As if the Indian summer was not already scorching enough to make you sweat, the sun has chosen to increase temperatures even further. Dehydration and tiredness creep in sooner than expected as temperatures rise steeply. But wait! The art of natural cooling has long remained an Indian mystery. We are referring here to the healthy, tasty and natural summer cool drinks that generations have enjoyed; we are not just talking about gulping down a glass of cold water.
Top 5 Indian Natural Summer Cool Drinks
1. Buttermilk
It’s an all-time staple. There is no season for some chhaas. This curd-based drink, excellent for the gut and hence the body because of its fermentation and microbial levels, is great for the summers. People across the country consume it differently as it works best for digestion. Curry leaves, ginger, mint leaves, cumin—the experimentation is all on you!
How to make it
To a blender jar, add plain yogurt (curd). Use ¾ cup homemade curd/yogurt. ¼ cup fresh mint leaves (without stalks) 4 to 5 grams. (You can reduce it if you don’t like it.) 1 tablespoon coriander leaves. Small green chili or ¼ to ½ teaspoon black pepper. 2 to 4 inches of fresh peeled ginger (you can also reduce if you prefer) ½ teaspoon black salt & ¼ teaspoon regular salt (adjust to taste) 3/4 teaspoon roasted cumin powder. Blend until smooth. Then pour water. Use about 2 cups of water.
2. Kokum Juice
High in antioxidant as well as anti-diabetic levels, kokum juice helps to reduce heat, indigestion, and acidity. It manages blood sugar levels by pumping up insulin levels. Its low cholesterol levels make it extremely great for people with blood pressure issues.
How to make it
It is generally made using dried kokum. Soak 200 gm of dried kokum in 2 cups of water for 2 hours. Add this to a blender to make a smooth paste. In a pan, add this kokum paste along with 200 gm of jaggery and 2 cups of water, cumin powder, ground cardamom, pink salt, and also black pepper powder. Cook this for 20-25 min. Strain this mixture once cooled. You can store this kokum concentrate in a glass bottle in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Pour 3 tbsps. of this concentrate in a glass and add chilled water to it. Kokum sherbet is ready.
3. Cucumber Honey Limeade
Basically made with the juice of cucumbers and lime blended together, Cucumber Honey Limeade is a naturally sweetened and light beverage that refreshes. It is a modern take on the good old summer coolers, served over ice, and has the sweet aroma of refreshing mint yet every sip bursts with crisp freshness and a refreshing cool aftertaste.
How to make it
Lemon and cucumber, two of the most easily available ingredients in summer, are here to be your favorite thirst quencher. Firstly, blend cucumber pieces, strain it out, and extract the juice. Add two teaspoons of honey and two teaspoons of lemon juice, and mix them all together. Here you go—now you have a summer drink that will take care of your body!
4. Bael Sherbet
Widely known as wood apple, Bael is a coolant. It has high antioxidant levels, making it a great solution for digestion, skin infections, and even diarrhea. It is a blood purifier that is a clubhouse for various vitamins like A, B1, B2, and C.
How to make it
Take Bael fruit, wash it, and break the hard shell from all around. Once it breaks, remove the pulp in a bowl. Mash the pulp until it softens, and strain the mixture to remove any particles or impurities. You can add chilled water, cumin powder, jaggery powder, black salt, or pink salt and mix everything.
5. Aam Panna
It is made out of everyone’s favorite fruit, i.e., mango. Aam panna is a raw mango-based drink. We make this punchy beverage using sugar or jaggery and flavor it with mint, black salt, and roasted cumin powder. As such, this drink finds entry into households in very hot summertime because of the heavenly sweet-sour-spicy flavor that it brings to the palate.
How to make it
It is basically made of green raw mangoes. Firstly, wash and peel mangoes and cut them into slices; pressure cook these mangoes on low for 5 minutes along with 2 cups of water. Additionally, put these cooled mangoes to a blender, along with mint leaves, jaggery, cumin powder, and pink salt to make a paste. You can store this mango concentrate for up to 3 months. To concentrate, add chilled water in a glass, and Aam Panna is ready.
Other Natural Summer Cool Drinks Worth Trying
Some of these local Indian coolers are really cool; they must be tried!
- Sol Kadhi: Chilled pink drink from kokum with added coconut milk that aids digestion, especially after a heavy meal.
- Phalsa Sherbet: From the tart phalsa berries comes a purple drink that quenches thirst and abounds in antioxidant properties.
- Shikanji or Nimbu Pani: Nimbu Pani is lemonade powered by Indian spices! A mix of lemon juice, water, and sugar, salt, or both, black salt, and roasted cumin powder is called Shikanji or Nimbu Pani.
- Jaljeera: Just a drink made in the spiciest, tangiest way with water and spices like amchur (dry mango powder), cumin, black pepper, and mint.
Conclusion: Embrace Natural Summer Cool Drinks for a Healthier You
You must never let your vitality exhaust in summers. Accordingly, with the right beverages, you can turn the season into one filled with coolness and vibrant health. The top 5 natural Indian summer cooler drinks described even keep you cool, encouraging a lifestyle that’s simple, traditional, and good for your health.
So say goodbye to Coke this summer. Go for the desi stuff: with each sip of your grandma’s herbal cooler, take a step back to a simpler and healthier time. Overall, cheers to a naturally cool summer!
