5 Indian Mocktails To Have At Indian Festive Gatherings
Non-alcoholic drinks from the repository of Indian cuisine are of diverse kinds and offer different flavours. From sherbets to aerated drinks to milkshake-like numbers, there are tons of options to choose from while curating a festive menu. One crucial element to remember in planning this mocktail roster is that drinks should be so prepared that they contain rich and bright ingredients which will resonate with the tone of the festive gathering while making for a well-balanced mix of different flavours.
There are a lot of mocktails or non-alcoholic options out there which are well-suited for these parties.
Read on below to know more about some of the different Indian mocktails that can be prepared at festive gatherings:
Masala Buttermilk
A tasty and creamy offering, buttermilk is the residual liquid left behind when curd is churned into butter. To this drink, add some water, a bit of chilli, coriander and some cumin powder and just a hint of black salt or rock salt before blending it into a smooth mix.
Serve the masala buttermilk on a bed of ice in a tall glass at a festive gathering following a big meal. The tangy and spicy notes in the buttermilk coupled with its creamy texture will surely be the highlight of the day.
Jaljeera
Another very popular Indian mocktail is jaljeera which is heavily flavoured with mint, cumin and several other spices. While jaljeera premixes are readily available in the market, it is just as straightforward to make jaljeera powder at home by crushing together a host of flavourful condiments, herbs and spices. Add water to this powder and serve it with lots of ice as a non-alcoholic aperitif.
Jaljeera contains lots of spicy, tangy and sour flavours which can stimulate one’s appetite for dinner.
Rose Milk
One of the offerings at festive gatherings is rose milk made using gulkand. This sweet treat is essentially put together by mixing rose petals with sugar. Gulkand has a very rich and decadent flavour on its own and when blended with milk, the drink acquires a creamy and silky quality befitting the festive mood.
Garnish this mocktail with some crushed dried fruits and top it off with fresh cream. The non-alcoholic drink can also be served as a dessert with a dollop of rose ice cream added to it after a festive meal.
Thandai
Thandai is a popular beverage prepared during the festive season. It is a cool drink made from poppy seeds, sesame, dried fruits and certain flavourful condiments like cardamom, rose petals and saffron. Lots of crushed almonds are also added to this drink to infuse it with a creamy layer.
Garnished with crushed pistachios and rose petals, glasses full of thandai bring a luxurious festive feel to any dinner table.
Aam Panna
When festivals arrive in spring or summer in the Indian subcontinent, one popular mocktail concocted for these occasions is aam panna. Made out of raw mangoes that are mixed with jaggery or sugar, loads of saffron and cardamom, aam panna is a sweet and tangy mocktail particularly served late evening or mid morning.
Aam panna can be one’s go-to mocktail for a brunch or high tea gathering during the festive season. Serve the drink with plenty of ice and garnish with a slice of raw mango for a more nuanced flavour mix.
