Cooling Beverage

Tradition in Commercial Forms

Indian summers are often long, dreary, sweaty and scorching. They make one feel jaded every now and then. Cool, refreshing drinks help us to get temporary reprieve from the unabated summer heat of a long, long day.

It doesn't deserve a mention that as your body perspires more in summers, you need more fluid to keep you hydrated, and thus summer coolers are not only refreshing and rejuvenating but also play a necessary role during summers to keep you healthy.

Summers in North India are long, hot and dehydrating, it is but natural to have a rich culture where food and beverage is tweaked to suit the requirement of the season. Much before commercialization of these began to reach the shelves of retail market; they were mainly made at home, often fresh, for the day's consumption either before a meal or during the day.

Aam Panna

No other beverage defines North Indian summer as the mango panna. Made with green mangoes it has a tasty mix of sweet, sour, salt and masalas that induce thirst quenching coolness and has health benefits as well. Its natural colour is light green and often it has floating bits of fresh roasted and crushed cumin seeds.

Green Mango is a rich source of pectin, which gradually diminishes after the formation of the stone. Unripe mango is sour in taste because of the presence of oxalic, citric and other acids. Aam panna which is prepared using raw mangoes, sugar and an assortment of spices is an effective remedy for heat exhaustion and heat stroke. It also quenches thirst and prevents the excessive loss of sodium chloride and iron during summer due to excessive sweating.