Welcome to The Storied Recipe, a podcast about food, culture, and love.
I've curated this list of Indian Summer Drinks as the first in a six-part Summer Drinks Around the World series. For this first post, make sure you listen to Mornings, Math, and Chai Masala and try Homemade Chai Masala from my podcast guest, Karthika Gupta.
Now that the summer season is quickly approaching the northern hemisphere, hot summer days are coming and the best way to get your body temperature down is by drinking a refreshing drink to cool off. The traditional Indian drinks listed below are the perfect antidote for a hot summer day. In many Indian households, guests are welcomed with a drink, often one of the delicious options mentioned here. These welcome drinks differ based on the region, such as Jal Jeera is popular in Northern India. Hopefully, some of the recipes below inspire you to make your own Indian beverages for your guests at a summer cookout or simply to keep your body cool and your taste buds happy.
Jump to:
- How to Use This List
- Sharbat Drinks
- Kokum Sharbat | Kokum Juice
- Bel Ka Sharbat (Wood Apple Juice) Recipe
- Gulab Drink (Rose Sharbat) - Hinz Cooking
- SATTU KA GHOL / SHARBAT - Preethi's Cuisine
- Falsa Sharbat I How To make Phalse Ka Sharbat +video
- Kesar Chandan Sharbat (Saffron Sandal Syrup)
- Indian Milk Drinks
- Thandai Recipe | Holi Recipes 2024 - Swasthi's Recipes
- Solkadhi Recipe | Solkadi (Kokum Curry)
- Fig Milkshake (Anjeer Shake)
- Indian Buttermilk Drinks
- Masala Chaas (Indian Spiced Buttermilk)
- Neer mor Recipe for spiced buttermilk - Raks Kitchen
- Indian Yogurt Drinks
- Mango Lassi
- Sweet Lassi
- Strawberry Lassi
- Jeera Lassi or Chaas – Indian Drinking Yogurt in the Froothie Evolve - Give Me Some Spice!
- Piyush ~ Thick Yogurt/ Shrikand Lassi - The Big Sweet Tooth
- Piyush Drink | Piyush Recipe
- Indian Lemon Drinks
- Shikanji Nimbu Pani (Indian Lemonade)
- Masala Nimbu Soda - The Novice Housewife
- Indian Sugarcane Drinks
- Karimbu Juice: Sugarcane Juice - Zesty South Indian Kitchen
- Indian Fruit Pulp Drinks
- Aam Panna Recipe
- Imli Ka Amlana Recipe
- Panagam
- Panakam Recipe
- Jal Jeera
- Jaljeera Recipe | Jaljeera Benefits
- Kanji
- Kanji Recipe (Probiotic Drink)
- Nanniari Sarbath
- Nannari Sarbath Recipe
- How to Make Chai Masala
- Karthika's Memories of Morning, Math, and Chai Masala
- FAQ:
- More Summer Drink Recipes Around the World
- Indian Drinks for Summer: 27 Traditional Cool Drink Recipes
How to Use This List
- Surprisingly, there are so many different spellings for many of these drinks. In many recipes, I saw people spelling sharbat drinks like "sherbet" and some people spelled jal jeera, "jalijeera". I tried to research as much as possible to see if it was a different recipe than what I was referring to, but I couldn't find any difference besides the spelling. If this is incorrect or if you know the reason behind the spelling discrepancies, please let me know! We are always learning over here!
- There is a FAQ below so make sure to check it out!
- The list is organized as follows: Sharbat Drinks, Indian Milk Drinks, Indian Buttermilk Drinks, Indian Yogurt Drinks, Indian Lemon Drinks, Indian Sugarcane Drinks, Indian Fruit Pulp Drinks, Panagam Drinks, Jal Jeera Drinks, Kanji Drinks, and Nanniari Sarbath Drinks.
Sharbat Drinks
Sharbats are typically made from fruits mixed with a blend of spices and a souring agent that make them a popular drink for the hot summer months. There are many health benefits in sharbat drinks due to the fresh produce and the variety of spices that promote digestive health. They are full of fiber, protein, and vitamins. A sattu drink is one example of these nutritious and fibrous-packed drinks due to the unusual ingredient (for drinks anyway) of roasted black (chickpea) gram flour alongside lemon and cumin powder. Ingredients such as black salt in Phalsa Sharbat and rose petals in Gulab Sharbat also have wonderful digestive properties.
Kokum Sharbat | Kokum Juice
This is a delicious and refreshing Indian summer cooler kokum sharbat. Make it this summer for its immense health benefits.
Bel Ka Sharbat (Wood Apple Juice) Recipe
One of my most favorite drink.
Gulab Drink (Rose Sharbat) - Hinz Cooking
Quench your thirst with this healthy gulab drink or rose sharbat. It will hardly take 5 minutes to prepare with gulab syrup.
SATTU KA GHOL / SHARBAT - Preethi's Cuisine
SATTU KA GHOL / SHARBAT IS A PROTEIN RICH SUMMER COOLER. HIGH IN NUTRITION AND PERFECT FOR BUSY DAYS TO KEEP YOU HYDRATED AND FULL.
Falsa Sharbat I How To make Phalse Ka Sharbat +video
Falsa/ Phalsa sharbat - a very healthy ,refreshing natural fruit drink to combat the heat
Kesar Chandan Sharbat (Saffron Sandal Syrup)
Kesar Chandan Sharbat (Saffron Sandal Syrup) is a traditional Indian beverage perfect to cool down your body. Here is how to make it.
Indian Milk Drinks
Thandai is a traditional drink commonly drunk during the Festival of Holi. It is a milk-based drink made with a mixture of almonds, fennel seeds, cardamom powder, rose petals, and other spices. Indian milk drinks don't have to be cow milk, instead, some traditional Indian summer drinks use coconut milk as the base, such as Sol Kadhi; in addition to coconut milk, Sol Kadhi is made with kokum fruit, green chili, and coriander.
Thandai Recipe | Holi Recipes 2024 - Swasthi's Recipes
Thandai is a popular traditional Indian beverage made for festivals like Holi & Maha Shivaratri. Make this super delicious drink for HOLI !!
Solkadhi Recipe | Solkadi (Kokum Curry)
Solkadhi recipe (or solkadi or kokum curry or kokum kadhi) is a mauve-hued, tart digestive drink and takes just about 10 minutes to prepare
Fig Milkshake (Anjeer Shake)
Fig milkshake or Anjeer Shake recipe with step by step photos. A healthy, tasty and quick beverage made with fresh figs and milk.
Indian Buttermilk Drinks
These cold drinks include a spiced buttermilk, Chaas, a traditional beverage perfect for the summer months. This delicious drink not only aids digestion thanks to the probiotics found in buttermilk, but also is a good source of calcium, protein, and vitamin B12.
source: Refresh Your Life, PharmEasy
Masala Chaas (Indian Spiced Buttermilk)
Masala chaas, or spiced buttermilk, is a healthy Indian summer drink recipe made with homemade yogurt (curd), water, herbs, and a few spices.
Neer mor Recipe for spiced buttermilk - Raks Kitchen
Neer mor is spiced buttermilk, south Indian style, perfect as summer drink to beat the heat and keep yourself hydrated in natural way
Indian Yogurt Drinks
Besides Chai Masala, Lassis are the most popular Indian drink outside India. It is a traditional yogurt-based drink with a sweet taste and creamy texture that is perfect for cooling down your body heat in the scorching summer heat.
Mango Lassi
The popular Indian drink Mango Lassi is a delicious and creamy blend of mangoes and yogurt with a touch of cardamom!
Sweet Lassi
Sweet lassi is a traditional Punjabi drink that is made with sweetened yogurt. It has a creamy, satisfying taste.
Strawberry Lassi
Strawberry Lassi is a delicious blend of fresh strawberries and yogurt! A refreshing summer drink!
Jeera Lassi or Chaas – Indian Drinking Yogurt in the Froothie Evolve - Give Me Some Spice!
Lassi or Chaas is a simple Indian drink made from yogurt and water. Vegans can use Soya Yogurt. It's a great cooling drink great and goes well with all the Indian dishes. Often people will add fruit or mild spices to the lassi. The amount of water, fruit and spices added to the yogurt depends
Piyush ~ Thick Yogurt/ Shrikand Lassi - The Big Sweet Tooth
I normally don’t like to admit that I am tired. Actually speaking, I AM tired. Sleep is totally a limited business these days. With parents around, the kids are taking full advantage of the fact that I won’t be able to yell at them as much as I would when they aren’t there. Even […]
Piyush Drink | Piyush Recipe
Piyush drink is a bit similar to the lassi. But in comparison it is thick, creamy, sweeter than lassi. Piyush recipe is popular in Gujarat.
Indian Lemon Drinks
Nimbu Pani is an Indian lemonade made with fresh lemons, black pepper and cumin and is drunk all over India. In the northern part of India, they have their own version of lemonade called Shikanji which is also a tangy drink due to the fresh lemons, but they add ginger, salt, saffron, and cumin to their version. There is also a lemon soda called Banta Soda that is a popular choice to buy from street vendors on a hot day in India.
Shikanji Nimbu Pani (Indian Lemonade)
Shikanji is the most refreshing summer drink! It's as easy to make as regular lemonade, but there's no comparison when it comes to taste. This sweet, tangy, spiced drink wins every time.
Masala Nimbu Soda - The Novice Housewife
There is a very popular summer time street drink in India called Banta. Some know it as Goli Soda, others call it heaven in a bottle especially when they have been traveling in the scorching roads of Delhi. Masala Nimbu Soda aka Banta aka Goli Soda aka heaven in a bottle is basically a carbonated version … Read More →
Indian Sugarcane Drinks
Made with fresh sugarcane stalks, the taste has been described as slightly grassy with a faint molasses finish. It is also full of amino acids and vitamins A and B9!
source: Saveur
Karimbu Juice: Sugarcane Juice - Zesty South Indian Kitchen
Homemade sugar cane juice with ginger and lemon juice. Excellent thirst quencher , sold by street vendors during summer months.
Indian Fruit Pulp Drinks
Aam Panna is a spiced mango pulp drink made with green (raw) mangoes, jaggery (unrefined sugar), black salt, and cumin. Interestingly, this drink is most well-known for its cooling properties because of its heat-resisting properties. Imil Ka Amlana is also made with fruit pulp, more specifically tamarind pulp, balck salt, pepper, and cardamom.
source: Fun Food Frolic
Aam Panna Recipe
Aam Panna is a savory, traditional Indian summer drink prepared with raw mango. Find how to make aam panna in few simple steps
Imli Ka Amlana Recipe
Imli Ka Amlana Recipe - Imli Ka Amlana Recipe: This is a quick and easy drink for summer you can also called it tamarind squash. You need tamarind plup, black pepper, black salt and cardamom powder to make it.
Panagam
Panagam is often made during summer festivals like Ram Navami (a Hindu festival celebrated in April). It is made with a blend of aromatic spices mixed with cold water and lemon juice. It is easy to see why this refreshing drink is popular to combat the scorching heat in the summer.
Panakam Recipe
Panakam Recipe with step by step pictures. Panagam Recipe is a traditional healthy drink given in temples and prepared mostly during Navami.
Jal Jeera
In Hindi, Jal Jerra (or Jalijeera) translates to jal meaning "water" and jeera meaning "cumin". Put those two words together and you get cumin water! But don't be put off by the name. It is one of the most popular summer drinks in Northern India for a reason. It is usually made with cumin, black salt, ginger, mint leaves, chilies, and citrus, like lemon juice. It is a refreshing drink meant to rejuvenate your body during a hot summer day.
Jaljeera Recipe | Jaljeera Benefits
Jaljeera recipe with step by step photos - This is a tangy, cooling North India summer drink. Jaljeera benefits are many.
Kanji
This beautiful drink has a deep magenta-red color that doesn't only look nice but is also very healthy for you. It is a fermented drink so it aids with digestion, but is also high in vitamins and minerals because it is made with carrots and beets, mustard seeds, and black salt.
Kanji Recipe (Probiotic Drink)
Kanji recipe is traditional North Indian, Punjabi drink made with carrots, spices, water. Kanji is a healthy and fermented probiotic drink.
Nanniari Sarbath
These drinks are another example of refreshing beverages that help cool your body down. They are made with nannari roots that are native to India and come from the sarsaparilla plant. Because of their medicinal properties, they are very important in Ayurvedic medicine.
source: Veg Recipes of India
Nannari Sarbath Recipe
Nannari Sarbath is a cooling and refreshing drink made from nannari roots. Nannari Sarbath is a great body coolant especially for summer.
How to Make Chai Masala
My podcast guest, Karthika Gupta shared this special Indian Chai Masala powder that her mother used to make their daily tea – and she now makes for her family. I invite you to listen to her episode, Mornings, Math, and Chai Masala as you drink a cup of Indian tea spiced with her own Masala spice blend.
Karthika's Memories of Morning, Math, and Chai Masala
Born and raised in the diverse city of Bombay (Mumbai), India, Karthika later moved to the US.
At the time Karthika’s beloved mother fell ill several years ago, Karthika was experiencing a personal renaissance as she transitioned from a career in computer science to photography.
When Karthika traveled back to India to care for her mother, she entered a period of self-reflection, and out of this search for identity was born her enlightening podcast and captivating website, both named “Culturally Ours”.
Karthika touches on all of these things in this episode, but especially on memories of her mother, with whom Karthika shared the calm, peaceful morning hours for years and years. During these peaceful hours morning hours, Karthika’s mom cooked, Karthika studied, and they both drank from a bottomless pot of chai masala. Could a memory be any sweeter?
FAQ:
Most Popular Alcoholic Drinks in India
I didn't make this a drink category since these can be drunk any time of year and aren't specific to summer. According to Forbes India, this industry has rapidly increased and is now worth around $50 billion annually. Some of the popular categories include Indian Whiskey (e.g. Woodburns), Indian Single Malt (e.g. Paul John), Indian Craft Scotch (e.g. Greater Than), Indian beer (I'm sure you've heard of Kingfisher beer), Indian Wine (e.g. Sula), and more. You can read the entire list on Forbes India.
The Mixer also suggested a list of Indian-inspired cocktails that sound delicious. Some examples are:
- Indian Jalijeera Mojito
- Mango Lassi with Kaffir Lime (paired with rum or vodka)
- Nimbu Pani Mint Julep
- Tamarind Ginger Margarita
- Indian Winter (like a Whiskey Sour; cardamom-spiced vodka)
- Masala Chai Sour
- Masala Red Snapper (an Indian-inspired version of a Bloody Mary)
You can find the entire list and the corresponding recipes on The Mixer website.
Why are Indian Summer Drinks Spiced and/or Savory?
This article from NPR quotes Dr. Jay Apte who says that "All Indian and ayurvedic cooking tends to incorporate six different tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent (spicy) and astringent". Ayurvedic, a practice originally from India, is a holistic approach to medicine that seeks to incorporate the mind, body, and spirit in their practices. As you have seen above, many of the drinks listed have at least one health benefit, if not a plethora of them. So really, not only are you getting a cool drink that refreshes you, but you are also getting essential nutrients that greatly benefit your overall health.
How to Make the Best Indian Summer Drink
These tips come from City Life, who suggest you follow these steps for making the best Indian summer drinks:
- Use fresh, seasonal ingredients
- Spruce up your drink with a garnish of mint, citrus peel, or basil seeds
- Chill the drinks before you serve them so they have the most cooling effect when you give them to your guests
- Add spice such as black pepper, cayenne pepper, black salt, or roasted cumin
- Improvising and having fun mixing flavors!
More Summer Drink Recipes Around the World
Indian Drinks for Summer: 27 Traditional Cool Drink Recipes
27 authentic Indian recipes for cool summer drinks! Make in a batch and enjoy on the deck with friends and loved ones. Includes Sharbat Drinks, Milk Drinks, Buttermilk Drinks, Yogurt Drinks, Lemon Drinks, Sugarcane Drinks, Fruit Pulp Drinks, Panagam Drinks, Jal Jeera Drinks, Kanji Drinks, and Nanniari Sarbath Drinks
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Ingredients
- Sharbat Drinks
Kokum Sharbat from Rachna Cooks
Bel Sharbat from Chef Kunal Kapur
Gulab Sharbat from Hinz Cooking
Sattu Ka Sharbat from Preethi Cuisine
Phalsa/Falsa Sharbat from Chef Kunal Kapur
Kesar Chandan Sharbat from Whisk Affair
- Indian Milk Drinks
Thandai from Indian Healthy Recipes
Sol Kadhi from Veg Recipes of India
Anjeer (Fig) Milkshake from Veg Recipes of India
- Indian Buttermilk Drinks
Masala Chaas (Buttermilk) from Indian Veggie Delight
Neer Mor from Raks Kitchen
- Indian Yogurt Drinks
Mango Lassi from Cook With Manali
Sweet Lassi from Indiaphile
Strawberry Lassi from Cook With Manali
Jeera Lassi from Give Me Some Spice
Shrikhand Lassi from The Big Sweet Tooth
Piyush from Veg Recipes of India
- Indian Lemon Drinks
Nimbu Pani from Veg Recipes of India
Shikanji from My Heart Beets
Banta Soda from Somethings Cooking With Alpa
- Indian Sugarcane Drinks
Ganne ka Ras from Zesty South Indian Kitchen
- Indian Fruit Pulp Drinks
Aam Panna from Fun Food Frolic
Imli Ka Amlana from Food.ndtv
- Panagam
Panagam from Yummy Tummy Aarthi
- Jal Jeera
Jal Jeera from Hebbars Kitchen
- Kanji
Nannari Sarbath from Sharmis Passions
Directions
- Make sure you listen to Karthika's recipe, Mornings, Math and Chai Masala while you try these Indian Summer Drinks recipes!!
Notes
- Make sure you listen to Karthika's recipe, Mornings, Math and Chai Masala while you try these Indian Summer Drinks recipes!!
Would love to hear from you!