As the temperatures rise and the summer sun beats down, many of us find ourselves constantly searching for the perfect antidote to the heat. Often, plain water just doesn’t feel like enough to quench that deep thirst and truly refresh the senses. This common challenge leads countless individuals to seek out innovative and deliciously cooling options.
Fortunately, the pursuit of ultimate refreshment ends here with an incredible collection of refreshing summer drinks. The accompanying video from Food Fusion beautifully illustrates how to prepare ten diverse and absolutely delightful beverages. These recipes are perfect for anyone desiring natural, invigorating alternatives to commercial sodas, offering a journey through traditional flavors and wholesome ingredients.
Cooling Down with Keri ka Sharbat: Raw Mango Revitalization
There’s nothing quite like the tangy zest of raw mango to invigorate your palate during scorching weather. Keri ka Sharbat, a classic Pakistani and Indian beverage, offers a unique blend of sweet, sour, and spicy notes. This delightful drink begins its journey with three raw mangoes, boiled until they become perfectly soft and yield a rich pulp.
The mango pulp is then combined with half a cup of water, an ample amount of fresh mint leaves, and half a cup of sugar to taste. A distinctive touch of half a teaspoon of black salt and one teaspoon of roasted and crushed cumin powder elevates the flavor profile significantly. Imagine blending these components until they are wonderfully combined, then diluting this concentrated mixture with three to four cups of water before serving over ice. This traditional beverage is not just a treat for the taste buds, but also a fantastic source of Vitamin C and a natural coolant.
Gur ka Sharbat: The Jaggery Elixir
Moving beyond the tartness of mango, Gur ka Sharbat presents a deeply satisfying sweetness derived from jaggery, a traditional unrefined sugar. This drink is particularly celebrated for its cooling properties and its ability to provide a sustained energy release. It often begins by soaking three to four tablespoons of tukhmalanga, or basil seeds, which swell to a gelatinous texture.
A generous 250 grams of crushed jaggery is dissolved in one liter of water, forming the rich base of this revitalizing drink. Once the jaggery has completely melted, three to four tablespoons of fresh lemon juice are stirred in, adding a bright, zesty counterpoint. The previously soaked basil seeds are then incorporated, contributing a pleasant texture and additional cooling benefits. Serving this over ice cubes, potentially topped with a splash of soft drink or club soda, truly transforms it into a festive Iftar beverage.
Doodh Soda: A Creamy & Effervescent Treat
For those who appreciate a creamy texture alongside a refreshing fizz, Doodh Soda offers an unparalleled experience. This unique drink balances the richness of milk with the lightness of soda, creating a surprisingly harmonious blend. The preparation starts by soaking one to two tablespoons of basil seeds in a quarter cup of water for about 10-15 minutes, allowing them to fully bloom.
Next, four tablespoons of sugar are thoroughly dissolved in half a liter of chilled milk, ensuring a uniform sweetness. Once the sugar has completely integrated, the soaked basil seeds are gently stirred into the sweetened milk. This mixture is then refrigerated until it is perfectly chilled, intensifying its refreshing qualities. When ready to serve, pour over ice cubes and top with your choice of soft drink or club soda for a delightful effervescent finish, making it a perfect example of a homemade summer beverage.
Watermelon Juice: Pure Summer Hydration
When it comes to pure, unadulterated summer refreshment, watermelon juice stands in a league of its own. This vibrant red fruit is packed with water and electrolytes, making it an ideal choice for rehydration. Preparing this juice is remarkably simple, highlighting the natural goodness of the fruit.
Combine four cups of deseeded watermelon chunks with two cups of water, ensuring a smooth blending process. Two tablespoons of lemon juice are added for a touch of acidity that brightens the overall flavor profile. Additionally, half a cup of sugar can be incorporated to taste, though the natural sweetness of ripe watermelon often suffices beautifully. Blended until perfectly smooth, this cooling fruit juice is then ready to be enjoyed immediately, delivering a powerful hydration boost.
Cold Coffee: The Chilled Indulgence
Sometimes, a refreshing summer drink means indulging in a classic, chilled coffee creation. Cold Coffee provides that much-needed caffeine kick while simultaneously cooling you down on a warm day. This rich and creamy beverage is surprisingly easy to create at home with just a few key ingredients.
Begin by dissolving two tablespoons of instant coffee in two tablespoons of hot water, creating a strong concentrate. Then, combine this coffee mixture with two tablespoons of sugar (adjusted to your preferred sweetness) and two cups of chilled milk. For an extra layer of decadence, two tablespoons of cream can be added, though this is entirely optional. Blend everything until it is smooth and frothy, then incorporate two scoops of ice cream before blitzing one or two more times to achieve a thick, luxurious texture. Serve immediately for a truly indulgent experience.
Shikanjbeen: The Zingy Mint-Ginger Lemonade
Shikanjbeen is a popular South Asian lemonade variant, renowned for its invigorating blend of mint, ginger, and lemon. This drink is not only incredibly refreshing but also believed to aid digestion. It’s a perfect example of traditional remedies being both delicious and beneficial. Imagine the vibrant flavors awakening your senses with every sip.
The process involves blending a handful of fresh mint leaves, two tablespoons of sugar, one teaspoon of grated ginger, three tablespoons of lemon juice, and half a teaspoon of black salt with one cup of water. This creates a potent and aromatic concentrate that is then strained or served as is, depending on your preference for pulp. Poured over ice cubes, Shikanjbeen delivers a powerful burst of cool, spicy, and tart flavors, making it a stellar homemade summer beverage option.
Falsa Juice: A Taste of the Unique Berry
For those seeking a taste beyond the ordinary, Falsa Juice offers a distinctively tart and slightly sweet flavor profile from the unique falsa berry. This seasonal fruit is highly prized in South Asia for its cooling properties and delicious taste. Making this juice is a wonderful way to experience a truly authentic regional flavor.
To prepare this vibrant juice, two cups of falsas are blended with two cups of water and two tablespoons of sugar. The mixture is then strained to remove any seeds or fibrous material, ensuring a smooth texture. Finally, one teaspoon of black salt is added, which beautifully enhances the fruit’s inherent tartness and rounds out the flavor. Served chilled, Falsa Juice is a delightful and uncommon refreshment, bursting with a unique berry essence.
Kharbooza (Melon) Juice: Gentle Sweetness for Summer
Harking back to simpler, natural flavors, Kharbooza (Melon) Juice provides a gentle, hydrating sweetness that is incredibly soothing on a hot day. This juice capitalizes on the subtle, aromatic qualities of melon, offering a less intense yet equally satisfying option. It is a wonderfully mild alternative among the more robust traditional Iftar refreshments.
Simply blend two cups of fresh melon chunks with a quarter cup of water and three tablespoons of sugar, or adjust to your taste. The aim is to achieve a smooth, creamy consistency that highlights the melon’s natural flavor. The juice is then served over ice cubes, allowing its delicate sweetness to truly shine. This refreshing beverage is a fantastic way to enjoy the understated elegance of seasonal melons.
Imli & Aloo Bukhara Sharbat: The Tangy-Sweet Duo
A truly iconic traditional drink, Imli & Aloo Bukhara Sharbat, masterfully combines the distinct flavors of tamarind (imli) and dried plums (aloo bukhara). This drink offers a complex profile of sweet, sour, and slightly savory notes, making it incredibly popular, especially during Ramadan. The preparation requires a bit of foresight, but the results are well worth it.
The base requires a quarter cup of tamarind pulp and a quarter cup of dried, deseeded plums, both soaked overnight to soften and release their flavors. These are then blended with three tablespoons of sugar, half a teaspoon of salt, and one cup of water until perfectly smooth. This unique blend is often strained to ensure a silky texture. Served over ice cubes, this sharbat is a testament to the rich culinary heritage of South Asia, offering deep and satisfying flavor that stands out among cooling beverages.
Alocha (Plums) Juice: Simple Plum Perfection
While similar in its fruit base, Alocha (Plums) Juice offers a simpler, more direct plum experience compared to its tamarind-infused counterpart. This refreshing drink focuses purely on the succulent taste of fresh plums, delivering a straightforward yet profoundly satisfying flavor. It’s an accessible and delightful traditional drink.
To create this vibrant juice, one cup of deseeded plums is blended with three tablespoons of sugar, half a teaspoon of black salt, and one cup of water. The black salt here plays a crucial role, enhancing the plums’ natural sweetness and adding a nuanced complexity. Blending until smooth, this straightforward plum juice can be enjoyed immediately, offering a wonderfully refreshing summer drink that is both easy to make and deeply flavorful.
