Health begins from home. As summers ride in and mercury goes soaring, here is a quick look at 7 traditional Indian summer drinks that are just perfect. These traditional sherbets and concoctions are naturally endowed with cooling properties.
Not only would they keep your body supple and hydrated, but they also pack an excellent punch of essential nutrients. Here’s 7 easy to make Indian summer drinks and their nutritional value – because why not.
Lassi
Let’s lay it out straight – lassi is not buttermilk. Lassi is lassi and is simply made by churning curd or dahi and adding various condiments. The best part about lassi is that it can take the flavour that you like. Add extra water, salt with mint and a little bhuna zeera or cumin seeds and you have your light traditional namkeen lassi.
Add sugar to the churned curd and maybe a dollop of your favourite roohafza to enjoy a delicious end to any meal. What’s more…if you are a mango lover, just add chopped mangoes to the mix and enjoy a hearty glass of mango lassi. A single serving is about 130 calories.
Nutritionists and gut health experts recommend using the curd prepared at home for better mix of healthy bacteria and even a bit of higher protein.
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Buttermilk or Chaach
This may seem like a distant and ‘lesser’ cousin of lassi but when it comes to nutritional value, it strong arms lassi quite easily. Packed with almost all of milk’s protein and excellent dose of calcium. With all things good, a glass of buttermilk is said to keep you satiated for long and also keep your gut cool in the scorching heat. Adding roasted cumin powder can further improve its gut friendly attributes. A glass of buttermilk is roughly around 99 calories.
Aam Panna
If you love mangoes, this this raw mango drink can hardly be a stranger to you. Made from raw mango pulp, aam panna is a bit tangy and extremely refreshing. Loaded with spices like cumin, black salt and mint, this sweet and tangy drink will keep you asking for more. The drink is a splendid mix of essential nurients like vitamin C and A, Iron, Potassium among others.
What’s more, your dadi ma or your dadi ma’s mother would swear that a glass of aam panna will prevent heatstroke and dehydration. As for calories, it is directly proportional to the sugar you add. Typically, a glass of home made aam panna would be about 140 – 180 calories.
Nimbu Pani
When life gives your lemons…don’t skip the lemonade. Amazingly refreshing, the simple mixture of lime juice, water, sugar and a pinch of salt is an excellent summer drink. Not only would be provide you with instant hydration, but the delicate mix will also ensure a perfect balance of essential salts in your body. Drink a glass daily to keep your stomach healthy in summers.
If you are calorie conscious, skip the sugar. Just a pinch of black/ rock salt, lime and water can give you that instant kick. As for calories, the humble all sweet variant is just about 80 – 90 calories. Skip sugar and you have an almost zero calorie drink.
Sattu Sharbat
Thanks to Instagram and other social media channels, the regional wisdom from various parts of country is gaining popularity. One of these is the excellent health drink – Sattu Sharbat.
Native to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, this drink is made from roasted gram flour or sattu. Made by mixing sattu with lemon juice, salt and water, the drink is an excellent source of protein and sustained energy. A glass of it is recommended especially for those who have a strenuous lifestyle.
In the calorie meter – this quintessential indian summer drink is a simple example of can be as light or as heavy as you want it to be. Ideally it would be about 85 calories in 200 ml with about 3 grams of proteins and 11 grams of carbohydrates. As you continue to add ingredients, the calorie meter also keeps rising.
Bael Sharbat
Bael Sharbat is gaining great momentum off late. What’s more, doctors are now recommending this simple drink and asking more and more people to consume a glass daily. Made from the pulp of wood apple, it is simple to make and delicious to partake. Known for its various ayurvedic and digestive properties, a glass of bael sharbat is about 140 or 150 calories.
Thandai
It starts with the onset of summer – the drink associated with the festival of Holi, Thandai is both a delicacy and a health drink. Served chilled, the drink is made infusing milk with almonds, saffron, cardamom, rose petals, poppy seeds and more. For daily consumption, try using just almonds, saffron, cardamom. What’s more, skip the sugar and try adding a piece of date and enjoy the drink with minimal guilt.
This milk-based drink is not a mid-meal snack but a replacement meal. A glass of traditional thandai would be about 400 calories. A glass of thandai with a bowl of fresh fruits could be the perfect breakfast for you in this scorching heat.