Four cool drinks for warm days

These homemade drinks are bound to leave you fresh and ready for anyday

As temperatures are soaring, keeping yourself hydrated is the ultimate rule. Here are some simple yet tasty ways of making sure you get some nutrients while your thirst is quenched.

Aam Panna

Aam Panna is one of the most traditional drinks served in north Indian households. It is rich in vitamins and minerals, and helps fight diseases, and improves intestinal disorders.

To make:

Place 3 to 4 medium-sized green raw mangoes along with 2 cups water into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes, you can also pressure cook mangoes with water till soft. After it cools completely, peel the mangoes and take the pulp out with a spoon, and discard the seeds.

Add the pulp into a blender along with a fistful of mint leaves, 1 cup sugar, and ½ cup water. Blend into a puree. Pour into a pitcher, add 1 tbsp roasted cumin powder, black salt and mix well. Into this, add 2 to 3 cups of chilled water and mix well. Garnish with mint leaves and add ice cubes.

Tip: Increase the sugar content according to taste. Grated jaggery can be used instead of sugar.

Lassi

Lassi aids digestion and is an instant cooling beverage. It is rich in probiotics and the calcium content adds to bone health.

To make:

Put chilled curd into a bowl and whisk till it’s smooth. Add sugar (according to taste), a few strands of saffron, and a tsp of cardamom powder. Whisk everything well and add water for the required consistency. Served chilled and garnish with mint.

Amla drink

Amla or gooseberry is supposed to be good for blood purification because of its anti-oxidant property. It is one of the best summer coolants as it improves the levels of tannins in one’s body, which is required to shield against heat and light.

Amla has anti-aging properties and is a storehouse of Vitamin C.

To make:

Take 1 kg of Amla and slice them, separating it from the seed. Grind the fruit in a juicer or mixer to a pulp. Pass the pulp through a sieve and save the juice extract.

This extract can be refrigerated and used for a month. To make a refreshing Amla drink: take two spoons of juice and add a spoon of honey to it, and add water accordingly. Mix well.

Sugarcane juice

Sugarcane is said to be an instant energy booster and good for the skin. Its antioxidants help build a good immune system.

To make:

Wash some medium-sized sugarcanes well and peel the outer layer. Cut the cane into small pieces and blend them along with a ginger piece. Add some water and grind again.

Pour the extract into a big container. Take another container and strain and squeeze the juice out of the extract. Strain the juice again. Add some lemon juice, mint leaves, and a dash of black salt. Add ice cubes and serve chilled.

(Compiled by Tini Sara Anien)