Refreshing homemade coolers for the perfect monsoon treat

The scorching summer heat may be well behind us, but the monsoon is not without its warmer days. Though a masala tea or hot chocolate may seem like the ideal pick for a typical rainy day, a refreshing cooler still makes for a flavourful hydrating drink. So, regardless of whether it's raining or not, these delicious coolers are sure to drive your monsoon blues away.

Raw mango panna

Ingredients

500gm raw mango, sugar as per taste, black salt as per taste, 1 tsp cumin powder, a handful of mint leaves, 2 tsp chaat masala, cold water or soda.

Method

Peel and dice the raw mangoes. Transfer it to a vessel with water and boil until the mango flesh is soft. Drain out the water and add the mango pulp to a blender with black salt, cumin, sugar, and chaat masala and blitz until smooth. Refrigerate it for a few hours. Now put a spoonful of this mixture into a tall glass and top it with fresh mint leaves and water or soda. Stir and serve chilled.

Cucumber and rosemary crush

Ingredients

2 large cucumbers, 2 tsp fresh rosemary, 1 cup cold water, juice of 2 lemons, sugar or agave nectar as per taste.

Method

Mix sugar and lemon juice in a pan and stir until the sugar dissolves. Transfer it to a bowl and allow it to chill for a few hours. Then peel and roughly chop the cucumbers and blend them into a smooth puree along with rosemary leaves. Strain this mixture and discard the molasses. Add the lemon and sugar mixture to this and stir until all the ingredients are well combined. Serve in tall glasses with lots of crushed ice.

Watermelon and orange sunshine

Ingredients

2 cups watermelon pieces, 6 oranges, 1 tsp black salt, ice.

Method

In a blender, puree watermelon and keep aside. Squeeze out the juice from the oranges and mix it with the watermelon puree. Strain this mixture using a fine mesh sieve and discard the molasses. Season with black salt and add ice to it. Serve cold.

Green tea lemonade

Ingredients

1 green tea bag, 2 tbsp sugar or honey, 1/2 cup boiling water, juice of two lemons, a jug of water.

Method

Add the green tea bag to the boiling water and allow it to seep. Add honey and mix well. Allow the mixture to cool down to room temperature. Add the lemon juice to it and refrigerate for a few hours. Serve chilled.

Lead image credit: Pexels

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