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Icy, Health-Conscious Treats to Beat the Summer Heat at Brooklyn Flea

By Janet Upadhye | June 6, 2014 2:26pm
 As the weather gets warmer the treats get colder at the Brooklyn Flea Market.
Icy Treats at the Brooklyn Flea in Fort Greene
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FORT GREENE — It's a cool way to eat healthy.

The Brooklyn Flea is known for its vintage clothing, reclaimed wooden furniture and funky antiques, but for many the real draw is the food.

This summer, the Flea's food stands are cooling down with treats that help Flea shoppers beat the heat.

And these treats are healthier alternatives to the originals, like People's Pops popsicles made from sustainably grown fruits instead of sugary concentrates.

Vendors at the Flea, which is open on Saturdays, specialize in sweets made from local produce, seasonal herbs and organic spices with unique flavors like Brooklyn Soda Works' red currant and shiso soda, Blue Marble Ice Cream's olive oil and sea salt scoops and Thirstea’s ginger peach black tea.

“The Flea’s summer treats are refreshing and even vaguely healthy,” sad Flea founder Eric Demby.

DNAinfo New York rounded up the best of the season's coldest goodies found at Fort Greene's Flea.

Brooklyn Soda Works

These delicious sodas are made of carbonated fresh fruit juice without the syrups or fruit concentrates. All the ingredients are juiced by hand by a Clinton Hill couple that uses seasonal fruits and herbs. Flavors include "cucumber, lime and sea salt," "red currant and shiso," and "strawberry, hops and pink peppercorn." Cost: $4

People’s Pops

Made from local, sustainably grown fruits and herbs, these popsicles are a good alternative to the sugary originals. These pops come in flavors like "sour cherry and sweet rhubarb," "peach and tarragon," and "watermelon, cucumber and hyssop." Cost: $3.50

Blue Marble Ice Cream

This ice cream is certified organic and sourced from pasture-raised cows. Founded by Brooklynites Jennie Dundas and Alexis Miesen in 2007, Blue Marble serves unique flavors like banana cookie crumble, strawberry lemonade sorbet, peanut butter confetti, spiced apple cider sorbet, olive oil and sea salt and buttered popcorn. Cost: prices range from $2.90 to $5.15 for a single to triple scoop

Bubble Tea at Thirstea

Thirstea’s iced teas come with or without tapioca bubbles and have flavors like earl grey, taro coconut and Thai iced tea, ginger peach black and ginger matcha powder. Thirstea’s brick and mortar location is at 280 E 10th St. in The East Village, but they make the trek to Fort Greene every Saturday. Cost: from $3.65 for a small to $4.65 for a large.

Mango on a stick at Vaquero Elote’s

These fresh mangoes come dusted in cayenne pepper for a sweet and spicy treat. The Red Hook food truck also serves chunks of fresh, sweet mango, watermelon, papaya and grapes with salt, spice or lime. Cost: $3 for a mango

Horchata at Solber Pupusas

This ice cold drink made from finely ground morro seeds along with spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla is the perfect treat for a hot Saturday afternoon in Brooklyn. People line up at the Solber Pupusas truck to taste the milky white drink. Cost: varies

Lemonade and Arnie Palmer at Milk Truck

The Flea's grilled cheese truck also serves chilled drinks during the summer crowds. The fan favorite is the "Arnie Palmer" made from a mix of fresh iced tea and lemonade. On special occasions, they add white peach to the mix, according to their website. Other cold beverages to try are the house made honey cardamom iced tea and the Tahitian and Madagascar vanilla bean milk shake. Cost: Milk Shakes, $5.25. Arnie Palmer, $2.50

For more information on Brooklyn Flea food visit the website.