illustration by james kloiber
In the midst of summer, I’ve got the outdoors on my mind—weekends at the cabin, swimming in the lakes, and hiking on some of the state’s beautiful trails. It takes a lot of energy for all of that activity, so fuel up with some of these local picks:
Wake up with a cup of Prairie Chai, a concentrated hand-brewed black tea made in Eden Prairie with a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and ginger—flavors inspired by the owner’s Nepali grandmother. The Himalayan-inspired drink can be served hot or iced—try mixing with yogurt and ice cubes to make a lassi to cool down on a hot day (prairiechai.com).
Olympia Granola bars are made in North Branch and come in tempting flavors such as Honey Almond and Turtle Mocha. Packed with protein and fiber, they’re easily portable and hearty enough for sharing (olympiagranola.com).
And when you’re grilling out after a long day in the sun, try finishing a steak or piece of chicken with Superior Salt to add a gourmet twist to dinner. Made in Grand Marais, the chunky sea salt comes in flavors including roasted garlic, rosemary, and sun-dried tomato to add a little crunch and a lot of zip (superiorsalt.com)