Every summer, rising along with the mercury is the demand for cool drinks, juice and shakes to quench thirst and prevent dehydration. While plain water is the ingredient to stay hydrated, residents refresh themselves with a wide range of cool drinks and fruit- and milk-based drinks. MetroPlus goes in search of the hotsellers, old and new, this season.
Fresh fruit juices
One of the many advantages of living in a tropical climate is that a variety of fruits are available throughout the year and so are fresh fruit juices. While local favourites such as mango, orange and pineapple still rule the roost, exotic ones like kiwi and dragon fruit are also on a roll.
Kiwi fruit juice
“Bright green kiwi sells the most among the special fruits here. It is such a refreshing and nutritious fruit, which retains its flavour as a juice, that many people find it hard to resist. Mango, although, is still the king and the most popular fruit during really hot days,” says Lubab Abdul Nasser, who runs Haji Ali at Palayam.
To get the best out of the juice, says Sayooj Gangadharan at Pathayam, you need to cold-press it. “While blending, a good portion of the nutrients are lost. But in cold-pressing, much of it is retained,” he explains.
Smoothies and fruity concoctions
If one fruit alone doesn’t work for you, why not try two or three at the same time. Smoothies come in all combinations and a good one can work wonders to cool you down. Although not available at all the juice shops, there are many outlets, especially newly-opened ones, that offer an assortment of smoothies. Mohammed Anaz, proprietor of The Juice Barrel at Kuravankonam, says, their yoghurt-based smoothies are perfect for sultry days. “They are nutritious and cool while being extremely delicious. Only moderate amounts of sugar or honey are added to the smoothies or juices.
Watermelon energy refresher
Watermelon-based energy refreshers too have many takers,” he adds. Fruit crushers and flavoured mocktails, sold at cafes and restaurants across the city, add zing to the usual fruity delights.
Go green
Carrots have long topped the vegetable juice charts. But anything can be juiced and that is exactly what Suresh Babu does at his Chithira Herbal Juice shop at Thekkummoodu. Their special mixed vegetable juice is a green riot with a variety of vegetables from bitter gourd and ladies fingers to aloe vera and turmeric. “That is the best-seller here along with my wheat grass juice. The two drinks are extremely nutritious as well,” says Suresh.
Wheat grass juice
Wheat grass has become a popular ingredient in several juice shops across the city. The high nutritional value of the grass and the fact that it can be as delicious as other fruit juices when prepared well gives it an edge over other greens.
Shakes n’ desserts
Desserts can also come in a glass and there are days when a glass of juice just won’t do. On those simmering days, one forgets all about that new year resolution to avoid milk products and go straight for a mug of thick, sweet, flavoursome and painfully cold Sharjah. If you want something different from the usual chocolate, strawberry or vanilla flavours, go for a refreshing tender coconut milkshake. But for a roller-coaster calorie ride that would satisfy all your different summer cravings, there is nothing like a Falooda. Whether it is the tall Titanic Falooda of Antartica juice bar or the special fruit-filled Falooda of Haji Ali, Faloodas are a meal in itself.
Also, let us not forget the many flavoured lassis of Dessi Cuppa and The Lassie Shop that offer something more than your usual milky delights.
Usual summer suspects
Regardless of all the different delicious drinks and milkshakes available at several outlets, good old fresh lime juice, a.k.a. the bonji, and lime soda remain local favourites. They even come in different flavours such as pineapple, mint and orange, nowadays.
Lemon juice or ‘bonji’
With every street corner or main road having a sarbath vendor, mixed-fruit and kulukki sarbaths are more popular now than ever. Their humble cousin is the naruneendi sarbath that has found a space on the menu cards of even the most chic restaurants.
Fruit sarbath
If everything else fails to make you feel better on a summer day, then there is always a cool and spicy glass of buttermilk to resort to — easy on the pocket and as refreshing as it gets. Or try the local bonji! Can’t get better than that.
