10 Delicious Indian Drinks You Need To Try

The most essential and integral part of an Indian meal is the drink that accompanies the food.

For Indians varieties of drinks are as important as food varieties. An array of traditional and classic Indian drinks makes an essential part of an individual’s palate. The drink is paired based on how spicy the dish is and the weather conditions.

Popular Yogurt Based Drinks

Lassi is a popular yogurt based versatile drink that can be served either sweet or savoury. This flavoured yogurt drink is one of the best summer drinks to prevent dehydration.

Salt Lassi: traditionally just a blend of yogurt, water and salt that is perfect to quench thirst in summer.

Sweet Lassi : a blend of sugar, water and yogurt makes a perfect drink to sip with meals. This delectable drink does not overpower the food and helps cleanse the palate. It makes a perfect accompaniment with medium-spice dishes such as Bhindi Anari, Mushroom Palak, Kadai Paneer, Paneer Lababdar.

Mango Lassi : A classic drink from Indian restaurants loved by everyone. It is one of the favourite and most preferred beverages in India during summer, which is coincidentally mango season. It is often relished with spicy meals to soothe and take away the burning sensation. The tropical sweet flavour balances and works brilliantly well with spicy dishes.

Rose Lassi:  Rose lassi is a super refreshing, fragrant and delicious yogurt drink made with rose syrup and yogurt. The sweet floral notes and pink hue entices kids and adults.

Popular Indian Hot Drinks

Masala Chai: A renowned Indian traditional drink that needs no introduction.  Masala chai is prepared with many different aromatic spices that are blended into a powder and combined with milk, black tea. It is boiled on the pan for a while which helps release the antioxidants in the tea. A perfect after-dinner drink that helps assist indigestion. Here at Sanskruti we also make Vegan Masala Chai with soya milk.

Kadha: A very common drink in Indian households and an age-old home remedy for cold and flu symptoms. A few essential spices and herbs are boiled in water to extract maximum flavours.

Kashmiri Kahwha: A classic aromatic drink from the Himalayan valleys. A green tea infused with fragrant spices such as cinnamon, dried rose petals, sweetened with honey and garnished with almonds and saffron. This soul-soothing tea is sure to uplift your mood instantly with its amazing aroma and flavour on cold days.

Popular Indian Chilled Drinks

Nimbu Pani: Refreshing simple Indian lemonade (not fizzy) made with freshly squeezed lime juice, salt and sugar. This refreshing and zingy drink is sure to make your meals interesting. Try pairing it with Vaghareli Khichdi, khatal lazeez or vegetable jaipuri to liven up the taste. 

Masala Soda: A very well known street drink found in each and every corner, streets of India.  This is an instant refreshing and thirst-quenching drink on scorching hot summer days. The punchy and flavoured drink helps in digestion and nullifying the adverse effects of heavy meals.

Sol Kadi: A coconut milk and kokum fruit-based drink that is usually consumed after a scrumptious meal. This is one of the popular south Indian drinks well known for its digestive properties. This mildly spiced drink is appealing for kids because of its lovely pink hue.

Jaljeera: One of the most popular drinks in North India that literally translates to water (Jal) and cumin (Jeera) in the Indian language. This is basically an Indian spiced lemonade made with roasted cumin powder, ginger powder, pepper, black salt. This refreshing drink is not only consumed to quench thirst but it is taken just before meals as it has the immense appetising abilities.

Panakam: One of the most popular South Indian drinks consumed mostly on summer days as a coolant. This quintessential sweet and mildly spiced summer cooler is made by combining jaggery, dry ginger powder, crushed cardamom, salt and nutmeg powder.

Thandai: A well known milk drink made with almonds, fennel seeds, saffron, cardamom, sugar, rose petals etc. say, an age-old milk shake. This can also be made intoxicating by adding Indian hemp plant or marijuana leaves. Well known as ‘Bhang’ and consumed on festivals like Maha-Shivratri and Holi for thousands of years.

Next time you visit Sanskruti choose the right drink to pair your favourite dish to enhance your palate and cherish your dining experience!