Happy hour with hay fever

By: Gabbi Di Marino, content manager and allergy sufferer

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With the weather warming up, the thought of enjoying outdoor cocktails on a warm lit patio is on all of our minds ( Or is it just me?) But, alcohol isn’t known to be the best of friends to our noses when allergy season is around. A lot of hay fever sufferers say their symptoms are exacerbated after drinking, mostly when it comes to having a glass of vino, and this is especially so with red wine. A 2005 study had 83% of its 12,000 participants reporting their nose feeling the most triggered after drinking red wine. Why? Well, you know histamines? The chemical your body produces that makes you feel the nagging symptoms of allergies? They’re not just in your body - they’re in your wine too! Red wine has between 60-3,800 micrograms per glass! And the sulfites in wine, too, are no help to your nose either. 

So, what can we drink?

Choose white wine over red

While red wine tends to be loaded with histamines, white wine has only 3-120 micrograms of histamines per glass (a huge improvement compared to its crimson counterpart). You should also try to find wines that are free of added sulfites, as these can exacerbate your hay fever symptoms, so look for wines made by organic and biodynamic producers!

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Stick to clear spirits - avoid dark liquor

Specifically, if you’re dying for a stiffer drink than wine, reach for tequila, gin, or vodka. Compared to darker spirits like whiskey and brandy, the histamine content within these clear liquors is a lot lower. If you’re a vodka person, make sure you also stick to the unflavored versions, as the flavored kinds can have a high histamine content. 

Pay attention to the mixers you use

It’s not just the alcohol that can give your nose grief. Packaged mixers can contain a whole bunch of chemicals, high levels of histamines, and sugars that can trigger mast cells and histamine production. Even club soda and tonic water can be problematic for hay fever sufferers! 

Juices to avoid: 

  • Grapefruit

  • Orange

  • Pineapple

  • Tomato 

  • Strawberry 

Instead, opt for these yummy, 100% organic (and low histamine content) juices: 

  • Apple

  • Blueberry

  • Cranberry

  • Grape

  • Small amounts of lemon/lime

  • Mango

  • Peach

  • Pomegranate 

My favorite recipes of the season so far have been this pomegranate margarita, the age old classic vodka and cranberry, and the hot weather hit of this frozen peach margarita!


I think a pomegranate margarita on the rocks sounds like the perfect way to start a weekend. What allergy-friendly cocktails will you be making this season? Comment below! Bonus points if you share your recipe (wink wink).  

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