Indian Beverages Chai Lassi Sharbat Thandai Nut-Milk | IndiaCurry.com

Traditional Indian beverages are Garam-Chai Lassi Chach Sharbat Thandai Shikanjami Kanj sweetened milk with ground nuts

In the olden days, fresh sweetened warm milk (un-pasteurized, un-homogenized) was drank in the morning, and as a night-cap. Chaach (Buttermilk) was taken with lunch and dinner. Young women drank sweetened warm milk with Turmeric powder for a glowing skin. The restaurants prepare their own version of Masala milk. Depending on the season , coconut water, unfermented coconut sap (Neer), fermented Coconut sap (Toddy), tempered mango juice (Panna) are common.

Moghul introduced Sharbat (sweet fruit / flower fragrant beverages). The British got the masses hooked on to tea time resulting in the most popular Indian beverages known as 'Garam Chai' or 'Masala Chai'. In Punjab, the cold beverages of choice are: Lassi, Shikanjami and Kanji. Thandai is a popular cold beverage in Rajasthan and UP. Jal-Jeera is a popular street beverage.

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From 1940s through 1960s, fresh fruit juice extraction was a 'street food'. Popular juices were extracted from: Sugar-cane, Orange, Pineapple, and Phalsa. These were the North Indian juice bars. The juices were  served with a dash of Kala Namak (Indian Rock salt), and Chaat Masala. The dense fruits (Guava, Apple, Banana) were used to make Chaat.