Indian Summer Drinks Recommended by Ayurveda for Cooling & Glowing Skin

The heat of the Indian summer can leave you feeling drained not only through dehydration and fatigue but also through dull skin and breakouts. The effects of the heat will affect you from the inside out. That's exactly where Ayurveda can help you in a way that provides traditional remedies to help cool you down, give you hydration, and help improve your skin's health with its time tested natural cooling drinks that will quench your thirst but also restore harmony, give you hydration and improve your skin's health.

These traditional drinks provide more than just thirst relief; they will help cool your body (pitta pacification), help with digestion and nourish your skin from within.

Now let’s look at the most refreshing Ayurvedic Indian summer drinks, their unique properties, how to prepare them and their skin benefits.

1. Aam Panna (Raw Mango Cooler)

What makes it special:

In Ayurveda, Aam Panna has many unique properties besides being delicious (sour, sweet, and a little spicy) but is also believed to be one of the strongest natural heat protectors.

How to make it:

You can either boil or roast the raw mangoes until they are soft, extract the fruit pulp, and blend the mixture with water, roasted cumin powder, black salt, mint, and a natural sweetener such as jaggery.

Why it’s unique:

It is rich in electrolytes which provides greater hydration and prevents heatstroke, and Vitamin C which is essential for restoring energy.

Benefits to the skin:

• Reduces the effects of oxidative damage to your skin (due to its high levels of 

• Vitamin Prevents your skin from becoming full of summer dullness

• Keeps your skin hydrated and fresh.

2. Sattu Sharbat (Protein-Packed Cooler)

What makes it special:

This Sattu drink is prepared from roasted flour (sattu) which is extremely cooling and filling thus making it perfect for hot days in Northern India.

How to make it:

Combine sattu with cold water with black salt, roasted cumin powder, lemon juice and a little bit of mint. Sweet versions can also be made with jaggery.

Why it is unique

This is a plant protein drink that will help cool the body, provide fullness and give you energy to be active.

Benefits for skin: 

• Will help create a healthy gut (good skin begins with a healthy gut)

• Reduce inflammation

• Help keep skin naturally glowing

3. Kokum Sherbet (Coastal Cooling Elixir)

What makes it special:

Kokum is a popular ingredient in many coastal areas that has powerful cooling and digestive properties.

How to make it:

To make kokum, soak dry kokum in water, then grind up the kokum, strain out the solids, and mix with jaggery, cumin powder, and black salt.

Why is kokum unique?

Kokum contains high levels of antioxidants and cooling compounds, which can be useful for lowering body temperature.

Benefits of kokum for skin:

• Prevents heat-related acne

• Helps reduce inflamed skin

• Helps to keep skin clear and calm

4. Jaljeera (Digestive Summer Refresher)

What makes it special:

A unique beverage that is spicy, tangy, works as an aid to digestion and helps cool the body.

How to make it:

Blend mint, coriander, roasted cumin, black salt, tamarind pulp and water. Then add lemon juice for extra taste.

Why it’s unique:

Another great benefit of this drink is that it is a “digestive powerhouse”, which means that it can prevent the stomach from bloating and can also help prevent indigestion caused by heat.

Benefits for skin: 

• Detoxification

• Reduced breakouts due to poor digestion

• Improved skin luminescence

5. Saunf Water (Fennel Infusion)

What makes it special:

Fennel water, or as many households know it, saunf ka paani, it is the traditional remedy, stood the test of time amidst scorching Indian summers. A cooling drink that is simple yet powerful, very effective as an internal cooling agent.

How to prepare: 

Simply soak a few fennel seeds in water overnight and drink the next day.

What is unique about it? 

Fennel Seed Water has a natural cooling quality for the digestive system, helping to regulate excessive heat (pitta) within our bodies.

Skin benefits:

• Reducing acne or irritation on your skin

• Providing a natural glow to your skin 

• Reducing production of excess oil on your skin

6. Chaas (Spiced Buttermilk)

What makes it special:

A staple in Indian households, this beverage is unique because of its probiotic properties. It cools the body and aids in digestion.

How to make it:

To prepare it, combine plain yogurt with water, add cumin seed, black salt and fresh curry leaves.

Why it is unique:

It contains probiotics which are essential for digestion, skin health and absorbing nutrients.

Benefits to your skin:

• Reduced acne and inflammation

• Better skin texture and clarity

• Improved delivery of nutrients to your skin cells

7. Rose Sharbat (Gulkand Drink)

What makes it special:

A drink made from rose petals or Gulkand known for its soothing and calming capabilities.

How to make it:

Combine Gulkand or rose syrup with cold milk or water. Then add soaked Sabja seeds.

Why it is unique:

Helps cool body heat as well as emotional stress which contributes to skin problems.

Benefits of this drink are:

Mildly anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; reduces heat/stress and sabja seeds enhances hydration.

Skin Benefits of this drink:

• Very effective in reducing redness or irritation on the skin 

• Very effective for hydrating skin 

• Manages stress related acne

8. Coconut Water (Natural Electrolyte Drink)

What makes it special:

An electrolyte-enhanced beverage occurring for an effective hydration level.

Ways it can be consumed:

Preferably in the morning one should consume it and drink coconut water as fresh as possible.

Why it is unique:

Coconut water is naturally occurring and needs no processing for consumption. This provides a level of hydration that is close to perfect in its overall electrolyte when compared to artificial versions.

Benefits:

• It is rich in potassium and electrolytes

• Hydration and proper cleansing of the body.

• Helps maintain body fluid levels.

Skin-related benefits:

• Keeps skin well moisturized and hydrated.

• Helps to remove toxins.

• Reduces dryness and irritation around the skin.

9. Bael Sharbat (Gut-Healing Cooler)

What makes it special:

Bael is highly regarded in Ayurveda as being beneficial for digestion and for having a cooling effect on the body.

How to prepare: 

Combine bael pulp and water in a jar; strain, add jaggery.

Why it is unique:

The bael is the only beverage that specifically targets the gut, which is subsequently reflected in having clearer skin.

Benefits of bael:

• Management of digestive disorders

• A source of dietary fiber and tannins

• Improvement of gut health and temperature within the body

Benefits of bael for skin:

• Elimination of toxins will lead to less acne

• Improved skin appearance

• Long term support for overall skin health

Why Ayurveda + Science Both Support These Drinks

Recent scientific studies confirm the same things that Ayurvedic practitioners have understood for hundreds of years: 

• Hydration and electrolytes promote healthy skin

• Antioxidants protect from sun damage

• Good gut health results in clear skin (the gut-skin connection)

• Vitamin C helps to produce collagen and give our skin some glow.

For example: 

• Fresh or raw mangoes are loaded with both Vitamin C and antioxidants to help improve skin health.

• Aam Panna, an electrolyte-rich beverage, will help to keep you hydrated and cool to avoid heat stress.

Final Thoughts

This is not only a beverage; this is a functional, summer ritual that loves your skin! 

Rather than drinking beverages that will dehydrate your body, choose from one of the many Ayurvedic chilled beverage recipes that will:

• Help to hydrate your body deeply

• Balance body temperature

• Help with digestion

• Help your skin glow by enhancing its natural beauty

This summer, drink your way to a cooler body + clearer skin + calmer mind!

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References:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/6-summer-drinks-natural-coolers-to-stay-hydrated-and-refreshed/nimbu-shikanji-with-basil-seeds-sabja/slideshow/130251915.cms

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5452255/

https://www.healthians.com/blog/sattu-benefits/

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230802-kokum-indias-naturally-cooling-fruit-juice#kokum-sherbet-recipe

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3990147/

https://pharmeasy.in/blog/saunf-water-fennel-water-benefits-side-effects-how-to-make-it-more/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23786821/

https://drmohans.com/buttermilks-hidden-benefits/

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385949823_Importance_and_nutritional_value_with_therapeutic_properties_of_a_traditional_gulkand_A_review