Apong To Piyush: 7 Lesser-Known Summer Drinks From India

Summertime means intense heat, so staying hydrated is essential. Drinks are essential for preventing dehydration and maintaining body temperature. Unknown Indian summertime beverages provide a lovely range of flavours and refreshing qualities. 

The mixture of juice from different fruits and herbs that prepares the summer beverages provides hydration and nourishes our body to withstand the heat. These beverages offer a delicious and healthy approach to combating the summer heat in addition to satisfying thirst. So, below is a list of some lesser-known summer drinks from India:

Palash Sherbet is a lip-smacking drink made from the stunning palash flower, which is popularly known as Gulmohar. The taste of it is quite unique; it resembles sour cranberries or cherries. Palas flowers bring a slight floral note to the combination of flavours, which, in turn, makes the sherbet so refreshing. To make it, bring a pot of water to a boil, drain the flowers, and then add sugar or jaggery and a dash of lemon juice. Serve the chilled sherbet with ice cubes for a refreshing summer beverage that is also packed with health advantages.

Video Credit: YouTube/ Sharmis Passion

2. Sambharam: 

India's sambharam is a cool summertime beverage made from buttermilk or curd that's well-known in Kerala. With hints of salt, roasted cumin powder, and chopped green chillies, onion, coriander and mint leaves for flavour, it has a tangy, slightly sour taste. To make sambharam, blend or whisk yoghurt, water, spices, and herbs until smooth and add the onions, coriander, grandchild, etc. It is a popular choice on hot summer days because it is cool and has cooling and digesting qualities.

3. Apong: 

Apong is a Assamese traditional drink, as this summer drink is known in Assam's northeastern region, is a lesser known beverage. Firstly, to process Apong, the rice is soaked in water to ferment and then strained to remove the liquid. While this process is going on, additional sugar is added to the must, which speeds up the fermentation process, and hence a mildly alcoholic beverage is obtained. In common usage, it is simply drunk cold and is traditionally offered during festivities in Assam, just like in bihu.

4. Juroni Pani: 

A lesser-known summertime beverage from Assam, India, called Juroni Pani is prized for its distinct flavour profile and pleasant flavour. Soak the black gram for the entire night before making the Juroni Pani. The following day, mill the soaked gram with water, then thoroughly combine with salt, lemon juice, and green chillies. Pour the mixture through a strainer to get rid of any solids. Serve the beverage cold after chilling it. Juroni Pani is a popular thirst-quencher on hot summer days because of its tangy and mildly spicy flavour.

Also read: Authentic Summer Drinks From Across India You Shouldn't Miss Out On

5. Piyush: 

A less well-known summertime beverage with a delicious flavour is piyush. Made with yoghurt, buttermilk, sugar, and aromatic spices like nutmeg and cardamom, it's a rich, creamy drink. Blend the ingredients until they are smooth and creamy to make piyush. After chilling, serve the beverage chilled, adorned with chopped nuts and saffron threads. Piyush is a great beverage to battle the summer heat because it's not only refreshing but also has a distinct sweet and tangy flavour.

6. Variyali Sherbet: 

Variyali Sherbet is a cooling drink that is not common to us; it is  prepared  with fennel seeds, which are known as saunf in Hindi. The taste is exclusive, since the seeds are sweet but carry a coffee-like smell. Soak the fennel seeds in water overnight before using. Mix the water-soaked and ground seeds with sugar, lemon juice and a little water to make a juice. Remove solid particles by straining the liquid. Serve chilled with ice just like that for a drink that tastes great as well as helps digestion and keeps you from overheating.

7. Tanka Torani: 

Tanka Torani, the drink from the state of Odisha, is a lesser-known summer drink. It is a pleasurable drink prepared by mixing curd with water and then seasoning it with ground cumin, black salt, and sometimes mint leaves. It leads to the creation of the drink, which is refreshing and tasty, with a little bit of spice added to its taste. To make the Tanka Tonics, just mix everything in a blender and blend to your preferred consistency. Then, adjust the seasoning to taste and serve it over ice to cool and hydrate the body.