The mercury is constantly rising and the conversations are heating up too. So what better than some cool-cool summer drinks to help you chill a little! Well, options are too many but we would like to go the traditional Indian way. Check out this list of cool drinks that are quintessentially on the menu in all the Indian households during the scorching and unbearable summer months. The best part is these drinks never go out of fashion, are a favorite with both kids and adults and the easiest to make and savour in the comforts of your home.
Aam Panna - Aam Panna is a light green Indian drink made from raw mangoes, sugar and an assortment of spices. If its tangy flavour doesn’t captivate your taste buds, here are some more reasons that will tempt you to have this drink. It is your tasty and quick remedy to beat the Delhi summer and avoid heat strokes, it prevents excessive loss of sodium chloride and zinc from the body due to excessive sweating, it is a rich source of Vitamin C and thus a curative for blood disorders and acts as a tonic which increases body resistance against tuberculosis, anaemia, cholera and dysentery.
Jal Jeera - Jal means water and Jeera means cumin. Jal Jeera is a very popular drink from north India, mainly because it is very cooling and is an ideal drink for hot Indian summers. Apart from cooling properties jal jeera is also used as an appetizer because of its digestive properties. There are some other strong spices and herbs used in Jal Jeera along with cumin which makes it a tangy, sour, aromatic and spicy drink. They are mint, tamarind, fennel and black pepper.
Lassi or Chaach – Everyone loves this hearty Punjabi breakfast!! Lassi is a rustic summer cooler and the most famous of all summer drinks. Three cheers to the benefits of Lassi in summers as it very cooling, full of protein and the salt in it keeps the blood pressure stable in the heat. According to Ayurveda, cold yogurt alone can be heavy on the body and clog channels. However diluting it with water and adding cooking spices makes it very easy to digest. The Lassi is also full of acidophilus and helps to replenish the friendly intestinal bacteria.
Bel ka sharbat - Bel or wood apple is a fruit that excellently benefits the stomach. Rich in fibre, minerals and vitamins, its sharbat has a cooling and nourishing effect on the system. You will be surprised at how simple it is to make. Just break open the Bel and take out the pulp, soak the pulp in water for 4 hours and then sieve it to remove seeds and fibre. Add chilled water and your Bel sharbat is ready to sip. The best part of this drink is that it requires no extra sugar since the fruit is already quite sweet plus the natural sugars actually benefit your body.
Thandai - It makes a refreshing snack on a hot summer day which is already making an appearance here. Thandai is usually made during the Indian festival of colors, Holi but if this is your favorite, any time is a good time to have it! When the hot, dry summer wind leaves everybody parched, this tasty and cooling thirst-quencher cools you down to the core. Thandai can be easily prepared at home by just grinding almonds, sunflower/pumpkin seeds, cardamom powder and rose water into a fine paste and mixing with crushed ice and cold milk.
Gulaab ka sharbat – Most of you would agree.. while rose petals are quite tasty to chew, gulaab ka sharbat is even better! On a hot summer's day, a tall, frosty glass of gulaan sharbat can really cool you off. And another nice way to have it is in a glass of cold milk. Have it sweet or dilute it with water or milk, whatever you prefer and store in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Nimbu Paani – Our list of Indian summer drinks would be incomplete without this one. Nimbu Paani is a must have summer drink in all Indian households. No summer passes without this most simple energy drink. Lemons have 5% citric acid, which gives it its unique taste. Rich in vitamin C, it also has vitamin B, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, proteins and carbohydrates. On a good summer day one nimboo is all you need to combat the terrible heat.
