Bengal's hot and humid weather demands refreshing beverages that are cooling off. Due to the region's abundance of fruits and natural ingredients, a wide variety of delicious and beneficial beverages have been created. These enduring sweet, ͏tangy, spicy, and fragrant beverages widely available on the streets within Kolkata to rural Bengal offer an insight into the unique culinary heritage of the area. Discover some highly favoured options.
Video Credit: Hebbars Kitchen/YouTube
Taler Rosh (Palm Fruit Juice)
Bengalis enjoy drinking taler rosh (palm fruit juice) as a cool beverage in the summer. This delightful and cooling beverage created from the matu͏re ͏fruit of the palm tree is popular with residents and visitors alike. The flesh of the fruit, which is lush, sweet, and somewhat fibrous, is extracted and then combined with sugar, water, and a dash of cardamom. The drink is renowned for ͏its natural sweetness, liveliness, and unique flavour that offer ͏both energy and comfort.
Image Credit: Flickr
Lebu Cha (Lemon Tea)
In Bengali homes and on street corners, lebu cha (lemon tea) is a beloved beverage. Bengali Lebu Cha, in comparison to its Western version, offers a distinct flavour profile that combines sour, sweet, and salty ingredients, thanks to the frequent addition of a small amount of salt. After brewing a strong cup of black tea, add sugar, lemon juice that has just been squeezed, and salt to taste. For flavour and health benefits, some varieties include ginger or mint. Due to its usual hot serving, this drink is a year-round favourite, particularly during the monsoon season.
Image Credit: Pexel
Doi-er Shorbot
During the hot summer months, doi-er shorbot is a refreshing and nourishing yoghurt-based beverage, becoming very popular in Bengal. This cool drink is proof of Bengalis love for doi or yoghurt drinks and has inv͏entive rec͏ipes to fight hot weather. A smooth, creamy beverage that is hydrating and satisfying is produced by blending fresh yoghurt with water, sugar, cardamom, and a pinch of salt. Rose petals or chopped nuts are common garnishes for it. Besides being refreshing, doi-er shorb͏ot are rich in probiotics, making them a good choice for digestive wellnes.
Khejurer Rosh (Date Palm Juice)
Khejurer Rosh is a beloved traditional Bengali drink because of its sweet, calming flavour. This organic remedy crafted from the fluid of date palm trees is a winter drink that offers ͏comfort and nourishment with every taste. Warm and served with a dash of black salt, it is a popular remedy for wintertime chills.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Nolen Gurer Shorbot
Another wintertime favourite is the nolen gurer shorbot. Made using fresh jaggery, this beverage boasts a rich caramel flavour. In order to balance the flavours of sweet and sour, it is usually consumed hot and with a touch of lemon. To make nolen gurer shorbot, dissolve palm jaggery in hot water with a squeeze of lime juice and spices. In addition to being tasty, nolen gurer shorbot is said to have medicinal qualities.
Aam Panna
Aam panna, a traditional summertime beverage from Bengal, is made with raw mangoes. It possesses the perfect mix of sour, spicy, and sugary tastes. Raw mangoes are roasted and peeled, then combined with water, sugar, and a dash of spice to make this mixture. It is thought that aam panna helps prevent heatstroke and aids in digestion.
Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
Jol Jeera
Cumin water, often known as jol jeera, is a very easy and refreshing beverage. Bengali homes always have it on hand. The cumin seeds are roasted and then soaked in water for a whole night to make jol jeera. The water is filtered and sweetened to taste the next day. This drink is often consumed before meals and is well-known for aiding digestion.
Gondhoraj Ghol
A unique Bengali variation on the traditional buttermilk beverage is gondhoraj ghol. The citrus fruit juice made from Gondhoraj Lebu, or Gondhorj lemon, lends a distinctive flavour, which is native to Bengal. To make the beverage, combine yoghurt, sugar, water, and gondhoraj juice.
Beler Shorbot
Beler shorbot is a summertime drink prepared from wood apple pulp and is popular in Bengal. The drink is said to have a cooling effect, and the fruit is packed with vitamins and fibre. This cool drink is made by removing the pulp from the wood apple and combining it with sugar, water, and a small amount of cardamom.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
These popular drinks will satisfy you and leave you wanting more, whether you’re enjoying a hot drink in the summer or a cold drink on a hot day. So make sure to sample these famous drinks the next time you're in Bengal or just wish for a flavour of the region. You will undoubtedly be taken right into the heart of Bengal.