Ten Best Caffeine-Free Summer Drinks: Delicious and Healing Ayurveda
As the summer sun blazes, staying hydrated and cool becomes essential. Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, offers a treasure trove of natural, refreshing drinks that not only quench your thirst but also balance your doshas (body energies) and promote overall well-being. Here are some of the best Ayurvedic summer drinks to help you stay cool and healthy.
1. Buttermilk
Recipe:
1 cup of organic homemade or Greek yogurt
2-3 cups of water
½ tsp of roasted cumin
Himalayan salt to taste
Optional: a pinch of dry ginger
Garnish with cilantro or mint leaves
Blend the yogurt and water well for 3-5 minutes. Remove the top, heavy, buttery foam. Add roasted cumin and Himalayan salt. Garnish with cilantro or mint leaves and serve.
Benefits: Buttermilk is packed with probiotics and electrolytes, making it excellent for digestion and hydration. It's particularly beneficial for cooling down the body and soothing the digestive system [1].
2. Aam Panna
Recipe:
2 unripe green mangoes
Unrefined sugar (1 part pulp: 2 parts sugar)
Roasted cumin
Himalayan salt
Mint leaves for garnish
Boil the mangoes until soft, peel them, and extract the pulp. Mix the pulp with sugar and simmer until the sugar dissolves. Cool the mixture and add 2 spoons of the sweetened pulp to a cup of water. Add roasted cumin and Himalayan salt. Garnish with mint leaves.
Benefits: Aam Panna is rich in micronutrients and helps replenish the body's mineral levels. It's cooling and aids in gastrointestinal health [1].
3. Thandai
Recipe:
10 almonds (soaked and peeled)
10 cashews
10 pistachios
3 tsp melon seeds
2 tsp khus khus (poppy seeds, optional)
2 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp peppercorns
2 cardamom pods
Milk
Soak the nuts and seeds for 4-5 hours, then blend them with a little milk. Strain the mixture and mix it with more milk. Add sugar to taste and serve chilled.
Benefits: Thandai is a traditional cooling drink that provides a burst of energy and helps balance the pitta dosha. It's also rich in nutrients and antioxidants [1].
4. Coconut Water
Recipe: Simply drink fresh coconut water.
Benefits: Coconut water is a natural electrolyte-rich drink that hydrates the body and balances the pitta dosha. It's also known for its cooling properties and ability to aid digestion [2].
5. Vetiver sherbet
Recipe:
Vetiver roots
Water
Unrefined sugar
Soak vetiver roots in water overnight. Strain the water and add unrefined sugar to taste. Serve chilled.
Benefits: Vetiver sherbet is known for its cooling and calming properties. It helps reduce body heat and is beneficial for the skin [1].
6. Aloe Vera Juice
Recipe:
Fresh aloe vera gel
Water
Lemon juice
Honey (optional)
Blend the aloe vera gel with water, add a splash of lemon juice, and sweeten with honey if desired. Serve chilled.
Benefits: Aloe vera juice is incredibly hydrating and helps detoxify the body. It's also excellent for soothing the digestive system and cooling the body [3].
7. Cucumber Juice
Recipe:
Fresh cucumbers
Water
Mint leaves
Lemon juice
Salt to taste
Blend cucumbers with water, add mint leaves, lemon juice, and salt. Serve chilled.
Benefits: Cucumber juice is highly hydrating and cooling. It's great for detoxifying the body and maintaining skin health [1].
8. Bael Sherbet
Recipe:
Bael fruit (wood apple)
Water
Unrefined sugar
Extract the pulp from the bael fruit, mix it with water, and add unrefined sugar to taste. Serve chilled.
Benefits: Bael sherbet is known for its cooling properties and is excellent for digestive health. It helps balance the pitta dosha and provides a refreshing taste [4].
9. Mint Sherbet
Recipe:
Fresh mint leaves
Water
Lemon juice
Unrefined sugar
Blend mint leaves with water, add lemon juice and unrefined sugar to taste. Serve chilled.
Benefits: Mint sherbet is incredibly refreshing and cooling. It aids digestion and helps reduce body heat [4].
10. Sattu Sharbat
Recipe:
Sattu flour (roasted gram flour)
Water
Lemon juice
Salt to taste
Roasted cumin powder
Mix sattu flour with water, add lemon juice, salt, and roasted cumin powder. Serve chilled.
Benefits: Sattu sharbat is a traditional cooling drink that provides instant energy and helps maintain electrolyte balance. It's also great for digestion [4].
Ayurvedic summer drinks are not only refreshing but also packed with health benefits. They help balance the body's doshas, hydrate, and cool the body naturally. Incorporating these drinks into your daily routine can help you stay cool, hydrated, and healthy during the hot summer months.
Remember, Ayurveda emphasizes the importance of using natural, unrefined ingredients and avoiding excessive sugar and artificial additives. So, enjoy these delicious drinks and embrace the holistic benefits they offer.
[1]: Art of Living [2]: Happiest Health [3]: Wise Woman Ayurveda [4]: Swadeshi VIP
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