South India offers a range of traditional drinks to keep you hydrated and rejuvenated under the scorching summer heat. These beverages provide a taste explosion in addition to providing relief from the heat.
In South India, Neer Moru—also called spicy buttermilk—is a well-liked summertime beverage. Neer Moru, which is made from churned yogurt or buttermilk combined with water, is tempered with mustard seeds, cumin seeds, and asafoetida and flavored with curry leaves, ginger, and green chilies. This delicious beverage is the ideal partner for hot South Indian dishes since it helps with digestion and cools the body.
A traditional South Indian beverage, panagam is brewed with water and jaggery and flavored with dried ginger powder, cardamom, and ginger. It is often made during hot summer months and at festivities like Ram Navami since it is said to have cooling qualities. Because panagam contains jaggery, which is high in iron and other vital minerals, it is not only refreshing but also serves as a natural energizer.
The variety includes both savory recipes like litti chokha and sattu paratha as well as sweet delicacies like sattu ladoo and sattu barfi.
The roots of the Nannari plant, sometimes called Indian Sarsaparilla, are used to make the sweet and fragrant summer beverage known as Nannari Sherbet. To make a cool drink, the roots are cooked and mixed with water, sugar, and sometimes lemon juice. A favorite option during the hot summer months, Nannari Sherbet is renowned for its cooling qualities and is said to cleanse the body and purify the blood.
Aam Panna is a popular summer beverage in South India because to its cooling qualities and pleasant flavor, while being more often linked to North India. The acidic and sweet taste profile of Aam Panna, which is made from fresh mangoes and sugar and spiced with roasted cumin powder, black salt, and mint leaves, is well-known. In addition to providing relief from the heat, this beverage restores vital electrolytes that are lost via perspiration.
Jigarthanda, a distinctive and decadent summer beverage that comes from Madurai, Tamil Nadu, is guaranteed to keep you cool on a hot day. Milk, sarsaparilla syrup (nannari sharbat), almond gum (badam pisin), and ice cream are the ingredients of this beverage. The nannari syrup adds a touch of flowery sweetness to the thick, creamy texture of Jigarthanda. It is often served as a cool dessert beverage and topped with chopped nuts.
In addition to offering respite from the oppressive heat, South India’s varied selection of summer beverages entices the senses with their distinct tastes and fragrances. These drinks are a must-try for anybody wishing to cool down in style throughout the summer and are a monument to the region’s rich culinary tradition.
