Traditional Indian Hot Drinks To Soothe Your Throat This Changing Season

Rooted in Ayurveda and home kitchens across India, beverages made with ginger, tulsi, turmeric, and herbs are known for calming an itchy throat and a runny nose. If you’re feeling under the weather this changing season, here are some traditional Indian drinks from grandma’s kitchen.

When the harsh heat of the summer season is replaced by chilly air and downpour, the sudden change can trigger many allergic reactions. From a stuffed nose to a scratchy throat to even a dry cough, which seems to arrive overnight, the changing season can be a hassle if not handled properly. Well, long before you could quickly get a bottle of cough syrup from a pharmacy next door, Indian grandmothers were always simmering a hot beverage that magically cured you.

Remember that questionable glass of kadha you used to gulp down while blocking your nose? Didn’t that work like magic, though? Making the most of desi nuske with ingredients like ginger, turmeric, black pepper, ajwain, jeera, and more, here are some traditional drinks that can take care of your immunity during the weather change.

Adrak Chai

Whether your mornings start with a cup of tea or you’re a coffee person, a cup of kadak adrak vali chai can soothe your sore throat as no beverage can. In your usual cup of tea, whilst boiling tea leaves in a pan, add in freshly grated ginger. A lot of people also like to add some crushed cardamom pods and cinnamon bark to enhance the flavour. Then, add sugar or jaggery and milk, and bring the tea to a boil. Strain into cups, and your ginger tea will be ready. After the first sip, you’ll notice ginger leaving a sharp and peppery aftertaste that actually helps to loosen mucus and ease throat congestion. 

Ayurvedic Kadha

Kadha might look or smell different from a fragrant cup of tea, but it is known to be one of the revered home remedies of all time. During the seasonal change, if you have flu-like symptoms, you must prepare this concoction. Start by simmering ginger, tulsi leaves, black pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and fennel seeds in a cup of water. Keep simmering till the water reduces significantly and you get a concentrated fluid. You can sweeten it later with jaggery syrup or honey as per your preference. Gulp the lukewarm kadha and boost your immune system with the power of Ayurveda.

Haldi Doodh

Turmeric, aka haldi, is prized for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties in Ayurvedic medicine. Adding it to a glass of lukewarm milk boosts immunity to fight the seasonal allergies. Haldi vala doodh, also known as golden milk, should be consumed before going to bed for maximum effect. Just warm up some milk in a pan on a gas stove or an induction cooktop, and mix in haldi powder and some sugar. To give the recipe a boost, you can also add some grated ginger, crushed jaggery, or cinnamon powder. Apart from reducing inflammation, haldi vala doodh will also help you get a good night’s sleep.

Kashmiri Kahwa

Originating from the Kashmir Valley, kahwa is a traditional North Indian tea that is brewed with saffron stands, cardamom, cinnamon, and dried rose petals. In peak winter season, kahwa is even consumed multiple times in a day in Kashmir. Since it is traditionally consumed in such cold weather conditions, you can truly trust kahwa for giving your itchy throat and runny nose a relief. Unlike the regular milk-based chai, kahwa is lighter and is often garnished with slivered almonds, giving you a complete royal feel. The warm spices that are usually simmered in a kettle provide an energy lift with their antioxidant properties. 

Sulaimani Chai

Coming from the Southern parts of India, Sulaimani chai from Kerala is also a soothing option. Particularly popular amongst the Malabar Muslim community, Sulaimani chai is made with simmering tea leaves, cardamom, lemon, cloves, and a hint of mint. It is a milk-free variety of black tea that is easier to digest when compared to other tea varieties. Sulaimani chai is often served after meals to boost metabolism and is a renowned hot drink to cure a common cold.

Ajwain-Jeera Pani

If you are someone who does not like to have tea, you can simply boil water with ajwain (carom seeds) and jeera (cumin seeds). While it is a lesser known concoction, it is highly effective in giving relief to your itchy throat, dry cough, and blocked nose. Thanks to the digestive properties of ajwain and jeera, the lukewarm water is frequently consumed in North Indian homes after a heavy meal to boost metabolism. You can strain a batch of ajwain and jeere ka paani, fill it in a bottle, and keep sipping whenever your throat feels irritated. Fair warning, if you’re drinking it for the first time, the beverage can taste slightly bitter, but you’ll get used to the taste after a few sips.

Shehad Nimbu

Combining the goodness of honey and lemon, the shehad nimbu elixir is another go-to option in Indian households. The beverage coats your throat with a layer of honey that gives you instant relief after continuous spasms of cough. All you need to do to make this traditional drink is take an electric kettle, warm up some milk, add some honey, and add a squeeze of lemon. Once well-mixed, pour it into a glass and gulp it. It’s not bitter, so you can have it in one go or keep sipping as you prefer. The best time to drink shehad and nimbu vala pani is after a meal or before going to bed. Avoid eating or drinking anything after you have this elixir, or otherwise, the honey coating will wear off quickly.