The best drink for warming the body is piping-hot cow’s milk. The Ayur-veda says that milk also nourishes the cerebral tissues-but you have to drink it hot for the digestive system to extract its subtle properties. Therefore, always boil milk before serving it, unless it’s to be drunk as soon as it comes from the cow.
Drinks made from yogurt, such as lassi, cool the body. So enjoy them during the summer, but avoid them before retiring or when the body is cool, especially in winter. Lemon can be useful any time of year. Ginger tea with lemon and a little honey fortifies the body against colds in the winter.
Garam doodh – Hot milk
5 cups (1.2 liters) milk
3 tbs sugar or 2 tbs honey
Either bring the milk to a boil three times, being careful that it doesn’t spill over, or maintain it at a gentle rolling boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, add the sweetener, and stir until it dissolves.
You may also flavor the milk by adding 3 or 4 bruised cardamom pods, a drop or two of rose-water,1 tablespoon of chicory or carob powder, a big pinch of ground nutmeg or cinnamon, or a few strands of saffron.
Hot milk can also make a wonderful banana or mango nectar drink. Crush a ripe banana or mango into a pulp and mix it into the sweetened hot milk. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg.
Adrak chai – Ginger tea
5 cups (1.2 liters) water
3 tbs finely grated fresh ginger
6 tbs sugar or 5 tbs honey
1 pinch ground black pepper
4 tbs lemon or orange juice chopped mint leaves (optional)
Boil the water and ginger rapidly in an uncovered saucepan for about 10 minutes. Stir the sweetener into the mixture until it dissolves. Strain, pressing the ginger against the strainer to extract as much of its essence as possible.
Then add the pepper and the lemon or orange juice. Serve hot.
Mithi lassi – Sweet yogurt or buttermilk drink
4 cups (950 ml) plain yogurt or cultured buttermilk
2 tsp rose-water
1/4 tsp ground cardamom seeds
3 cups (700 ml) ice water
6 tbs sugar or 5 tbs honey
crushed ice (optional)
Mix all the ingredients together with a whisk or an electric blender until the surface of the lassi becomes frothy. Serve chilled, either by adding crushed ice or by refrigeration.
As an alternative to rose-water and cardamom, try 3 tablespoons of lime or lemon juice, 3 tablespoons of flavored syrup, or 1/2 cup (50 g) of crushed red berries, ripe banana, or ripe mango.