Stay cool, the natural way

Forget aerated drinks and ice-creams, here are five time-tested coolers to take care of the vagaries of summer

28dmc Amritsari Lassi wala

With no respite expected from scorching summer in the coming days, one has to figure out ways to beat the heat. One of them is to drink plenty of fluids to keep the body temperature normal and head cool. Here are five options available on the streets of Delhi.

Amritsari Lassi

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since 1972 in Chandni Chowk’s Fatehpuri Chowk, Amritsari Lassiwala is famous for lassi not just among the people of the Capital but even among visitors. Made from cow’s milk and water without using any artificial flavours and ice, it is simply great at quenching thirst. What makes it special is the right mix of different ingredients. The price ranges from ₹20 to ₹60 and there is an assortment of varieties to suit different tastes. One can choose from lassi served with dry fruits or with saffron, a cooling agent, or one with rose petals, again supposed to be a coolant.

Gur ka sharbat

28dmc Akhil Ahmed gur ka sharbat​1

 

Another home grown drink which has been popular since times immemorial is the one made of jaggery. Sold at a shop located in Old Delhi’s Chawri Bazaar Chitli Qabar, the drink has been served down the ages by Aqueel Ahmad’s forefathers. Keen to keep the legacy going, he refuses to divulge the recipe. “It will be passed down the line and I can assure you that the taste will remain the same.” Available in small and large glasses for ₹10 and ₹20, its drinkers swear by its delicious taste and benefits in terms of keeping the body cool, purifying blood and helping in digestion.

Watermelon juice

28dmc Nawab Qureshi Watermelon Shake1

 

Watermelon is considered as the best fruit for the summers as it helps us to maintain the water level and enhance the skin glow . Using this beneficial fruit, Nawab Qureshi at Matia Mahal serves watermelon juice but with a difference that it transforms the taste into something heavenly. Mixing the fruit chunks in milk and rose sherbet syrup (Rooh Afza), he prepares the drink which is aromatic and mouthwatering. Served chilled, it is available for ₹10 and ₹20.

Bael juice

 Just like watermelon, another tried and tested fruit is bael. Using it as base, the drink made from it is effective to control body temperature and helps in keeping the digestive tract clean. At Chawri Bazaar, Nafis Khan Bel has been selling bael juice for the last 60 years. A difficult fruit to handle, he mixes the bael fruit pulp with water and strains it to serve it chilled with ice. One sip, and one feels relieved. Served in glasses, it is priced at ₹10 and ₹20.

Almond milk

28dmc Khan Almond Shake

 

 Among dry fruits, almond is considered a healthy and ideal option to tackle the searing summer of North India. Mixing it with milk, it has served as a great drink which has been used by generations. Well, its creamy texture and crunchy taste continue to draw people even today as is evident at Chawri Bazaar’s Khan Shop. Serving this yellow-coloured drink made of almonds, saffron and other ingredients which he refuses to reveal, for the last 30 years, it is served in glass bottles in two sizes priced at ₹30 and ₹50.