10 Indian summer drinks you’d love more than matcha or iced tea

From aam panna and jaljeera to solkadhi and chaas, discover 10 traditional Indian summer drinks that cool the body, support digestion, and keep you hydrated. (Pics: Pinterest)

• Traditional Indian summer drinks offer flavor and nutrition
• Drinks like aam panna, jaljeera, and chaas support gut health
• Coolers use fruits, spices, and seeds to beat the summer heat

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Summer is the time when most of us love a chilled beverage. While matcha and iced tea lattes might top your list, there are several traditional Indian coolers that are more flavourful, delicious, and nutritious. They are made from fruits, spices, and seeds that not only provide relief from the heat but also support gut health.

Here’s a look at ten Indian summer drinks you’ll love

Aam Panna

This is a popular traditional summer drink made from green raw mangoes, sugar or jaggery powder, mint leaves, and spices like cumin and black pepper. It is a refreshing and flavourful North Indian beverage loved by many.

Babri Byol

Babri Byol is a famous Kashmiri drink that has a subtle and refreshing flavour. It is made from ingredients like milk, water, basil seeds and coconut. It is also called Kan Sharbat, where Kan translates to precious jewels, as the seeds resemble translucent pearls after being soaked in water.

Also Read: Healthy summer drinks recipes: Try mango smoothie, jamun cooler, turmeric milk

Phalsa Berries

Made from mashed or blended ripe berries, it’s a North Indian drink that has a tangy taste. It is sweetened with sugar and spiced with black salt, which gives it a refreshing flavour. It is rich in antioxidants, supports digestion, and provides relief from summer fatigue.

Jaljeera

No North Indian is alien to jaljeera, which is tangy, spicy, and perfectly refreshing. This Indian cooler is made by blending mint, coriander, roasted cumin, black salt, lemon juice, and tamarind. It quenches thirst, cools the gut, and stimulates digestion.

Kokum Sharbat

It’s a popular choice in Indian states of Maharashtra and Goa, widely enjoyed for its sweet and tangly flavour. Deep pink in colour, it is made from kokum fruit and water. It is consumed in summer months, as it supports digestion with its cooling properties.

Photo: Pinterest

Sattu Sharbat

This one is popular in Bihar and Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Packed with proteins, the highly nutritious drink is made from roasted gram flour, water, lemon, cumin, and black salt. It has a creamy consistency, and is highly nutritious and energising.

Chaas (Buttermilk)

Most North Indian homes enjoy chaas in summer for its gut health and digestion benefits. This probiotic drink is made from curd and seasoned with spices like roasted cumin seeds, mint, coriander, and salt. It has a cooling effect and rehydrates the body.

Bel Sharbat

Excellent for cooling the body and supporting digestion in summer months, bel sharbat, also known as wood apple drink, can be made in both savoury and sweet forms. A dash of lemon makes it even more refreshing.

Also Read: 7 healthy drinks that can support fat loss naturally

Solkadhi 

Solkadhi is a unique drink, which is a staple in coastal Maharashtra and Goa. It is made with kokum extract and coconut milk and works as an excellent summer colour. The refreshing beverage is enjoyed post meals and supports digestion.

Nungu Sharbat

The ice apple drink is a street-style summer cooler made by blending chopped tender palm fruit (nungu) and nannari syrup (sarsaparilla root syrup), lemon juice, and chilled water. It is sweet, has an earthy flavour, and is known to be a thirst quencher.