July 10, 2024
On a hot July day, there’s nothing quite like an ice-cold glass of water or a tart lemonade. But what if you crave something cool and refreshing that’s a little more out of the box? Good news: In Cabarrus County, local beverage places pour imaginative and creative versions of teas, coffees, shakes and sodas, which are especially appreciated come the dog days of summer. Seek out these three spots for a refreshing pick-me-up.
1. Union Street Nutrition
For a revitalizing and rejuvenating mind-body boost, head to the health bar Union Street Nutrition. Here, an assortment of delicious summertime drinks graces the menu. Try electrolyte slush-teas in summery flavors like passionfruit Bellini or blackberry Arnold Palmer. Savor wellness sips such as the good-for-you Green Street, which blends green tea with probiotics, a protein mix and greens. Or enjoy teas with herbal aloe concentrates and an option to add energy shots of up to 200 milligrams of caffeine.
Then there are the protein shakes — but not your typical protein shakes. Blended with water and ice (and less than 1% dairy), the plant-based shakes are packed with 21 vitamins and minerals to provide a well-balanced and well-fueled meal.
Must-sip:
- Ocean Drive, a fruity iced energy tea
- Watermelon Sour Patch, a sweet and sour slush-tea with electrolytes
- Protein Coffee, featuring a circulation booster
2. B&K Tea Café
Concord and Kannapolis
Bonding over a shared love of bubble tea — the Taiwanese drink also known as boba — Bobby Cain and Kristen Compton launched their own boba shop, B&K Tea Café with Cabarrus County locations in Concord and Kannapolis. For the uninitiated, boba refers to the chewy tapioca pearls in bubble tea, which itself is a blend of tea, milk or fruit-infused water. The pearls are often rolled in brown sugar, giving it both its color and sweet taste.
Three sections form B&K’s menu: Milk Tea, Fruit Tea (these come with fresh-cut strawberries and pineapple) and Special-Teas (think fun flavor combinations like mango and jasmine or lemon and nutty oolong tea). Toppings such as traditional boba or mango jelly or strawberry poppers can be added to any tea.
Must-sip:
- Taro Milk Tea, comprised of creamy vanilla, coconut milk tea, and homemade sugar syrup
- Tropical Fruit, a mix of jasmine tea flavored with lychee and passionfruit
- Rose Tea, a floral rose-flavored jasmine green tea
3. Sip Co.
Housed in an old bank, the drive-thru-only Sip Co. may be small, but it’s mighty. Imagine a choose-your-own-adventure summertime soda shop where cool concoctions come in hundreds of flavors and customizations.
The first proverbial fork in the road: Decide whether to build your own or order a Sip creation.
To build your own, you’ll select a size (16, 24, 32 or 44 ounces), the amount of ice and your preferred beverage type: Sprite, Mountain Dew, Diet Coke, Lemonade, Red Bull, Dr. Pepper and more. Then it’s time for syrups, fresh or frozen fruits, different creams, plus mix-ins like Jolly Ranchers, graham crackers, Pop Rocks and more.
The Sip creations include an eye-popping menu of nearly 100 inventive items from the Scooby Snack (root beer, coconut, vanilla) to the California Girl (Sprite, peach puree, raspberry, whipped cream).
Must-sip:
- Carolina Special, a mix of Dr. Pepper, vanilla, black cherry, grenadine, limes
- Blue Man Group, blending Mountain Dew, blue Curaçao, blue raspberry
- Darth Maul, featuring lemonade, blackberry, huckleberry, red raspberry
Seasonal Fun in Cabarrus
Enjoy Cabarrus County all year long, not just in the summer. The region offers year-round events. Visit our Events page to see what’s coming up on the calendar.
