Remember those golden childhood days when the tall glasses of nimbu pani or sharbat used to refresh us after playtime? Some beverages just taste like summer! Foodism is here to celebrate those timeless classics with trendy fusions to leave us refreshed and energetic this summer season. Let’s dive into the freshness - 

Shikanji

Ingredients -

• 4 tbsp lemon juice (about 2 medium lemons)
• 2.5 to 3 tbsp sugar 
• 1/2 tsp black salt
• 1/2 tsp roasted cumin powder
• 1/4 tsp chaat masala (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• 4-5 mint leaves 
• 2.5-3 cups chilled water 
• Ice cubes – as needed

Instructions - 

1. In a mixing jug, add lemon juice, sugar, black salt, cumin powder, chaat masala, and a pinch of salt.
2. Pour in chilled water and stir well till the sugar dissolves completely.
3. Taste and adjust the sweet-sour balance—add more sugar or lemon juice if needed.
4. Add a few crushed mint leaves if you like a minty hint.
5. Serve in glasses with ice cubes. Garnish with a lemon slice or mint sprig.

Tip: 

For a twist, you can add soda water for extra fizz, mix in ginger juice for an extra kick, and use jaggery instead of sugar. 

Gond Katira Sharbat 

Ingredients -

• 2 tbsp dry gond katira 
• 3-4 tbsp rose syrup/rooh afza
• 2 cups chilled milk or water
• Sugar (optional, or honey)
• Ice cubes as required 
• 1 tbsp soaked sabja seeds 

Instructions -

1. Take 2 tbsp of dry gond katira in a bowl. Rinse it quickly, then soak it in plenty of water overnight or for at least 6–8 hours.
2. It will swell up and become jelly-like. Before using, clean it—remove any yellow/brownish parts, if any.
3. In a glass, add 1–2 tbsp of soaked gond katira. Add a tsp of soaked sabja seeds (if using).
4. Pour in chilled milk or water (your choice). Add 1.5 to 2 tbsp rose syrup or rooh afza to each glass. Mix gently. Taste and add sugar or honey if needed.
5. Add ice cubes and serve  immediately. You can garnish it with chopped nuts. 
6. Tip: Give a royal touch by adding a little saffron milk. 

Masala Lassi 

Ingredients - 

• 1.5 cup yoghurt 
• 1 cup cold water
• ½ tsp roasted cumin powder
• ½ tsp black salt
• A pinch of regular salt
• ¼ tsp chaat masala
• 5-6 mint leaves 
• Small pieces of grated ginger 
• 1 small green chilli (optional)
• 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 
• Ice cubes as needed 

Instructions -

1.  In a blender or mixing jar, add curd, cold water, roasted cumin, black salt, regular salt, and chaat masala. 
2. Toss in mint, ginger, and chilli if using, and blend till smooth and frothy. Adjust salt and spices as per your liking. 
3. Pour into glasses, top with a sprinkle of cumin powder, and garnish with coriander or a mint sprig. Drop in some ice cubes if you want it extra chilled.
4. Tip: You can add a pinch of hing for some earthy flavour. 

Sauf ka Sharbat 

Ingredients - 

• 2 tbsp fennel seeds
• 2.5-3 cups cold water
• 2-3 tbsp jaggery or sugar 
• ¼ tsp black salt 
• 1 tsp lemon juice 
• Ice cubes as needed 
• Few mints leaves for garnishing 

Instructions - 

1. Wash and soak 2 tbsp fennel seeds in about 1/2 cup water overnight (or at least 4–5 hours). Grind the soaked fennel seeds with the same water into a smooth paste.
2. Using a fine mesh strainer or muslin cloth, strain the fennel paste into a bowl. Add more water (2 to 2.5 cups) while straining to extract all the essence.
3. Mix in jaggery (or sugar), black salt, and lemon juice (if using). Stir until fully dissolved.
4. Pour into glasses, add ice cubes, and garnish with mint or a fennel seed sprinkle.
5. Tip: You can add a dash of rose water for an extra kick. 

Vodka Lemonade 

Ingredients -

• 60 ml voda 
• Fresh lemon juice – 2 tbsp (about 1 medium lemon)
• Sugar syrup – 1 to 1.5 tbsp
• Cold water / Soda / Lemonade  ~120–150 ml
• Mint leaves – 4–5 (lightly muddled)
• Ice cubes – as needed
• Lemon slices/wedges – for garnish
• Salt or chaat masala – for rim garnish (optional)

Instructions - 

1. Rub a lemon wedge on the glass rim and dip it in salt or chaat masala. 
2. In a glass, add lemon juice, sugar syrup, mint leaves and vodka. Shake it well. 
3. Fill the glass with ice, pour vodka mix and top with cold water or store-bought lemonade for a fizz. 
4. Add lemon slices, mint and cucumber slices (optional) for a spa-day feeling! 

Aam Panna / Keri ka Sharbat

Ingredients - 

• Raw mangoes (green, firm) – 2 medium (about 250–300g)
• Sugar or jaggery – 3–4 tbsp (adjust to taste)
• Black salt – 1 tsp
• Roasted cumin powder – 1 tsp
• Mint leaves – 10–12
• Regular salt – a pinch
• Cold water – 2.5 to 3 cups
• Ice cubes – as needed

Instructions - 

1. Boil or pressure cook the raw mangoes with water until soft (2–3 whistles). Let them cool, then peel and scoop out the pulp.
2. In a blender, add the mango pulp, sugar/jaggery, black salt, cumin powder, mint leaves, and regular salt. Blend until smooth.
3. Pour in cold water gradually and blend again to get a refreshing drink consistency.
4. Pour into glasses with ice. Garnish with mint, roasted cumin sprinkle, or a mango slice if you’re feeling fancy. 

Bael ka Sharbat 

Ingredients - 

• Bael fruit (wood apple) – 1 medium-sized ripe bael
• Cold water – 2.5 to 3 cups
• Jaggery or sugar – 2–4 tbsp (to taste)
• Black salt – 1/2 tsp
• Roasted cumin powder – 1/2 tsp
• Lemon juice – 1 tsp (optional, for a citrusy note)
• Ice cubes – as needed

Instructions - 

1. Crack open the bael fruit (you can gently tap it with a rolling pin or knife). Scoop out the pulp into a large bowl.
2. Add water to the pulp and let it soak for 10-15 minutes. Mash it and dissolve the pulp in the water. 
3. Strain it and add cold water to adjust the consistency. Then mix in jaggery or sugar, cumin powder and lemon juice. Still well 
4. Pour into glasses with ice cubes. Garnish with a pinch of roasted cumin or mint leaf if you like.

Masala Jeera

Ingredients - 

• ¼ cup jeera
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• Few ice cubes
• ¼ tsp black salt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions - 

1. Take a thick-bottomed pan, and dry roast jeera on low flame until it becomes smoky and aromatic.
2. Once it cools down, grind it into a fine powder
3. Take a glass, add ice cubes, cumin powder, black salt & lemon juice 
4. Pour chilled water, mix well and enjoy!

Orange Coconut Juice 

Ingredients - 

• 2 orange
• 1 cup coconut water
• Few ice cubes

Instructions - 

1. In a blender, take 1 orange, 1 cup coconut water and a few ice cubes.
2. Blend to smooth making sure everything is well combined. Filter the juice to get rid of the pulp.
3. Furthermore, pour the orange juice into a glass and enjoy with ice cubes.

Pineapple Juice

Ingredients - 

• 1½ cup pineapple
• 1 tbsp honey
• ¼ tsp pepper powder
• Few ice cubes 

Instructions - 

1. In a blender take 1½ cup pineapple, 1 tbsp honey and ¼ tsp pepper powder.
2. Furthermore, add a few ice cubes.
3. Blend to smooth making sure everything is well combined. Filter the juice to get rid of the pulp.
4. Pour the pineapple juice into a glass and enjoy with ice cubes.

Lemon Juice / Nimbu pani 

Ingredients - 

• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• Few mint/pudina leaves
• ¼ tsp pepper powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ cup water
• Few ice cubes
• 2 tbsp soaked sabja seeds

Instructions - 

1. In a blender take 2 tbsp lemon juice, a few mint, ¼ tsp pepper powder and ½ tsp salt and add 1½ cup water and a few ice cubes.
2. Blend to smooth making sure everything is well combined. In a tall glass, take 2 tbsp soaked sabja seeds.
3. Finally, pour the pineapple juice into a glass and enjoy with ice cubes.

Watermelon Juice 

Ingredients -  

• 1½ cup watermelon
• ½ lemon juice
• Few mint/pudina leaves 
• ¼ tsp pepper powder
• Few ice cubes

Instructions - 

1. In a blender, take 1½ cups of watermelon. Make sure there are no seeds.
2. Add ½ lemon juice, a few mint leaves, ¼ tsp pepper powder, and a few ice cubes.
3. Blend to smooth, making sure everything is well combined, and filter the juice to get rid of the pulp.
4. Furthermore, pour the watermelon juice into a glass and enjoy it with ice cubes.

Mango Juice

Ingredients -

• 1 mango
• 1 cup coconut water
• Few mint/pudina leaves 
• Few ice cubes

Instructions - 

1. In a blender take 1 mango, 1 cup of coconut water, a few mint leaves, and a few ice cubes.
2. Blend to smooth, making sure everything is well combined.
3. Then pour the mango juice into a glass and enjoy with ice cubes.

Tip: 

To make a mocktail of orange, pineapple, lemon, watermelon & mango - 

Ingredients - 

• ½ cup pineapple
• ½ cup watermelon
• ½ cup mango
• 1 cup water
• Few ice cubes

Instructions - 

1. Take ½ cup pineapple, ½ cup watermelon, ½ cup mango in a blender
2. Also, add 1 cup of water and a few ice cubes.
3. Blend to smooth making sure everything is well combined then filter the juice to get rid of the pulp.
4. Then pour the mocktail into a glass and enjoy it with ice cubes.

Cucumber Cooler 

Ingredients - 

• ½ cup cucumber
• Few mint leaves
• 1 cup chilled water 
• ½ cup crushed ice
• ¼ tsp cumin powder
• ¼ tsp black salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp soaked sabja seeds

Instructions - 

1. Take a blender jar, ½ cup cucumber, a few mint leaves and chilled water.
2. Blend smooth and keep aside. 
3. Take a glass, add crushed ice, cumin powder, black salt, sugar, lemon juice & soaked sabja seeds. 
4. Pour the cucumber juice, mix well and enjoy chilled! 

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