It’s official, the heat has finally hit us, and how! Just into April and we can confidently say that the Indian summer is already whooping our collective asses.
Summers in India are great, don’t get us wrong…but only if you’re indoors, enjoying the sunshine under a shade, cooled down by an air conditioner. And we say this because it is THAT HOT.
In the west, summers mean hitting the beach, with a sunhat on your head and a cocktail in your hand. In places like Mumbai or Delhi, it means travelling away to a place that doesn’t feel like an oven.
Unfortunately, not all of us (including myself) are lucky enough to escape this furnace, so we have to come up with innovative ways to cool ourselves down.
Helping you tolerate the burning weather, here are 7 drinks to help you cope with the heat this summer. Cool down in just a jiffy!
1. The Date Shake
A quick refreshing milkshake with fresh dates and a whole lot cinnamon, the date shake is a perfect way to beat the summer heat. It’s quick and absolutely delicious.
Ingredients:
- 15 dates with stones
- 250 ml milk
- 1 handful of ice cubes
- pinch of ground cinnamon
Method:
Throw the stoned dates into a blender with the milk and blend till smooth. Once fully blended, add in the ice cubes and cinnamon, and blend again. Serve in a tall glass, chilled!
2. Go Get ‘Em Smoothie
The ‘Go Get ‘Em Smoothie’ by Nigella Lawson is your perfect summer breakfast smoothie. With ingredients that make an awesome breakfast combination, this drink is definitely a summer quencher.
Ingredients:
- 1 peeled frozen banana, diced in 4
- 2/3 cup of milk
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 teaspoons malted chocolate drink powder
- 1 teaspoon strong coffee or 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
Method:
Literally take all the ingredients and blend away in a mixer till smooth. Pour the mixture out into a tall glass and slurp away!
3. Melon, Mint, & Cucumber Smoothie
If you were to put all things refreshing into one drink, this would be it, which makes it apt for this blazing heat.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups chopped melon
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 12 fresh mint leaves
- 2-4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
Method:
Put all the ingredients together and blend away till pureed. Serve chilled.
4. Vegan Strawberry Coconut Milkshake
For someone who wants a dairy-free alternative to a milkshake, this is ideal. A milkshake without the milk, the combination of coconut and strawberry ties in all the flavours together!
Ingredients:
- 2 frozen bananas sliced
- 1 can of coconut milk
- 1 cup frozen strawberries
- 2-3 tablespoons pure maple syrup
Method:
Put the bananas and coconut milk into a blender and mix till smooth. Add the strawberries and maple syrup, and blend again. Scrape the sides of the blender as required. Pour the milkshake into glasses and garnish with whipped cream, strawberries, or syrup!
5. Dark Chocolate Mint Milkshake
A sinful yet satisfying summer shake, there’s no harm in indulging in a tall glass of this creamy milkshake during the heat.
Ingredients:
- Dark Chocolate Mint Ice Cream Bars
- 1 cup vanilla almond milk or coconut milk
- 1 cup ice cubes
- 1 cup coconut water
- 10 fresh mint leaves
- 2 tablespoons maple syrups
Method:
Add the ingredients and mix away in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth and adjust sweetness by adding more maple syrup. Garnish with the ice cream bars, fresh mint leaves, and serve chilled.
6. Mango Lassi Cocktail
It’s mango season and what better way to welcome the summer than with this juicy fruit? Adding a slightly adult spin to it, this mango lassi cocktail is a bliss way to beat the heat.
- 1 cup cold water
- 1 cup chopped mango
- 3/4 cup plain yogurt
- 2 ounces white rum or vodka
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 8 ice cubes crushed
- crushed pistachios for garnish
Method:
Blend the water, mango, and yogurt into a smooth puree. Add the liquor, sugar, and crushed iced cubes and blend the mixture. Garnish each glass with crushed pistachios on the top, and serve chilled.
7. Nutella Irish Cream Milkshake
Another adult-rated option to suit your summer needs, this milkshake is close to divine! A combination of all things good (Nutella good, Irish Cream good, Milkshake GOOD), this is one you cannot give a miss.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup vanilla ice cream
- 1/4 cup Nutella
- 1 shot Bailey’s Irish Cream
Method:
Blend all the ingredients together and serve immediately.