Ice

Okay, so ice probably doesn’t sound like a flavour, but the changes it makes to the drinks or dishes it’s added to are certainly as dramatic as any other ingredient. We all know sweet drinks loaded with ice taste much better than those without, but it’s also worth considering how much ice you add. One small cube will melt faster than a whole handful, so if you’re worried about things becoming too watery, then actually adding more ice is the right way to go, if a little counterintuitive.

Ice doesn’t have to be just water either: by adding additional ingredients you’ll find that their aroma and tastes are released in stages, giving you a gradual transformation from one set of flavours to another. Two drinks in one!

Not only what we’re freezing in the cubes but also the shape of them has become more interesting. Nearly every shape and size you can think of is available now, from giant spheres that melt slowly in a glass of fine whisky to ice cubes shaped like sea creatures, pineapples, your favourite emoji or even the Death Star. Here we’ve gathered some of our favourite ice-cube based ideas to keep you cool this month.