Last Updated on July 1, 2026 by Daily News Staff

Cool Down This Summer with a Sweet Slushie

(Family Features) Each season throughout the year seems to
have its own “flavor,” and summer is no exception. Hamburgers and hot dogs off
the grill, refreshing watermelon at snack time and cool, delicious ice cream on
warm evenings.

While many people think of sweetpotatoes during the
holidays, you can make this sweet vegetable a key ingredient all year-round –
including summertime. As one of the most versatile veggies you can find,
they’re easy to add to a variety of recipes while enhancing flavor and boosting
nutrition content.

Sweetpotatoes can be your summer staple in both simple and
elevated recipes alike, as well as in both sweet and savory dishes. They can be
cooked or prepared in several ways: on the stove, baked, microwaved, grilled or
slow cooked.

Or, for an easy way to cool down in the heat, try them in a
creamy drink like this Sweetpotato Summer Slushie. It may surprise you, but
sweetpotatoes are ideal for sipping – smoothies and cocktails are both
crowd-pleasers, especially during sweltering summer days. This refreshing treat
can be made with or without the boozy kick; just break out the blender and kick
back in the sunshine.

To discover more ways to cook and enjoy sweetpotatoes all
summer long, visit ncsweetpotatoes.com.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5xyuKDlklQ?si=JiKNgtk78Vc8NiMU&controls=0]

Sweetpotato Summer Slushie

Recipe courtesy of the North
Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

• 1          cup cooked,
  mashed North
  Carolina Sweetpotatoes
• ⁠1          cup
  pineapple juice
• ⁠1/2       cup orange
  juice
• ⁠1/4       cup lemon
  juice
• ⁠1/4       cup coconut
  milk
• 2-3       tablespoons
  simple syrup or honey (adjust to taste)
• 1          teaspoon
  vanilla extract
• 2          cups crushed
  ice
• 2          ounces
  spiced rum, coconut rum or bourbon (optional)
•             pineapple
  slices or orange wedges, for garnish (optional)

1. ⁠In blender, blend sweetpotatoes, pineapple juice, orange
   juice, lemon juice, coconut milk, simple syrup or honey, vanilla extract and
   ice until smooth and slushy.
2. Pour into glasses and serve.
3. ⁠For alcoholic version: Add spiced rum, coconut rum or
   bourbon after blending. Pulse in blender or stir after blending for layered
   effect.
4. Garnish with pineapple slices or orange wedges, if desired.

SOURCE:

North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission

Sodastream machines have been gaining popularity in recent years as an alternative to store-bought soft drinks. Not only are they more environmentally friendly, but they also offer several health benefits compared to traditional sodas.

Reduced Sugar Intake

One of the most significant health benefits of using a Sodastream machine is reducing sugar intake. Traditional sodas are loaded with sugar, and excessive sugar intake can lead to weight gain, obesity, and other health problems such as Type 2 diabetes. With a Sodastream machine, you can control the amount of sugar you add to your drink, allowing you to enjoy a refreshing beverage without the harmful effects of excessive sugar consumption.

No Artificial Sweeteners

Many store-bought soft drinks contain artificial sweeteners, which can have negative health effects such as headaches and digestive problems. Sodastream machines, on the other hand, allow you to use natural sweeteners such as fruit extracts, honey or agave nectar, giving you a healthier and more natural alternative.

No Preservatives

Another advantage of using a Sodastream machine is that you can avoid preservatives commonly found in store-bought soft drinks. Preservatives such as sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate have been linked to health problems such as cancer and allergies. By making your own drinks, you can avoid these harmful additives and enjoy a healthier, preservative-free beverage.

Eco-Friendly

In addition to the health benefits, using a Sodastream machine is also environmentally friendly. Traditional soft drinks are packaged in plastic bottles or cans, which contribute to environmental pollution. With a Sodastream machine, you can reuse the same bottle multiple times, reducing waste and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.

Variety

Finally, Sodastream machines offer a wide variety of flavors and options, allowing you to customize your drink to your liking. You can mix and match different flavors or create your own unique blends, giving you a healthier and more enjoyable alternative to traditional sodas.

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In conclusion, Sodastream machines offer several health benefits compared to traditional store-bought soft drinks. By reducing sugar intake, avoiding artificial sweeteners and preservatives, and being eco-friendly, they offer a healthier and more sustainable alternative to traditional soft drinks. Moreover, with a wide variety of flavors and options, you can customize your drink to your liking, making it a fun and enjoyable way to stay healthy.

https://sodastream.com/

https://stmdailynews.com/category/food-and-beverage/

If 2026 has a defining wellness habit, it might be the “evening ritual”—that intentional wind-down window when people trade late-night scrolling (or a nightcap) for something calmer, warmer, and repeatable. Caraway Tea Company is betting on that behavior in a big way. The Hudson Valley-based, women-owned tea manufacturer and private-label co-packer announced it has expanded production capacity specifically for sleep- and stress-support herbal blends, responding to what it calls one of the fastest-moving consumer wellness categories of the year.

The company, which is SQF Level 2-certified and USDA Organic, has relocated to a larger manufacturing facility in Poughkeepsie, New York. The new setup includes six pyramid tea bag lines, dedicated iced tea bag lines, pyramid envelope lines, and loose tea packing capabilities—giving brands flexibility to launch (or expand) sleep and stress SKUs across multiple retail formats without having to compromise on presentation or scale.

Why “wind-down” tea is having a moment

Caraway points to a broader shift: sleep support isn’t a niche add-on anymore—it’s becoming a primary product driver. Chamomile alone represents roughly 32% of the global herbal ingredient market, making it the most consumed wellness botanical worldwide. And consumer research published earlier this year places sleep-supporting herbal teas among the highest-growth wellness beverage segments, with both retail and DTC brands building full product lines around the wind-down occasion.

In other words: consumers aren’t just buying tea. They’re buying the routine.

“Sleep and stress are no longer a sub-category — they’re driving the conversation,” said Michael Caraway, COO of Caraway Tea Company. He noted that brand requests have evolved quickly—from simple chamomile blends to more complex, multi-ingredient evening formulas featuring botanicals like valerian, passionflower, lemon balm, and lavender, sometimes layered with adaptogens. Those formulas, he added, come with higher expectations: clinical-quality botanicals, traceability, and packaging that supports a ritual—not just a single serving.

The blends brands are building now

Caraway says its expanded facility is designed to support a range of sleep and stress formulations, including:

• Classic relaxation blends built on familiar botanicals like chamomile, lavender, and lemon balm—the traditional foundation of many bedtime teas. 
• Deeper sleep formulas incorporating ingredients such as valerian root, passionflower, hops, and skullcap for consumers with more pronounced sleep concerns. 
• Stress-and-cortisol-support blends featuring adaptogens like ashwagandha, holy basil (tulsi), and reishi—bridging daytime stress management with nighttime recovery. 
• Caffeine-replacement evening rituals aimed at the growing audience swapping evening alcohol or screen time for a structured wind-down practice.

All blends are produced under SQF Level 2 and USDA Organic protocols, with packaging options spanning pyramid sachets, traditional and iced tea bags, pyramid envelopes, and loose-leaf formats for retail and foodservice.

The “rigor problem” in functional sleep teas

Alongside capacity growth, Caraway is also making a standards argument—especially for the sleep category, where consumer expectations are high and the line between marketing and outcomes can get blurry.

“A bedtime tea makes a promise,” said Gina Caraway, CEO and Co-Founder. “Consumers expect it to help them sleep. That promise is earned through sourcing, formulation, and batch testing. You can put ‘sleep’ on a box. You can’t put it in the cup unless the work is real.”

Caraway says it supports partners from concept to finished goods with in-house blending, small-batch flexibility, and full regulatory documentation—positioning itself as a manufacturing partner for both established brands and emerging wellness companies that want to compete in a crowded, fast-moving category.

What’s next

With the expanded Poughkeepsie facility now online, Caraway Tea Company is accepting inquiries for Q3 productionfor sleep and stress-support blends—an indicator that brands are already planning ahead for late-summer and fall wellness demand.

For brands watching the market, the takeaway is simple: the evening ritual is no longer a trend to test—it’s a product lane to build around. And as consumers get more discerning about what “works,” manufacturers that can deliver traceability, testing, and format flexibility may become the quiet force behind the next wave of functional tea growth.

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Source and Related Links

• Press release pickup (Morningstar / PR Newswire syndication): Caraway Tea Company Expands Capacity for Sleep & Stress Wellness Teas
• Company overview page: Caraway Tea Company
• Main site (services / private label positioning): Caraway Tea Company – Private Label Tea Manufacturer
• Company press page (helpful for context + additional announcements): Caraway Tea Company Press
• Additional syndication pickup (Yahoo Finance): Caraway Tea Company Expands Capacity for Sleep & Stress Wellness Teas
• Brand social proof / updates (Facebook page): Caraway Tea Company on Facebook

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