As the summer season approaches its peak, rising temperatures can leave you feeling dry, sticky and frazzled. Prioritizing hydration is essential to sustain ourselves and ensure optimum health during the scorching heat. Due to excessive sweating, the body loses water rapidly, making it important to replenish fluids frequently. While water is the primary source of thirst quencher, other refreshing summer drinks in India can not only quench your thirst but also help in regulating your body temperature.
India is a region which is famous all over the world for its delicious street food and other staple cuisines. The eastern Indian state of Odisha is also a region that has amazed foodies across the country in terms of mouth-watering cuisines. Odisha is a land of rich cultural heritage and delectable cuisine and is also home to a vibrant array of refreshing and unique beverages.
Must Try Beverages and Drinks in Odisha
1. Tanka Torani
Tanka Torani is a popular rice based refreshing drink from the holy land of Jagannath Puri, Odisha. Traditionally, it is made from plain rice (Aranna) which is offered as Mahaprasad to Lord Jagannath. Some claim that this drink was first prepared around the 10th century AD. This tanka taurani is a staple drink, which is usually served in earthen pots inside the temple and also in small stalls outside to provide relief to devotees standing in long queues.
2. Bela Pana – The drink of Lord Jagannath
Bela Pana is a popular summer drink in the Indian state of Odisha. It is made from a fruit called bela or wood apple, which is native to India and other Southeast Asian countries. Bela Pana is a traditional drink consumed in Odisha for centuries and has great cultural significance in the region.
3. Soul Curry
Sol Kadhi is a refreshing drink from Maharashtra made with coconut milk, kokum and spices like cumin, coriander and ginger. The word ‘sol’ in Marathi means sour, while ‘kadhi’ is the term used for yogurt-based gravy in Indian cuisine. Sol Kadhi is made with kokum (a fruit native to the Western Ghats region), coconut milk and spices. The resulting drink has a tangy, refreshing taste and is often served as a digestive aid.
4. Palua Sherbet
Palua Sharbat aka Paula Pana is a famous summer drink from Odisha made from palua (arrowroot powder), mashed banana, shredded coconut, chhena, mishri or crystallized sugar, and black pepper powder. Bananas or grated coconut are also added to the super refreshing drink, which is a type of paan offered to Lord Jagannath in Puri. Like other summer drinks of Odisha, palua panna also helps with an upset stomach.
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