Jaipur, known as the Pink City, can get incredibly hot during the summer, with temperatures soaring above 40°C. To stay cool, the locals rely on a variety of refreshing traditional drinks that help combat the heat while offering a taste of Rajasthan’s rich culinary heritage. Instead of turning to sugary sodas or artificial coolers, these homemade summer drinks provide a natural and healthy way to stay hydrated and refreshed. Here’s a list of 10 must-try summer drinks from Jaipur, perfect for beating the heat
- Chaach (Buttermilk)
Chaach, a popular buttermilk-based beverage, is widely consumed in India, especially during the summer months. This probiotic drink is made from yogurt, water, and spices like cumin, mint, and salt. It’s served chilled and is known for its cooling properties. Chaach is light and refreshing, making it ideal after a heavy meal. It aids in digestion, cools the body, and provides a healthy dose of probiotics.
Recipe:
- Mix 1 cup of buttermilk with 1 cup of water.
- Add a pinch of salt and some chopped mint or cumin for flavor.
- Whisk well and serve chilled.
- Aam Panna (Raw Mango Drink)
Aam Panna is a tangy and spicy drink made from raw mangoes, a summer staple in India. It’s packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, making it a great way to stay healthy and hydrated. A perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy, this drink is a favorite during the hot months. It also helps in cooling the body, preventing heatstroke, and boosting immunity.
Recipe:
- Peel raw mangoes, cut them into pieces, and cook them with water in a pressure cooker.
- Once cooked and cooled, blend the mango pulp with black salt, roasted cumin powder, sugar, and mint leaves.
- Add water until you reach a mocktail-like consistency, and serve chilled.
- Soda Shikanji (Lemonade with a Twist)
Soda Shikanji is a fizzy version of the classic lemonade, commonly found in the streets of Jaipur. It combines fresh lime juice, black salt, cumin, and a dash of soda water, making it both tangy and refreshing. The addition of soda gives it a fizzy texture, making it the perfect thirst-quencher on a hot summer day.
Recipe:
- Mix cold water with sugar to taste.
- Squeeze in fresh lime juice and add black salt and cumin.
- Top it off with soda water and a few mint leaves for extra flavor.
- Gulab Sharbat (Rose Syrup Drink)
Gulab Sharbat, made from rose petals, is a fragrant, sweet, and cooling drink. It’s enjoyed during special occasions and has stress-reducing and digestive benefits. This drink not only refreshes but also uplifts your mood with its floral aroma. Rose petals have anti-inflammatory properties and help reduce the heat in the body.
Recipe:
- Soak fresh rose petals in water overnight.
- Blend the petals with water and then crush them to release their fragrance.
- Boil sugar and water until thickened, then add the crushed petals and simmer.
- Store the rose syrup in the fridge and add a couple of spoons to a glass of cold water for a refreshing drink.
- Makhaniya Lassi
Makhaniya Lassi is a creamy yogurt drink from Rajasthan that’s thick enough to serve as a dessert substitute. Made with yogurt, sugar, and ice water, it’s topped with cashews, pistachios, cream, and sometimes rose water. This drink is rich, flavorful, and packed with probiotics, making it beneficial for digestion and overall health.
Recipe:
- Blend 1 cup of yogurt with 4 tablespoons of milk, sugar, and rose water.
- Add saffron, pistachios, and a dollop of cream for richness.
- Pulse the blender for 5 seconds and serve chilled.
- Coconut Shardai
Coconut Shardai is a creamy, cooling drink made from fresh coconut pulp. It’s packed with electrolytes and perfect for staying hydrated in the scorching heat. The drink is a great vegan alternative to milk and helps reduce inflammation, making it ideal for those with joint pain or lactose intolerance.
Recipe:
- Scoop out coconut pulp from a green coconut and chop it into pieces.
- Blend it with cardamom powder and cloves, adding water until it becomes milky.
- Filter the mixture and sweeten with sugar or desi khand.
- Sattu Drink
Sattu is a nutritious summer drink made from roasted ground chickpeas, barley, and wheat. It’s packed with calcium, iron, and vitamins, and is an excellent drink for people with diabetes due to its low glycemic index. Sattu is also good for skin and hair health.
Recipe:
- Mix 1 scoop of Sattu powder with cold water.
- Add roasted cumin, mint leaves, rock salt, and lemon juice.
- Sweeten with jaggery or desi khand and stir thoroughly.
- Sugarcane Juice
Sugarcane juice is one of the most refreshing drinks in Jaipur, loved for its natural sweetness and cooling properties. Extracted from sugarcane stalks, this juice is a natural source of energy and hydration. It’s also known for its detoxifying properties and helps improve digestion.
Recipe:
- Wash fresh sugarcane stalks and cut them into smaller pieces.
- Feed the pieces through a juicer to extract the juice.
- Serve over ice with a squeeze of lime or lemon juice for extra freshness.
- Plum Drink
Plums are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They help reduce the risk of heart disease and are beneficial for people with high blood pressure. Plum drinks are commonly made in summer to help lower anxiety and provide a burst of freshness.
Recipe:
- Deseed and chop plums into halves.
- Grind the plums in a mixer with black salt, roasted cumin, lemon juice, and jaggery.
- Store the thick plum concentrate in the refrigerator and mix with club soda or water when serving.
- Paan Sharbat (Betel Leaf Drink)
Paan is a traditional mouth-freshener made from betel leaves, commonly consumed after meals. Paan Sharbat is a refreshing drink made from crushed betel leaves, fennel seeds, cardamom, and gulkand (rose preserve). This drink has digestive properties, stimulates bowel movement, and helps cool the body.
Recipe:
- Blend two sweet paans with cold water to a thick consistency.
- Add almond milk for extra flavor.
- Alternatively, grind fennel seeds, cardamom, betel leaves, and gulkand to make a creamy mixture, adding water to adjust the texture.
These 10 drinks offer a variety of options to stay cool and hydrated while exploring Jaipur during the intense summer heat. Each drink brings something unique to the table, from the tangy and spicy Aam Panna to the creamy Makhaniya Lassi. Whether you prefer sweet, sour, or spicy flavors, these traditional beverages are a perfect way to keep cool and experience the local flavors of Rajasthan. So, the next time you’re in Jaipur, be sure to indulge in these refreshing summer drinks, and enjoy the vibrant culinary heritage of the Pink City.