Summer logs in: Try these drinks to stay cool in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: With temperatures rising, fruits like watermelon, coconut, and lime are in great demand to beat the afternoon heat. Summer coolant drinks include hydrating options like Buttermilk (Chaas), Aam Panna (raw mango), Watermelon Juice, and Nimbu Pani (Lemonade) with mint. These drinks, often combined with basil seeds (sabja) or roasted cumin, provide essential hydration, electrolytes, and lower body temperature to fight the heat.

Here are some refreshing and traditional Indian summer drink recipes, perfect for beating the heat with natural, hydrating, and easy-to-make ingredients.

1. Aam Panna (Raw Mango Cooler)

A tangy, sweet, and spicy drink made from boiled green mangoes, renowned for its cooling properties and ability to protect against heatstroke.

Ingredients: 2 unripe green mangoes, 1/2 cup sugar/jaggery, 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder, 1/2 tsp black salt, a few mint leaves, water.

Method: Boil raw mangoes until soft. Once cool, scoop out the pulp and blend with sugar, spices, and mint leaves. Mix the puree with chilled water, strain, and serve with ice.

2. Masala Chaas (Spiced Buttermilk)

A light, yogurt-based drink that aids digestion and provides instant relief from the scorching sun.

Ingredients: 2 cups yogurt, 4 cups water, 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder, 1/4 tsp black salt, chopped mint, and cilantro leaves.

Method: Whisk the yogurt until smooth. Add water, spices, and chopped herbs. Blend or whisk again. Chill for at least 2 hours before serving.

3. Kokum Sharbat

A deep red, tart, and refreshing drink from the Konkan coast, known for its cooling properties and digestive benefits.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup kokum fruit (or concentrate), 1/2 cup sugar, 4 cups water, a pinch of salt, and mint leaves.

Method: Soak kokum in warm water for 30 minutes, then squeeze to extract the juice. Mix this extract with water, sugar, and salt until dissolved. Chill before serving.

4. Jaljeera

A zesty, refreshing drink packed with cumin, mint, and tamarind that cools the body and aids digestion.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves, 1 tbsp cumin powder, 1 tbsp tamarind pulp, 1 tsp black salt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 4 cups water.

Method: Blend mint leaves, spices, tamarind, and lemon juice with a little water until smooth. Strain, mix with the rest of the water, and chill.

5. Thandai

A creamy and nutty milk-based drink, often enjoyed during festivals but perfect as a refreshing summer cooler.

Ingredients: 1/4 cup almonds, 1/4 cup cashews, 2 tbsp poppy seeds (khus khus), 1 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf), 1/4 tsp black pepper, saffron, 4 cups milk, sugar.

Method: Soak nuts and seeds for a few hours. Grind into a fine paste. Mix this paste into the milk with sugar, strain if desired, and chill for several hours before serving.

6. Sattu Drink (Savory)

A nutritious, high-protein drink from Bihar, made with roasted gram flour, which provides instant energy and cools the body.

Ingredients: 2 tbsp sattu powder (roasted black gram flour), 1 glass chilled water, 1/2 lemon juice, 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder, black salt.

Method: Mix sattu powder, black salt, and cumin powder in water, ensuring no lumps are formed. Add lemon juice, stir well, and serve cold.

Other refreshing drinks

Watermelon Mint Cooler: Blended fresh watermelon with lime and fresh mint leaves for a refreshing, hydrating boost.

Shikanji (Nimbu Pani): Lemonade mixed with roasted cumin (jeera) powder, black salt, and sugar.

Coconut Water with Basil Seeds (Sabja): A nutrient-packed drink that helps in reducing body heat.

Cucumber Lime Water: Sliced cucumber and lime infused in cold water, acting as an antioxidant.

Khus or Gulab Sharbat: Traditional sweet syrups that provide instant energy and cooling.

Benefits of summer drinks

Hydration: Watermelon, cucumber, and coconut water have high water content.

Electrolyte Balance: Salted drinks like buttermilk and shikanji restore electrolytes lost through sweating.

Digestion: Cumin and raw mango (Aam Panna) aid in digestion during hot weather.

Nutrient-Dense: Basil seeds and buttermilk are rich in minerals and protein.