India’s diverse culinary tradition offers an array of refreshing drinks to help combat the sweltering summer heat. Here are seven popular homemade beverages that not only cool you down but also provide various health benefits.
- Aam Panna
Ingredients:
- 2 raw mangoes
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- Fresh mint leaves
- Water
Preparation:
- Boil the raw mangoes until they become soft.
- Once cooled, peel them and extract the pulp.
- Blend the pulp with sugar, black salt, roasted cumin powder, and fresh mint leaves.
- Add water to achieve the desired consistency.
- Serve chilled with ice cubes.
- Buttermilk (Chaas)
Ingredients:
- 2 cups yogurt
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- Salt to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves
- 1 green chili (optional)
Preparation:
- Whisk the yogurt until smooth.
- Add water and continue whisking to get a frothy texture.
- Mix in the roasted cumin powder, salt, chopped coriander leaves, and finely chopped green chili.
- Serve chilled in tall glasses.
- Jaljeera
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- 1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon fennel powder
- 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur)
- Fresh mint leaves
- 1 tablespoon jaggery
- Water
Preparation:
- Blend tamarind paste, black salt, roasted cumin powder, fennel powder, dry mango powder, fresh mint leaves, and jaggery with a little water to form a smooth paste.
- Dilute the paste with cold water.
- Strain and serve chilled, garnished with mint leaves.
- Nimbu Pani (Lemonade)
Ingredients:
- 4 lemons
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon black salt
- Water
- Ice cubes
- Mint leaves
Preparation:
- Squeeze the lemons to extract the juice.
- Mix lemon juice, sugar, black salt, and water until the sugar dissolves.
- Pour the mixture into glasses filled with ice cubes.
- Garnish with mint leaves and serve.
- Coconut Water
Ingredients:
- Fresh coconut
Preparation:
- Simply cut open a fresh coconut.
- Pour the coconut water into a glass.
- Serve immediately, optionally with the coconut pulp.
- Sattu Drink
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons sattu (roasted gram flour)
- 2 glasses water
- Salt to taste
- 1 lemon
- Roasted cumin powder
- Fresh mint leaves
Preparation:
- Mix sattu with water until smooth.
- Add salt, lemon juice, roasted cumin powder, and fresh mint leaves.
- Stir well and serve chilled.
- Watermelon Juice
Ingredients:
- 1 large watermelon
- Black salt to taste
- Lemon juice (optional)
- Fresh mint leaves
Preparation:
- Cut the watermelon into cubes and remove the seeds.
- Blend the watermelon cubes until smooth.
- Strain the juice to remove any pulp.
- Add black salt and lemon juice for taste.
- Garnish with mint leaves and serve chilled.
Conclusion
These seven homemade drinks are easy to prepare and offer a delightful respite from the intense summer heat. They are not only refreshing but also pack numerous health benefits, such as hydration, aiding digestion, and providing essential nutrients. Enjoy these beverages to keep cool and healthy throughout the summer.
