Come summers, the mercury climbs steeply and leaves people thirsty and tired. Especially in the countries that lie on or near the equator, summers can be a rather difficult season to live through.
To beat the scorching heat, people often tend to gulp down plain cold water or chilled aerated beverages. However, there are a few traditional Indian “cool drinks” that can quench your thirst better than anything else. And that too while being completely natural!
Here are a few tried-and tasted recipes that will help you beat the heat:
Tangy Lemonade
If life gives you lemons, make lemon juice of it, they say, and with good reason. Lemons are golf-ball sized dynamos of Vitamin C, proteins and carbohydrates. Lemon juice also packs health benefits like reducing hypertension, controlling cholesterol level and alleviating urinary infection, stress, and so on.
It is good for the skin and can help tackle sunburn and prevent wrinkles. It helps in digestion, gives instant energy and has anti oxidant properties. It protects against dehydration as it acts like electrolyte powder. The sabja (basil) seeds in the recipe below add to the cooling properties.
Caution: Those with ulcers and tooth problems are advised to take lime juice only with medical clearance.
Ingredients
| Sabja seeds | 2 tbsp. | |
| Rock sugar | 1 1/2 tbsp. | |
| Lemon juice | 1 tbsp. | |
| Ginger juice (Optional) | 1/2 tbsp. | |
| Water | 1 glass |
Method
- Soak sabja seeds in water for 1/2 hour and drain the water.
- Add lemon juice, rock sugar, ginger juice in a glass of water, and stir it well. Add sabja seeds and serve it.
Masti Lassi
A traditional and much loved summer coolant, lassi (churned buttermilk) is probiotic, and packs electrolytes and Vitamin B12. It guards you against de-hydration and fatigue, soothes the stomach, aids in digestion, and washes out excess fats and spices from the system. The coriander leaves and the cumin in the following recipe also have cooling properties.
Ingredients
| Fresh Curd | Half glass | |
| Water | 1 glass | |
| Curry leaves | 2 sprigs | |
| Cumin seeds powder | 1/4 tsp. | |
| Black salt | 1/4 tsp. | |
| Rock salt | As per taste | |
| Coriander | A few sprigs |
Method
- Add a little curd in some warm milk and set it in a small mud pot or mud vessel, preferably early in the morning.
- Make a paste of curry leaves with a mortar and pestle.
- Mix the curd, curry- leaf paste, water, cumin seeds, rock salt and black salt.
- Garnish with coriander leaves and roasted whole cumin seeds and serve.
Kokum Sherbat
Another traditional drink straight from granny’s recipe-book, Kokum (Gracinia indica) is known as the “cool king” of fruits. An excellent source of anti-oxidants, it promotes cell regeneration, cools pitta and aids in tackling constipation, allergy, hyperacidity, and so on.
Caution: Use kokum in limited amounts, and consume milk/milk products only an hour after taking kokum.
Ingredients
| Kokum | 10 pcs. | |
| Rock sugar | 2 tbsp. | |
| Black salt | 2 tbsp. | |
| Roasted Cumin powder | 1/4 tbsp. | |
| Water | 1 glass | |
| Phalsa | 1 tbsp. |
Method
- Make a paste of Kokum, roasted cumin powder, rock sugar and black salt.
- In a glass of water, mix 1-2 spoons of kokum paste and garnish it with phalsa (Grewia asiatica).
Apart from these delightful cool drinks, you could also keep your pitta in control by having more of coconut water and watermelon. Drinking plenty of water will also keep yourself hydrated and energized.
Sit back and enjoy the sunny days with these three natural tasty drinks.