Desi dhamaka in a glass

In September 2020 Pragnesh Rai launched Missus Sippi a beverage delivery kitchen that focused on Indian regional drinks ldquoDuring the lockdown it was a good time to focus on everything healthy local and nutritive I thought that the countryrsquos regional drinks were unexplored we wanted a list that spoke of nostalgia and homelinessrdquo says RaiKanji punchWith 17 regional beverages and 15 detox drinks his menu goes beyond jal jeera and lassi We like the lesser know kulukki sarbat a lemonade with sabja from Kerala and South Indiarsquos spicy panakammdashfor which they source the traditional nannari syrup For milk fans we recommend Madurairsquos jigar thandai a milk cooler with rose and poppy seedsMegha Iyer of Beejirsquos a northIndian vegetarian delivery kitchen located in Santacruz West was surprised when between 20 to 30 orders came her way daily for the haldi cinnamon doodh ldquoTo be honest we did not expect something as simple and humble as the haldi doodh to be a bestseller Itrsquos been a wonderful surpriserdquo she saysClinical nutritionist Lovneet Batra says that the pandemic brought the focus back to health with people realising that itrsquos not supplements they should be resorting to but the conscious consumption of ingredients that suit their body needsrdquo Batrarsquos book 50 Desi Super Drinks an easy guide to gut health was launched in January this year She highlights a challenge this generation of Indians facemdashconsuming too much information but doing little to make simple life changes ldquoNutrition is a delicate science and it is equally important to understand when to consume somethingrdquo she warnsHaldi doodhShe was inspired by the testimony of clients all over the world who were ready to pay big bucks for gutfriendly drinks like kombucha and kefir ldquoYes they are great but we have so many ingredients in our own kitchens that will do the same job but we are not aware Indian drinks are well curated season wise to help us pick the best nutrition for our body and weather conditionsrdquo says Batra She highlights the power of kanji a probiotic and shikanji ldquoFor a liver detox I suggest having wheat grass For PCOS buckwheat kuttu tea is known to increase inositol Haldi doodh is good for immunity and for PMS there is the ajwain kadha with gurWhile the pandemic drew our attention to conscious choices it also allowed us to indulge Pankaj Gupta of Oye Kake has opened a QSR chaat counter next to the Fort restaurant and included a lassi menu that offers 40 different varieties of North Indiarsquos favourite yoghurtbased drink Aside the caramel to avocado flavours there is the Indian decadent version that includes kesar and mango ldquoIndian ingredients like sabja khus and kanji are being used the world over Even bars are creating their own syrups instead of going for preserved products We are also serving a doodh soda which has milk soda khus sugar and chia seedsrdquo he saysChef Vinod Rana makes avocado lassi at Oye Kake PicAshish RajeWith summer here Manoj Jangid Director Food amp Beverage JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar says that their Marriot on Wheels Sunday Brunch delivery box will now contain kanji punch kokum lassi and aam panna alternately ldquoThese drinks are seasonal coolants and people today prefer drinks without preservatives Even our staff is trained to offer fresh juices and drinks before preserved optionsrdquo says JangidFor homemade thandai mixThis trend also trickles into the home chef space In August grandmother mother and daughter trio Asmita Payal and Aashna Sheth started making small batches of thandai mix Rs 380 kesar badam milk masala Rs 500 and pudina chaas masala Rs 120 via wwwbaskafoodscom ldquoOur thandai mix is a fennel and rose based summer coolant made with traditional Indian spices seeds and nuts The milk masala has almond and pistachio that go well with dairy based milk or vegan alternatives such as almond or soy milk Baska Foods was born with the aim to make everyday kitchen life easy The products are made fresh just like at home enabling you to use them as often as every dayrdquo says AashnaPhalsa sherbet Bloating busterServes 2 Serving Size 1 glassIngredients250 g phalsa100 ml water1 tsp jeeraMethodWash phalsa thoroughly In a blender add water and phalsa together and blend properlyAdd jeeraBael wood apple juice Digestive coolerServes 2 Serving Size 1 glassIngredients1 bael fruit1 cup of water1 tsp black salt according to tasteMethodWith a spoon scoop out the soft pulp of the bael fruitAdd 1 cup of water and soak for 20 minutes Mash the pulp well and strain the mixture Stir with a spoon so that the mixture is strained well Add black salt according to taste Mix well Serve chilledCourtesy Lovneet BatraKokum lassiIngredients60 ml kokum extract150 ml beaten curd30 ml jaggery syrupSalt to tasteMethodAdd the kokum extract yoghurt and jaggery syrup in a bowl Using a wooden churner or blender beat it well Once the yoghurt gets smooth and slightly frothy add salt Again churn or whisk it until it is becomes frothy Pour in glass garnish with a slice of kokum petalCourtesy JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar