5 Cooling and Easy Indian Drinks to Quench Your Thirst This Summer

There’s no better way to beat the Heat of the Summer than with a cool refreshing drink! But, keeping inspired living in mind, we’re you looking to inspire you with these all natural drinks of India. A country familair with sweltering summers, these traditional Indian beverages like Lassi, Nimboo Pani (lemonade- Indian style), Masala Chaas, Kayree Panha and more are made not just as a simple refreshment, but the natural cooling properties of their ingredients are designed to keep your body cool. So here’s a look at some super cooling and easy-to-make drinks…

Mango Lassi (Yogurt drink)
Mango Lassi is a refreshing sweet yogurt drink perfect for a hot day. Traditionally Lassi is a Salty drink where yogurt is blended together with water, salt and spices until frothy but a more recent twist on the drink is it’s sweet version either plain or flavored by fruit. Mango Lassi is very easy to make.It’s best made with fresh mangoes but can also be substituted by canned mangoes or even mango juice.

Mango Lassi Recipe:
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup mango pulp (fresh or canned)
1 cup crushed ice
3 table spoons sugar / Use sugar substitute for a healthier option (or if the mangoes are sweet enough don’t use any at all)
A sprig of mint or a slice of mango to garnish

Blend all of the above. Add a little water if the consistency is too thick. Keep refrigerated. Serve chilled. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Makes 4 servings. It’s as Simple as that!

*Can’t find mangoes? Try strawberries or your favorite fruit and it’ll be just as good!

Nimboo Pani (Lemonade)
Loved in the US as pure simple “Lemonade”. Nimbu Pani is the Indian version of the same. It’s Lemonade with an Indian twist of Jaljira, a spice blend with cooling properties that packs a real flavor kick!

Nimbu Pani Recipe:
Juice of 4 lemons
Sugar/honey to taste
2 tbsps Jaljira powder (available at most Indian groceries)
Chilled water
Crushed ice
Lemon slices and mint to garnish

* Squeeze all lemons to remove juice and strain the juice to remove seeds. Pour into a large jug.
* Add all the remaining ingredients to get desired strength and sweetness and mix well.
* Serve in chilled glasses garnished with lemon slices.

Kairee Panha (Raw mango drink)
Made with fresh raw mangoes known for their cooling effects on the body and abundantly found in the summer months in India, Kairee (raw mango) Panha originates from the state of Maharashtra in Western India. It is a sweet-sour-spicy drink you’ll just fall in love with! This recipe makes 6 tall glasses.

Kairee Panha Recipe:
4 medium-sized raw green mangoes
2 cups sugar
1 cup water
1 tbsp coarsely ground black rock salt
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tbsps Aniseed/fennel seeds ground coarsely
2 tbsps cumin seeds roasted and ground coarsely
Chilled water
Crushed ice
Sprigs of mint to garnish

Preparation:
* Wash, peel and grate the raw mangoes. Mix the mangoes, sugar and water in a deep saucepan and boil till the mangoes are soft.
* Put this mixture into a food processor and blend till smooth.
* Put the blended mix back into the saucepan and on a medium flame.
* Add the remaining ingredients and cook for another 20 minutes.
* Take off from the fire and allow to cool completely.
* Pour into glasses, dilute with a little chilled water if needed, mix well and add crushed ice.
* Garnish with a sprig of mint and serve.

Masala Chaas (Spiced buttermilk)
Chaas is Buttermilk. Masala Chaas is it nothing but a spiced buttermilk is served as an aperitif and digestive drink.It’s traditionally served in a small clay glass which adds an earthy flavor to it. While yogurt itself has cooling properties, the cumin is what makes this drink so special for the summer. Boiling a teaspoon of cumin in a glass of water to make a tea cures problems in the urinary tract, cleans the bladder and kidneys. And eaten simply or chewed it promotes digestion and boosts immunity making this an all round drink.

Masala Chaas recipe:
1/2 cup yogurt
4 glasses chilled water
1/4 cup of chopped coriander (cilantro)
1/4 cup of mint leaves
1 green chilly
1 tea spoon cumin seed powder
2 tea spoon Black Salt
Salt to taste

Method
Put all the ingredients in a blender till coriander and mint leaves crush very well. Serve cold.

Tender Coconut Water
No Recipes here. The absolute best cooling and refreshing drink there is! All natural- No artificial sweetening, no added flavors or colors….just plain Coconut Water straight from a coconut.

*Photo Credits: blueSkySunHigh, elana’s pantry, DraconianRain, ampersandyslexia, feministjulie on flickr.