What’s the trending drink this summer in Coimbatore?

From ‘aam panna’ to ash gourd juice and rose milk made from coconut milk to ‘nungu elaneer’ juice with sabsa seeds, there are plenty of native drinks to indulge in this summer

Traditional aam paana can be whipped up in three minutes – blend kilimooku manga pieces with curry leaves, crushed pepper, naatu sakkarai or palm jaggery and a pinch of salt and the drink is ready to be savoured. “Raw mangoes are cooling, are a great digestive, are believed to prevent heat stroke, and have vitamin C, which we need more in summer,” says Sreedevi Lakshmi Kutty, co-founder of Bio Basics, an organic online retail store passionate about bringing diverse grains, organic ingredients including dals and jaggery, vegetables and fruits to families.

“Everybody wants ripe mangoes, but no takers for kilimooku manga which is surprising. Children are drawn by advertisements of aerated drinks which are nothing but empty calories. How many children have had cut mango sprinkled with chilli powder and salt? Salt also replenishes lost sodium in the body. Raw mangoes can be used to make chammanthi or a single pot mango rice with grated raw mango,” she says adding that Bio Basics has also stocked up on kokum nectar and dried kokum rhinds that can be used to make a cooling drink, rasam, juice, or solkadhi.

Traditional drinks are easy to make, and are healthy too. “For example, vegetables like pumpkin, ash gourd and bottle gourd can be used. A bowl of grated and cooked gourd can be added to curd rice to stay hydrated and healthy. I also recommend a drink with ash gourd, curry leaves, a piece of raw mango and naatu sakkarai. You can blend them together and consume without filtering. These drinks are naturally cooling for the body. They also replenish minerals lost through the day because of profuse sweating.”

You can also shop for roselle flowers (gongura flower petals available as dried petals and powder form) that can be used to make chutney, cold tea, or a drink with crushed pepper and jeera thrown in for good measure.

To know more visit @biobasicsin on Instagram

Summer drinks at Namma Ooru Sandhai

Alageswari S, founder of Iyal Vaagai, a 10-year-old environmental movement that drives home the message on sustainable living, brings Namma Ooru Sandhai, an eco-friendly monthly market that promotes organic produce of farmers from the region. Besides shopping for vegetables, fruits, native rice varieties, and millet sweets, snacks and savouries, people can also try native drinks like rose milk made by blending together paneer rose petals, grated coconut, cardamom, and grated beetroot. “You have to filter it, add a dash of honey and a complete summer drink is ready,” says Alageswari adding that the drink has calcium, and builds immunity while rose petals are cooling.