on the porch. And while I'm all for enjoying a cocktail when the moment calls for one, I love the idea that we don't need alcohol to make a drink feel celebratory.
Sometimes sparkling water in a wine glass is enough. Sometimes the answer is a hojicha latte. Sometimes, as Anthony would say, we simply deserve a little sweet treat.
My favorite strawberry matcha happens to be from Mama Matcha in Provincetown, Massachusetts.
1. Strawberry Matcha
If summer had a signature color palette, I imagine it would look something like this. Creamy green matcha layered over sweet strawberries and milk is equal parts refreshing and slightly dramatic, which is exactly what I want from an afternoon beverage.
What You'll Need
1 teaspoon matcha powder
2 tablespoons hot water
2 tablespoons strawberry purée
Ice
¾ cup milk of choice
How to Make It
Add the strawberry purée to the bottom of a glass. Fill the glass with ice and pour in your milk. Whisk the matcha with hot water until smooth, then pour it over the top. Admire the layers for approximately seven seconds before mixing everything together.
Make It Feel Like a Treat
Use fresh strawberries for your purée and serve it in a clear glass. The layers are half the fun.
Lavender latte made better with an aptly matched sweatshirt.
2. Lavender Honey Latte
This is the drink I imagine myself ordering at a tiny café in the countryside. In reality, I'm probably standing in my kitchen reheating my coffee while someone needs something immediately. Still counts. Lavender and honey make an ordinary latte feel soft and slightly floral without being overly sweet.
What You'll Need
1–2 shots espresso or ½ cup strong coffee
¾ cup milk of choice
1 teaspoon honey
A small splash of lavender syrup
How to Make It
Stir honey and lavender syrup into your espresso. Steam or froth your milk and pour over the coffee. For an iced version, skip the steaming and pour everything over ice.
Make It Feel Like a Treat
Add a tiny sprinkle of dried culinary lavender on top. Not necessary. Extremely cute.
This is what I would sip on if I was still doing Happy Hours in hotel lobbies.
3. Rosemary Citrus Spritz
This is for the afternoons when you want something that feels vaguely European. Bright citrus, sparkling water, and rosemary come together for a drink that feels celebratory without requiring an actual celebration.
What You'll Need
Sparkling water
Juice of ½ orange
Juice of ½ lemon
Ice
1 sprig fresh rosemary
How to Make It
Fill a large glass with ice. Add the orange and lemon juice, then top with sparkling water. Give the rosemary a gentle clap between your hands before adding it to release the aroma. Yes, you are now a bartender.
Make It Feel Like a Treat
Serve it in a wine glass with a thin citrus slice. Suddenly, Tuesday is an occasion.
This one specifically feels like health and coziness.
4. Golden Milk
Golden milk is one of those drinks that sounds significantly more complicated than it actually is. At its simplest, it's warm milk with turmeric and a few cozy spices. I love making this in the evening when I want something comforting but have officially reached my caffeine limit for the day. A devastating realization, but we move forward.
What You'll Need
1 cup milk of choice
½ teaspoon turmeric
Pinch of cinnamon
Tiny pinch of black pepper
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
How to Make It
Warm everything together in a small saucepan. Whisk until smooth and pour into your favorite mug.
Make It Feel Like a Treat
Add a cinnamon stick if you have one but if you don't, absolutely no one is calling the Golden Milk Police.
Because letting go of summer is an extreme sport, ya know?
5. Peach Iced Tea with Mint
This is summer in a glass, perfect if you can’t quite let go of longer days. Fresh peaches are sweet enough on their own, which means you don't need much else to make this feel special.
What You'll Need
1 cup brewed black tea, cooled
½ ripe peach, sliced
Fresh mint
Ice
Splash of sparkling water, optional
How to Make It
Muddle a few peach slices gently in the bottom of your glass. Add ice and cooled tea. Top with sparkling water if you like a little fizz and finish with fresh mint.
Make It Feel Like a Treat
Use a lot of ice. More than feels reasonable. Trust me.
Anything I can do to recreate the vibes from one of my favorite city sips at Mariel.
6. Coconut Lime Cooler
This one is for when the afternoon is hot, your brain is tired, and water feels deeply unexciting. Coconut water and fresh lime create a naturally refreshing drink that takes about thirty seconds to make.
What You'll Need
¾ cup coconut water
Juice of ½ lime
Sparkling water
Ice
Lime slices
How to Make It
Fill a glass with ice. Add coconut water and fresh lime juice, then top with sparkling water. Give it a stir and pretend you're somewhere tropical.
Make It Feel Like a Treat
A salted rim is completely optional but highly encouraged. You could also swap this for coconut milk for a frothier situation.
My typical beverage line-up.
The Formula for Making Any Drink Feel Special
You don't really need a complicated recipe. Most of my favorite drinks follow a very simple formula: Something flavorful + something creamy or sparkling + ice + a little garnish
For example:
Fruit + sparkling water + herbs
Tea + milk + honey
Matcha + fruit + milk
Citrus + bubbles + herbs
That's really it. The secret ingredient is mostly presentation.
A drink in the same glass you use for water will feel like water. A drink poured over beautiful ice, served in your favorite glass, with a slice of fruit on the rim?
Little sweet treat.
