Thande thande barish ke mausam mein, all you crave for is a piping bowl of Maggi or freshly fried bhajiyas and a beverage to wash it down with. The beverage can be anything from a steaming cuppa to a mix of hot and cold to a yummy cocktail for getting you into the mood of the season. When there are a host of beverages to treat your senses, why not try at least a few of them, right?
So, here are 11 drinks that you must try out while saawan pitter patters outside your window panes.
1. Masala Chai
Preparation Time: 1 minute
Cooking Time: 8 minutes
Ingredients
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 cups water
- 2 tsp black tea leaves
- 1 inch dalchini (cinnamon)
- 2-3 hari elaichi (green cardamoms)
- 2 laung (cloves)
- 1 inch adrak (ginger)
- Sugar to taste
Steps
- Take green cardamoms, cinnamon, cloves and peeled ginger in a mortar-pestle, coarsely grind them and keep aside.
- Heat water in a saucepan with a handle.
- When the water comes to a boil, add all the crushed spices.
- Let the spices boil in water for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add sugar.
- Next, add the tea leaves and let it boil for a minute. This timespan also depends on how strong your tea leaves are and how strong you prefer your tea
- Pour cold milk and allow this to boil for 2 to 3 minutes again. If you are using hot milk, pour the milk and then switch off the heat.
- Pour into your cup through a strainer.
2. Hot Chocolate
Preparation Time: 1 minute
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 cups of milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup granulated or castor sugar
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp cinnamon powder (optional)
- ½ cup semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate chips or grated chocolate bar
Steps
- Take a saucepan and pour milk, cocoa powder, and sugar in it. Place it on medium or medium-low heat.
- Whisk at regular intervals till it turns hot but not steaming hot.it ot spread its aroma.
- Add cinnamon powder (if using) and allow
- Add chocolate chips and stir again frequently to make them melt completely.
- Next, add vanilla extract, switch off the heat and serve immediately.
Read: 4 Gin Cocktail Recipes From Top Restaurant Mixologists In Mumbai
3. Kashmiri Kahwa
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 tsp Kashmiri green tea
- 10-12 strands kesar (saffron)
- ½ stick dalchini (cinnamon)
- 1 laung (clove)
- 1 elaichi (cardamom)
- ½ tsp dried rose petals
- 3 cups water
- 1 tsp honey (optional)
- 2 tsp almonds
Steps
- Take a pan and heat water in it.
- Add saffron, all the spices, and dried rose petals and allow it to simmer for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Switch off the heat and blend the green tea in the water.
- Let this stay for about 2 minutes.
- Pour this into 2 cups through a strainer.
- Add honey, if you prefer, and garnish with chopped almonds and a few strands of saffron.
- Serve immediately.
3. Kesar Badam Doodh
Preparation Time: 40 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ingredients
- 1 litre whole milk
- 15-20 strands of kesar (saffron)
- 20-25 whole almonds
- ¼ cup granulated or castor sugar
- ½ tsp elaichi (cardamom) powder
Steps
- Keep the almonds soaked in hot water for 4 to 5 hours.
- Remove the skin of these almonds and add them to the blender, along with sugar, saffron, and ¼ cup of milk. Blend to get a smooth paste. Remember to scrape the sides of the mixing jar at regular intervals while blending.
- Heat the remaining milk in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat till it comes to a boil. Stir frequently at regular intervals to prevent the milk from sticking to the bottom and the sides of the pan.
- When the milk is boiling, add the almond paste and stir to mix evenly.
- Cook this on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the pan every now and then.
- Next, add cardamom powder and mix thoroughly and switch off the heat.
- If you want to drink it hot, garnish with chopped almonds and pistachio slivers and dried rose petals before serving. If you want it chilled, cover the milk and refrigerate to avoid the formation of malai or creamy layer on the top. Keep in the refrigerator for 5 to 6 hours, garnish with almond slivers and rose petals and serve.
Read: 6 Laajawab Yet Simple Grilled Chicken Recipes That You Must Try
5. Turmeric Latte
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 350ml milk
- ¼ tsp ground dalchini (cinnamon)
- ¼ tsp ground adrak (ginger)
- ¼ ground haldi (turmeric)
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- Black pepper to taste
Steps
- Take a saucepan and add the ingredients in it.
- Place it on low heat and whisk it constantly.
- When hot, but not steaming hot, pour into cups, sprinkle some cinnamon and serve.
6. Pure Pineapple Breeze
Preparation Time: 2 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut water
- ½ cup pineapple juice (natural or packaged)
- Honey to taste
- Rock salt to taste
Steps
- Mix coconut water and pineapple juice .
- Blend honey and rock salt thoroughly and serve.
7. Carrot & Mango Green Tea Smoothie
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 green tea bags
- Baby carrot (peeled)
- 3 cups of water
- 1 inch adrak (ginger)
- 2 cups mango chunks
- 1 tsp shehed (honey)
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
Steps
- Boil water in a saucepan.
- Add the carrots and cook covered for 10 to 15 minutes or until they turn tender.
- Add ginger and cook for 2 minutes more.
- Switch off the heat and soak the tea bags. Let this stay for 4 minutes.
- Remove the tea bags while squeezing every drop of tea. Also remove the ginger slices.
- Refrigerate this for 10 minutes.
- Pour the mixture into a blender, along with the mangoes, chia seeds, and honey.
- Blend until it reaches a smooth consistency.
- Pour into glasses and serve.
8. Toddy
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Ingredients
- 1½ ounces whiskey
- ¾ cup of water
- 2-3 tsp shehed (honey)
- 2-3 tsp nimbu (lemon) juice
- 1 lemon rind
Steps
- Pour boiling water into a mug.
- Add the whiskey, honey, and lemon juice. Stir thoroughly so that all these ingredients mix thoroughly.
- Garnish with lemon rind and start sipping on your toddy.
9. Cinnamon Mocha Cappuccino
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk (frothed)
- Coffee powder to taste
- 2 sticks of dalchini (cinnamon)
- 2 tsp cocoa powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon (for garnish)
- Sugar to taste
Steps
- Prepare coffee like you do.
- Meanwhile, heat milk till it is hot but not steaming hot.
- Stir cocoa powder into the milk and blend evenly and thoroughly.
- Blend ¼ of the milk into each of the 4 coffee mugs.
- Sprinkle it with cinnamon powder and, voila, your cuppa is ready.
10. Affogato
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 scoops vanilla ice cream or gelato
- 1 shot espresso
- 1 tsp coffee or nut liqueur (optional)
- Grated dark chocolate (for garnish)
Steps
- Brew a cup of espresso.
- Place one or two dollops of ice cream or gelato on a shot of espresso.
- Pour 1 tsp of the liqueur, if you’re using it, followed by grated dark chocolate.
- Affogato is ready to be served!
11. Lemongrass Tea
Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups lemongrass stocks, roughly chopped
- 4 cups of water
- 4 tea bags
- ¼ cup sugar
- Lime wheels (for garnish)
Steps
- Take a saucepan and boil water in it over medium heat.
- Add the lemongrass stocks and boil for 5 minutes on high heat.
- Turn out the gas to the lowest temperature and add tea.
- Let this simmer for another 5 minutes on low heat.
- Remove the lemongrass stocks from the tea and then add sugar.
- Stir thoroughly until the sugar has dissolved completely.
- If you want to drink it warm, you can serve immediately. In case you prefer it chilled, refrigerate for a few hours, pour ice cubes and then serve.
Here’s your opportunity to learn more about monsoon drink recipes and #BeALittleMore proactive with trying them out. So get your thinking caps on, experiment with all the above recipes, and sip your way to glory while making the most of the monsoon season.
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