By: Toshita Sahni
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Summer is here and we are bracing ourselves for many weeks of high temperatures. Staying well-hydrated is important and opting for traditional homemade drinks is a healthy choice.
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There are many traditional Indian cold drinks to choose from. We have made a special list of popular beverages that have a tangy taste, ranging from mild to strong sourness.
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Most of these drinks, when made at home and consumed in moderation, are good for overall health. Just keep a check on the amounts of sugar and salt added. Explore the drinks here:
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Desi-style lemonade has many variations across the country. It's known by many names, including shikanji, nimbu paani, etc. This humble cold drink never disappoints.
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Panakam or Panagam is a traditional South Indian beverage that blends jaggery, lemon juice, dry ginger, pepper, and cardamom in water.
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Meaning shaken in Malayalam, Kulukki is a special type of sweet and spicy lemonade that typically also contains green chillies and sabja (basil seeds).
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Coconut water is a summer must-have and Bengali-style Daab Sharbat mixes it with sugar, mint leaves and lemon juice for a delicious twist.
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Buttermilk or chaas is a beloved summer drink across India, with distinct regional interpretations. Since it's made by churning curds, it often has a hint of tanginess.
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Aam panna is a refreshing summer staple made from unripe mangoes. This traditional mango drink is said to help prevent heat exhaustion.
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A signature drink of Konkan cuisine, sol kadhi combines the tartness of kokum with the smoothness of coconut milk. It is valued for its digestive properties.
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If you don't want the aromatics of sol kadhi, enjoy the flavours of kokum in the form of simple water-based sharbat. Use kokum pulp to make this drink.
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Imli or tamarind juice/pulp is also used to make several types of cooling summer drinks. Imli has a distinctive sourness loved by many people.
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Jal jeera combines cumin, tamarind, lemon, mint, black salt, etc. Known for its digestive properties, this nourishing summer drink is also usually low in sugar.
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To explore more traditional Indian summer drinks
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