Well, with the coming of the hot weather we all will be drinking more beverages to "beat the heat." It can be quite expensive, but there are ways to help lower your costs and save on taste.

1) Drink More Plain Water.

This may be obvious, but still remains worth saying (ahem)!

2) Stretch the tea or coffee by dilution with milk or soymilk.

With coffee -- it can be as simple as making a low fat latte by going half and half with powdered milk or homemade soy milk.

For tea -- make a Chai which is spiced tea and milk and sugar. Go low fat by using cheaper low fat reconstituted dry milk, or home made soymilk.

3) Add other -preferably healthy--- ingredients.

These can be many things steeped separately, and added half and half, or brewed along with coffee or tea. To start, I suggest you steep separately and add the two brews half and half. Then -- sweeten to taste!

Suggested Ingredients as Coffee Stretchers:

1) Dried orange peel --saved from all those winter oranges.
2) Dried Lemon or other citrus peel ---saved from winter time.
3) Dried Apple Peels.
4) Dried Garden herbs like mint or lemon balm.
5) Dried Chickory root, Dock root or Dandelion root from the yard (*WARNING* -- do not pick unless you are completely certain this yard received no weed/insect sprays and you are Certain you know the plant identification).
6) Discount spices like cinnamom, cloves, or ginger.
7) Roasted grains like barley or wheat ground in coffee grinder.

Suggested Ingredients as Tea Stretchers:

1) Dried orange peel --saved from all those winter oranges.
2) Dried Lemon or other citrus peel ---saved from winter time.
3) Dried Apple Peels.
4) Dried Garden herbs like mint or lemon balm.
5) Dried Chickory Leaves, Dock Leaves or Dandelion Leaves from the yard (*WARNING-- do not pick unless you are completely certain this yard received no weed/insect sprays and you are Certain you know the plant identification).
6) Discount spices like cinnamom, cloves, or ginger.

To Dry Roots:
Dig the roots of completely identified plants from spray free yard and wash well. Split down the middle and dry on trays away from sunlight. To make them taste more of coffee --or if you are in a hurry ---roast until brown in a Two Hundred degree F oven. However, naturally dried holds more of the healthy ingredients. Then grind in the coffee grinder or blender before steeping.

To Dry Herbs and Peels:
For peels wash fruit first, then peel. Chop into fine strips and let dry out of sunlight. Use as above.

For leaves pick and lightly wash and shake dry. Either dry a single layer on trays out of sunlight, or tie and hang in paper bags and dry until crisp. Pull leaves off stems and store in plastic bags or recycled jars.

To Roast Grains:

Place on cookie sheet and roast until brown in a Two Hundred degree F oven. Another method is to toast them in a heavy skillet with no oil until brown and toasted. Then grind in the coffee grinder or blender before steeping. Use half and half in brewing mixtures.

Check out more ideas for beverages at:
Bella Coffee and Tea Site
http://www.bellaonline.com/Site/coffeetea


Cajun Cafe au Lait
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art13705.asp

Iced Greek Coffee
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art12380.asp

Make Your Own Soymilk
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art29434.asp


Shot of Coffee.com
http://www.shotofcoffee.com/index.html