by Richa Chaturvedi ’18

Sophomore fall means one thing at Harvard: it’s punch season! But worry not; I’m here with a survival guide to this incredibly stressful time. It’s not a letter under your door, but it will have to do.

Introducing Crimson Crave’s foolproof guide to punch season!

Round 1: You’re nervous. You’re still unclear about the dress code. You’re out of data because you had to use Google maps to get here. If the prospect of smiling and making small talk to the next 45 minutes to an hour freaks you out, then you need to chill out with this wonderfully refreshing Mint Tea punch! It’s the perfect punch to relax with, with its combination of minty freshness and a soothing tea. All your worries will wash away with this liquid strength in your hands.

Round 2: Perhaps you’ve made if farther than you expected (it’s a miracle you made it to the next round since you spent the whole last event being antisocial at the snack table). You’re a bit of a pro now. You walk in with your crew, ready to rock this event like the super star you know you are. You need a drink that asserts dominance and exudes confidence. Try this Pink Rhubarb punch because, if Elle Woods taught us anything, pink is definitely the color of confidence. You’ll definitely be strutting your stuff with this drink in hand.

Round 3: Time for date events, which are clearly everyone’s favorite part of punch. It’s not stressful at all. But it’s cold! You’ll have to wear a heavy-duty jacket over your nice clothes, so why not warm up with this Mexican Pumpkin punch? A close cousin of the classic pumpkin spice latte, this drink is a tribute to all things fall. You won’t even feel Hurricane Joaquin’s winds when equipped with this crowd pleaser.

Round 4: Okay, wow. You’re almost at the promise land. Whatever happens at this point, it’s important to pat yourself on the back for a job well done. You’ve had countless conversations about concentrations, dining halls, and CS50. You deserve something nice because you’re worth it. Kick back and celebrate with this Red Velvet punch (yes, you read that correctly). It’s like a cake, but it’s punch. It’s delicious and topical. It’s in your belly and you’re very happy about it. Congrats on making it through punch kids, we did it.