The festivities of Rakshabandhan often occur during the hot Indian summer. Cooling and flavorful beverages are essential to quench thirst and energize celebrations with family and friends.

This Rakhi 2024, indulge your loved ones with these 15 refreshing traditional Indian drink recipes that are perfect for the occasion:

1. Spiced Masala Chai

A steaming cup of masala chai is a perfect start to Rakhi celebrations. This beloved spiced Indian tea is aromatic with flavors of elaichi (cardamom), adrak (ginger), dalchini (cinnamon) and kali mirch (black pepper). Have a rejuvenating cup of chai before commencing the rituals and festivities. The spices in masala chai also aid digestion.

2. Tangy Jaljeera

Jaljeera is the ultimate thirst quencher boasting a complex blend of sweet, sour and spicy flavors. It is made by blending khatta (tamarind), jeera (cumin), pudina (mint), dhaniya (coriander), lal mirch (chili pepper) and sendha namak (rock salt) into chilled water. Jaljeera cools the body and is ideal for hot Indian summers. It provides instant energy too.

3. Saffron-Flavored Thandai

Thandai is a chilled milk drink laced with kesar (saffron), gulab jal (rose syrup), badam (almonds), kali mirch (black pepper) and other spices. Originating in North India, thandai is closely associated with festivals like Holi and Rakshabandhan. Prepare authentic thandai syrup and mix it into malai-wali creamy, chilled milk for an indulgent cooler.

4. Roasted Gram Flour Sattu Sherbet

Keep yourself cool as a cucumber with this traditional beverage from Bihar made with roasted gram flour called sattu. Spiked with black salt, pudina (mint) and nimbu (lemon) juice, sattu sherbet is renowned for its earthy taste and cooling properties. The protein from gram keeps one energized too.

5. Maharashtrian Sol Kadhi

Get a taste of Maharashtrian cuisine with this unique pink-hued drink. Sol kadhi is nariyal ki kadhi (coconut milk) blended with kokum fruit which gives it a meetha-teekha (sweet-sour) flavor. Crispy fried curry leaves add a dramatic, nutty crunch. This digestive drink is perfect for heavy Rakhi feasts.

6. Sweet & Spicy North Indian Shikanji

Shikanji is a nimbu (lemon) based cooler with distinct meetha and teekha taste. It combines lemon juice, gur (jaggery), kala namak (black salt), pudina (mint), jeera (cumin) and is chilled with ice. A popular street drink, it provides relief from summer heat during festive celebrations.

7. Raw Mango Cooler Aam Panna

The tangy and tantalizing kaccha aam (raw mango) sherbet drink is synonymous with Indian summers. Mix boiled raw mango pulp with roasted jeera powder, pudina (mint), lal mirch (chili) and sendha namak (rock salt) for the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and khatta flavors. Loaded with Vitamin C, aam panna is good for health too!

8. Fresh Sugarcane Juice

Quench thirst the natural way with ras (juice) extracted from ganna (sugarcane). Top it up with a squeeze of lemon, adrak (ginger) julienne and pudina patta (mint leaves). The subtle sweetness makes freshly pressed cane juice perfect for festive occasions. It is rich in antioxidants as well.

9. Creamy Punjabi Lassi

Punjab's signature curd drink comes in meetha (sweet) and namkeen (salty) versions. Blend thick daahi (sour curd) with milk, sugar or salt, gulab jal (rose essence), kesar (saffron) and elaichi powder (cardamom). Tall glasses of chilled lassi are staples during Indian celebrations. They aid digestion too!

10. Fragrant Rose Sharbat

A signature cooler from North India, this beautiful pink drink is made from gulab jal (rose syrup) or rose water mixed with water and gulab ki pankhudiyaan (rose petals). The ittar-wali khushbu (floral aroma) and halki-meetha taste make sharbat a refreshing Rakhi beverage. It is naturally cooling.

11. Hydrating Kokum Sarbat

Kokum is a sour fruit native to the Konkan region. Kokum sharbat is prepared by dissolving kokum syrup in chilled water. Sometimes, lemon juice is also added to balance the sweet and sour taste. This Vitamin C enriched sharbat is ideal for hot and humid Indian weather.

12. Earthy Sandalwood Doodh

Sandalwood milk is a creamy, flavorsome milk-based beverage. Boil milk with slivers of sandalwood along with crushed cardamom to extract its unique fragrance and cooling properties. This ayurvedic drink calms the body and mind.

13. Refreshing Neembu Sarbat

A basic cooler made simply with lemon juice, black salt, mint leaves and sugar syrup, neembu sarbat is the perfect refreshment after rakhi rituals on a hot day. It also helps balance vitamin levels and prevents heat strokes.

14. Soothing Sattu Milk

Blend together roasted gram flour, black salt, cumin powder and yogurt. Add to chilled milk, top with mint leaves and roasted cumin powder. Sattu milk provides energy, cools the body and is easy to digest too.

15. Flavorful Pandan Kheer

Pandan leaves are used in Indian cooking to add flavor and color. Make unique pandan scented kheer by boiling rice with milk and grated coconut. Finish by adding pandan essence and green food color. This kheer makes for a delicious post-feast dessert.

Serving Tips and Ideas

• Chill beverages well with ice before serving. You can also use ice cubes made from floral teas or fruit juices to add flavor.
• Pour drinks like jaljeera, aam panna, neembu sarbat in earthen glasses called kullhars or copper vessels to keep them cooler for longer.
• Garnish drinks aesthetically with mint sprigs, lemon wedges, ginger julienne to enhance flavor. Add a soaked basil seed sprinkle for visual appeal.
• Enable self-service by setting up a drink station with large glass pitchers filled with beverages of different kinds.
• For kids, serve thandai, lassi and sharbat in unique ways like soda bottles or sippers to add an element of fun.
• Float fresh flower petals like rose or marigold in sharbats and thandai for a more festive vibe.
• Accompany rich, indulgent drinks like thandai kheer, lassi and kokum sarbat with light crackers or papad on the side for balance.

This Rakshabandhan, chill and serve these delicious desi drinks in traditional ways. Their nostalgic tastes and aromas will be a refreshing treat for your loved ones! The beverages also have the added benefits of cooling, providing nutrients and aiding digestion.

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