Summers may not be the favourite season of many. This is because the high temperature makes everyone feel sweaty, dehydrated, fatigued and all messed-up. Drinking a lot of water and hydrating liquids is essential to survive in such scorching heat. Water may be the first option, but we also go for other beverages that make us feel relaxed and hydrated. In India, among the many summery beverages, there is one most easily available I.e., nimbu pani or Indian lemonade.
You must have had nimbu pani many times in your life, but did you ever get a chance to try Kulukki Sarbath? Kulukki Sarbath is a sweet and spicy lemonade from God's own country, Kerala. This beverage is a perfect cooler and can keep you hydrated and refreshed. This Kerala-style lemonade is different from its regular counterpart because of its ingredients and its preparation method. Unlike other beverages, this drink is not ‘stirred’ but ‘shaken’.
Kulukki in Malayalam translated to ‘shaken’ and this is how the drink got its name. No mixing is done to combine the ingredients, rather the drink is shaken rigorously and served. It has basil seeds, lemon, sugar syrup, ginger, salt and green chili, and thanks to its ingredients, it is a perfect cooler for summer. Wanna make this Kerala-style lemonade at home? Here you go!
Ingredients
- 2 cups water (chilled)
- ½ tsp basil seeds or sabja seeds
- ½ lemon
- 1 green chili
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ¼ cup sugar syrup
- Ice cubes
Method
- Start by removing husks from sabja seeds and keep them aside. Put them into a bowl.
- Add water and soon, the sabja seeds will start absorbing the water and growing. Keep it aside for 10 minutes.
- Heat a pan and add sugar. Also, add water and let it boil. When the sugary water is sticky and thick, turn off the flame as your sugar syrup is ready.
- Take a shaker and add the sugar syrup to it. Add in lemon juice, sabja seeds and slit green chili.
- Add chopped ginger, lemon slice, ice cubes and water. Close the lid and shake rigorously for at least 5 seconds.
- When done, pour the drink into the glass and serve the Kulukki Sarbath!