Popular Indian Summer Drinks
Yup - summer is coming and we are all going to feel the overwhelming desire to drink refreshing liquids with fresh fruit and crushed ice. To beat the heat, hydrate and keep you body cool Wicked Spoon Confessions has stirred up a list of drinks that are just the ticket. Add a twist, drink up and cool off as its going be a hot one.
Lassi:
Sweet, savory or flavored, we love Lassi in the summers not only for the numerous health benefits but also the ability to blend it with our favorite fruits, syrups and garnishes. Plain, Mango, Strawberry, rose, khus, kesar – chose your pick and garnish it with dry fruits for a refreshing drink. Twist the experience by replacing the sugar with honey for a healthier version and an extra burst of taste.
Chaas:
Chaas is the most popular yogurt based summer cooler made throughout India with subtle variations. Plain, salted, masala, tempered, pudina (mint) or beet flavored – they are all delicious and healthy and we love it with our meals as it aids in digestion.
Aam Panna:
Made with raw mangoes, sugar and an assortment of spices, Aam Panna is our all time favorite to beat the intense heat especially dry heat. There are a lot of subtle variations available for this cooler throughout India and probably every house has their own recipe making it a versatile drink which can be twisted to one’s personal taste.
Sherbet:
Sherbet is probably the words first soft drink with fruit juices or extracts of flowers or herbs, combined with sugar and water to form a syrup. Several varieties are available in the market and some of our favorites include rose, mint, khus and kokam and you can double the fun by pouring it over an ice lolly (Gola).
Falooda:
One of most good looking layered drink, falooda is the perfect antidote to a hot summer day. Introduced in the Indian subcontinent during the Moghul period, this wonderful drink is an exciting combination of a multitude of ingredients such as the vermicelli noodles, any flavor of ice cream of your choice, sweetened rose-flavored milk and basil (sabza) seeds. You will be spoilt for choice with variety of Falooda versions available, such as faloodas made without the trademark vermicelli and blended with fruits, faloodas with kulfi, wheat starch noodles and different flavors of sugar syrups, and faloodas that are served as milkshakes.
Lemonade (Nimbu Pani):
After water the humble lemonade is the perfect refreshment to quench your thirst on a hot summer day. Drinking Lemon Juice has enormous benefits and you can improvise the classic recipe of lemon juice, sugar and water in numerous ways such as replace the sugar with honey, add flavor with ginger, mint, basil, lavender. Several twists in the original recipe are available such strawberry and mint Lemonade, Beet Lemonade, peach lemonade, watermelon lemonade or you can get creative and come up with your own version.
Jaljeera:
Re-energize yourself with this traditional and refreshing Indian summer delight with numerous health benefits prepared from using roasted cumin seeds, mint and other ingredients. A subtle twist is to add club soda instead of water but we did find couple of interesting twist to the classic recipe like spicy mango jaljeera and a pineapple jaljeera.
Thandai:
When the temperature soars, thandai (which means a coolant) is a very effective and delicious almond flavored beverage to cool you down. This cold drink is made mainly with milk and almond. The other ingredients which are added are saffron, poppy seeds, melon seeds, rose petals, cardamom, vetiver essence or water, fennel seeds and sugar. The balance of these various ingredients balances the body heat in summers. We came across fusion recipe called Pichkari Thandai on Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s website and will definitely be trying it out this summer.
So get set and get ready for a sizzling summer! Do share your favorite thirst quenchers and recipes in the comments sections.
Lassi:
Sweet, savory or flavored, we love Lassi in the summers not only for the numerous health benefits but also the ability to blend it with our favorite fruits, syrups and garnishes. Plain, Mango, Strawberry, rose, khus, kesar – chose your pick and garnish it with dry fruits for a refreshing drink. Twist the experience by replacing the sugar with honey for a healthier version and an extra burst of taste.
 |
| Image source:Flickr: Creative Commons |
Chaas:
Chaas is the most popular yogurt based summer cooler made throughout India with subtle variations. Plain, salted, masala, tempered, pudina (mint) or beet flavored – they are all delicious and healthy and we love it with our meals as it aids in digestion.
Aam Panna:
Made with raw mangoes, sugar and an assortment of spices, Aam Panna is our all time favorite to beat the intense heat especially dry heat. There are a lot of subtle variations available for this cooler throughout India and probably every house has their own recipe making it a versatile drink which can be twisted to one’s personal taste.
 |
| Image source: www.1mhealthtips.com |
Sherbet:
Sherbet is probably the words first soft drink with fruit juices or extracts of flowers or herbs, combined with sugar and water to form a syrup. Several varieties are available in the market and some of our favorites include rose, mint, khus and kokam and you can double the fun by pouring it over an ice lolly (Gola).
 |
| Image source: wikihow: Creative Commons |
Falooda:
One of most good looking layered drink, falooda is the perfect antidote to a hot summer day. Introduced in the Indian subcontinent during the Moghul period, this wonderful drink is an exciting combination of a multitude of ingredients such as the vermicelli noodles, any flavor of ice cream of your choice, sweetened rose-flavored milk and basil (sabza) seeds. You will be spoilt for choice with variety of Falooda versions available, such as faloodas made without the trademark vermicelli and blended with fruits, faloodas with kulfi, wheat starch noodles and different flavors of sugar syrups, and faloodas that are served as milkshakes.
 |
| Image Courtesy - www.worldofmoms.com |
Lemonade (Nimbu Pani):
After water the humble lemonade is the perfect refreshment to quench your thirst on a hot summer day. Drinking Lemon Juice has enormous benefits and you can improvise the classic recipe of lemon juice, sugar and water in numerous ways such as replace the sugar with honey, add flavor with ginger, mint, basil, lavender. Several twists in the original recipe are available such strawberry and mint Lemonade, Beet Lemonade, peach lemonade, watermelon lemonade or you can get creative and come up with your own version.
Jaljeera:
Re-energize yourself with this traditional and refreshing Indian summer delight with numerous health benefits prepared from using roasted cumin seeds, mint and other ingredients. A subtle twist is to add club soda instead of water but we did find couple of interesting twist to the classic recipe like spicy mango jaljeera and a pineapple jaljeera.
 |
| Image source: www.uthmag.com |
Thandai:
When the temperature soars, thandai (which means a coolant) is a very effective and delicious almond flavored beverage to cool you down. This cold drink is made mainly with milk and almond. The other ingredients which are added are saffron, poppy seeds, melon seeds, rose petals, cardamom, vetiver essence or water, fennel seeds and sugar. The balance of these various ingredients balances the body heat in summers. We came across fusion recipe called Pichkari Thandai on Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s website and will definitely be trying it out this summer.
 |
| Image source: www.bhojancatering.com |
So get set and get ready for a sizzling summer! Do share your favorite thirst quenchers and recipes in the comments sections.
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