Indian Gooseberry Drinks: How To Balance Tangy Amla Flavours In Beverages
Indian gooseberry, more commonly known as Amla, has a sharp, astringent taste with notes of sour and bitter, which is unlike any other fruit. Its unique flavour profile renders amla a slightly challenging ingredient to incorporate into beverages.
However, with the right balancing techniques, one can craft compelling beverages that flaunt the fruit in all its glory.
Here is how you can master the art of balancing the tangy flavour of Indian gooseberry in drinks.
Sweetening the Tartness with Natural Sweeteners
One of the most effective tricks of balancing the strong astringency of Amla is by pairing it with sweeteners. Natural sweeteners soften the tart notes without overpowering the drinks with a cloying sweetness.
Natural sweeteners also inject other flavour dimensions into the amla beyond sweetness. Honey, for example, has floral, woody notes and can be used for lighter beverages like amla tea. But jaggery and maple syrup both have a deep, caramel flavour that pairs well with drinks like amla lemonade. On the other hand, coconut sugar lends amla with a tropical, nutty flavour and in turn highlights the fruitiness of the amla.
Recipe idea: Amla and Honey Cooler
Blend fresh gooseberries in water, honey and a sprinkling of rock salt. Once blended, pour it over a glass of crushed ice and serve.
Diluting with Milder Fruits and Bases
Combining gooseberries with sweeter, milder fruits or neutral bases like cucumber or coconut water can be used to balance out the intensity. They also add a subtle sweetness to the drink without overtaking the gooseberry’s natural flavour.
One can even use fresh apples to mellow out the tartness of the drink.
Simply add small pieces of apples into the amla drink and let it sit for a few hours inside the refrigerator before serving the drink with a slice of dried amla as garnish.
Creating Infused Ice Cubes
Ice cubes made with complementary ingredients such as mint, lemon or even a hint of honey will slowly melt into your gooseberry drink, balancing the flavours gradually.
This approach is especially useful for coolers like amla lemonade or spritzers because the drink will remain cooler for a longer time and also not get rapidly diluted, watering down the taste.
Recipe Idea: Mint-Lemon Infused Ice Cubes
Freeze a mixture of lemon juice and mint in ice cube trays. Before serving, dust the ice cubes with mint leaves that have been dehydrated in the oven overnight.
Experimenting with Fermented Options
Creating a fermented gooseberry drink like an amla kombucha can bring out the best of its tart flavour. The fermentation process also develops a subtle sweetness and a natural fizz, softening the intensity of the gooseberry.
Recipe Idea: Amla Kombucha
Combine freshly juiced gooseberries with brewed kombucha in the second fermentation phase. Then let it ferment for a few days until it is effervescent.
Apart from these techniques, one can also use spices and herbs like ginger, cumin or cinnamon to make spiced teas with amla. Select your herb or spice of choice and dissolve it in amla and soda water, then top this concoction on crushed ice. Then add a complementary garnish of whole spices or dried herbs, whichever you prefer.
