Why Cold Borscht Belongs on Your Summer Menu
A Tradition Rooted in the Garden
Across Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine, families turn peak-season beets into a chilled soup that tastes like a hearty, summer treat. Served during midsummer harvests to keep farmhands cool, cold borscht has always been summer’s best-kept secret. We fell in love with that backyard-gathering magic and brought it to Massachusetts so you can experience the same “ahhh” moment with every spoonful. We gathered recipes from all our top chefs and how they make cold borscht, and we crafted the best of the best.
Nutrients That Beat the Heat
Beets fuel blood flow with naturally occurring nitrates, kefir supplies gut-friendly probiotics, and cucumbers deliver hydrating electrolytes. Translation: one bowl refreshes you in ways an iced latte never could—no caffeine crash, just clean, vibrant energy.
How We Make It at Crepes Tea House
From Ruby Broth to Blush Pink
We start with beets so fresh they still think they’re in the garden. A slow simmer draws out their earthy-sweet notes, and an overnight chill deepens the color to gemstone ruby. The next morning we whisk in tangy kefir and a squeeze of lemon, transforming the broth into the pastel pink that lights up your Instagram feed.
The Finishing Touches: Confetti of Crunch
Texture is everything. Paper-thin cucumber, shaved radish, and grated hard-boiled egg float on top alongside a forest of fresh dill. Finally, we drop a chilled scoop of silky mashed potatoes onto the side—the perfect “partner in crime” for the cold borscht. Each bite balances creamy, crisp, tangy, and earthy all at once.
Order Like a Pro
Perfect Pairings
Round out the experience with a slice of dark rye for dunking or a crispy cheese pastry if you’re feeling indulgent. For drinks, a lightly sweetened peach-lavender iced tea mirrors the soup’s fruity-herbal notes. Prefer a little kick? Request a whisper of horseradish on the side for flavor fireworks.
Snap, Sip, Share
Take your bowl to the patio, angle your sunglasses to double as a mirror for that shocking pink reflection, and tag your photos #CrepesTeaHouseSummer—we love reposting the brightest bowls on our feed. Pro tip: cold borscht also travels well in our eco-friendly to-go containers, so you can chill out at Forest Park, Congamond Lake, or right in your backyard hammock.
When the forecast climbs past eighty, skip the predictable salad-and-soda routine. Let cold borscht show you why soup season never really ends—just changes temperature. Ready to taste the unsung hero of summer? We’ll have a chilled spoon waiting.
