The season of Summer increases thirst for water and how much ever water may be consumed the stomach feels full but the thirst does not end. Now water can never be substituted with anything else but drinks made from natural ingredients once in a while can be healthy and refreshing.These drinks are natural and better than canned or packed juices as they are made from natural ingredients.
1)Virgin Mojito:
This drink is prepared from basic ingredients consisting of lemon, mint, and sugar. Now there are several ways to prepare this drink but it always turns into an instant hit. Lemon consists of antioxidants and cell repairing components which are good for the body while mint helps in digestion and refreshment along with many other benefits.
Ingredients:
For One Glass
1/2 Lemon
1 Glass Of Water
4 tbsp of Sugar
1 pinch salt
4-5 Mint Leaves
Ice Cubes
Procedure:
Muddle mint leaves, sugar, lemon juice. Add a glass of water to the mixture.Mix everything and add more or less of sugar, lemon or water according to the requirement. Add Ice cubes or chill it in the refrigerator for some time. You could also add club soda instead of water to this drink.
2) Kokum Sherbet
Kokum is also known as Malabar Tamarind and is sour in taste. It helps in treating stomach related ailments like acidity and constipation. It reduces body heat which is excellent for summer.
Now for kokum sherbet kokum concentration can either be made at home or can be bought from the store.
To make it at home either with dried skin or with original fruit. The seed of the fruit is removed and the rest is mixed with sugar to make kokum concentrate and in case of dried kokum, the skin is soaked in water for two hours and mixed with sugar. The mixture once filtered can be stored for days in a refrigerator.
Ingredients :
Kokum Concentration 2-3 tbsp
Water 1 Glass
Black Salt 1 pinch
Cumin Powder 1 teaspoon
Procedure:
Mix everything in and adjust according to taste. Add sugar if required. Chill the sherbet or add ice cubes.
3) Buttermilk
Buttermilk is one of the most basic drink made in every corner of India. It helps to keep the body fit.
Now Buttermilk can either be made sweet or salty according to preference
Ingredients:
Curd/ Yogurt 1 Cup
Water as required
Salt / Sugar according to preference.
Recipe:
Salty Buttermilk
Mix Curd with a little amount of salt. Add chaat masala powder if preferred. Add water and whisk to make it consistent according to preference.Adjust salt or water as required. Garnish it with coriander leaves. Add Ice Cubes or chill in the refrigerator.
Sweet Buttermilk
Mix Curd with Sugar and whisk thoroughly. Add water as required.
4) Nannari Sarbath
Nannari is a drink made from powdered Sarasaparilla Roots. The readymade solution can be obtained. The solution can be made at home too. To make the solution at home one would need nannari roots which are available in ayurvedic stores.The roots are crushed and the bark is collected. This is then soaked in water overnight. For 250gms of roots 2 liters of water is taken. A kilo of sugar is added to the strained liquid and boiled till it forms a thick solution. The solution can be stored in the refrigerator in a bottle for 2-3 weeks.
To make the drink the following method can be used:
Ingredients:
Water 1 Glass
Nannari solution 2-3 tablespoon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Procedure:
Mix all the ingredients in a glass. Instead of water soda can be used. Chill or add ice as preferred.
5) Panakam
This drink is usually made on Ram Navami as Naivedyam. Jaggery boosts energy and helps with digestion. It is a good form of sweetener.
Water 2 Glasses
Jaggery Powdered 1/2 Cup
Lime Juice 2-3 tablespoon
cardamom 2 pods finely powdered
Salt A pinch
Procedure:
Mix everything. Add ice or chill it in a refrigerator.
6) Smoothie
The ingredients used have fiber contents, minerals, and nutrients required for the body.
Ingredients:
Apple 1/2
Banana 1
Grapes Handfull
Nuts Any if preferred
Yogurt 2-3 tablespoon
Milk 1/2 Glass
Honey as preferred
Procedure:
Grind diced apple, banana in a jar. Add yogurt, milk, grapes, nuts, and honey and grind again. Add ice and enjoy the tasty drink.
Tasting is believing.
True 🙂