Let’s talk about red drink. Not fruit punch, not strawberry soda, not sweet powdered drink mix, because red drink isn’t about a single ingredient or brand, but the fact that the flavor and the color are synonymous. If you grew up in a Black Southern household, or anywhere adjacent, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Red drink is more than a beverage. It’s a cultural rite, and at Juneteenth, it’s practically sacred.
For me, it started at Bojangles. I’ve been going my whole life, and even before I had the vocabulary for “crave,” I was reaching for the red soda or “red drink” to go with my Cajun filet biscuit combo (with extra-large seasoned fries, please).
That syrupy, fizzy, impossibly red drink — so red it practically glowed — was the only thing that made sense with the salty, crisp edges of the coppery-orange tinged fried chicken breast and the buttery crumble of the hand-stamped biscuit. I never asked for “strawberry.” I asked for the red drink. That’s what it was. That’s what it is.
And I’m not alone. Red drink is a pillar of Black food culture, especially in the South. At Juneteenth celebrations, you’ll spot it on every folding table and picnic spread, in solo cups or old mason jars, staining the ice pink. It’s got roots — deep ones.
The tradition reaches back to West Africa, where ancestors drank crimson-hued beverages made from hibiscus flowers and kola nuts. When those ingredients crossed oceans during the transatlantic slave trade, the ritual of drinking something red endured. It morphed into what we know now: hibiscus tea, red soda, fruit punch, strawberry lemonade. Bright. Bold. Sweet. Defiant.
Why red? Because it stands for bloodshed and survival. It’s an edible memorial, an act of resistance and remembrance. But it’s also joy and community. A little red in your cup means the party’s about to be good.
Now, if you’re hosting or rolling up to a Juneteenth cookout, be sure to come correct with something worthy. My move? A strawberry lemonade sangria that walks the line between nostalgic and grown-up. It’s tart, sweet and summer in a pitcher. Think macerated berries, fresh citrus, a little wine and a whole lot of feeling.
Because that’s the thing about red drink, it’s never just about thirst. It’s about history, identity, and taste. A deep taste, full of flavor. Red is the loudest color in the glass, and on Juneteenth, that’s exactly what we’re toasting to.
Strawberry Lemonade Sangria
Serves a crowd, the way it should.
Ingredients
- 1 bottle chilled dry rosé
- 1/2 cup limoncello
- 2 cups lemonade (fresh, if you’ve got it)
- 1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced
- Sparkling water, to top
- Mint, for garnish (optional but encouraged)
Toss the strawberries and lemon slices in a big pitcher. Add the rosé, limoncello, and lemonade. Chill for at least an hour so the fruit gets boozy. Just before serving, pour over ice and top with sparkling water and mint.
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