Late-day heat, stinging eyes, and a craving for something fresh but not sugary. You can whip up this mint-lemon juice in ten minutes with what you’ve got in the fridge. Nothing to heat, nothing to watch over.

The glass is green — not dark green like a soup, but a light green, almost translucent, with tiny bubbles slowly rising. The scent wafting up is that of freshly crushed mint, slightly peppery, with that tangy citrus base underneath. Ice cubes crackle in the glass. It is exactly as it should be.