What could be better after traveling for hours in the scorching heat than being welcomed with a nice, refreshing drink? This is the delightful experience you can expect when you visit any home or resort in Maharashtra. Each region offers its own unique and traditional welcome drink that not only refreshes you but also soothes your soul. Here, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best traditional welcome drinks in Maharashtra that you definitely should try. Check it out!
5 Unique Traditional Welcome Drinks In Maharashtra
1. Neera
If you visit any household in coastal Maharashtra, especially during summer, be ready to be greeted with a glass full of Neera and a warm smile. Neera is an unfermented, fresh sap that is extracted from coconut or palm trees at dawn. It serves as the traditional welcome drink in many parts of coastal Maharashtra and rural areas. The welcome drink is known for its naturally nutrient-rich and sweet profile, which contains antioxidants, minerals, and electrolytes that instantly refresh you, especially during hot summers. It is generally served in an earthenware glass, completing the traditional rural feel.
2. Piyush
Piyush is more of a celebratory welcome drink in Maharashtra, which is served at weddings and Gudi Padwa. In many parts of the state, it is also considered a post-meal drink for better digestion. The drink has a very thick and frothy texture, which is garnished with thin slices of dry fruits like cashew and almond. It is a creamy yogurt-based drink that blends buttermilk, cardamom, sugar, saffron strands, and shrikhand together. The drink is known to have nutritive elements that cool down your body and also provide probiotic benefits. It is also served as a dessert in many parts of Gujarat.
3. Kokum Sarbet
Kokum Sarbet or Kokum Sorbet is Maharashtra’s iconic purple-hued welcome drink. It is made from the tangy dried rind of the kokum fruit. This drink is prepared by soaking the dried rind in water with mint, roasted cumin, a pinch of black salt, and jaggery. If you visit a Konkan household during summer, you will be greeted with Kokum Sarbet as it has magical cooling properties. These households generally prepare concentrated syrups of Kokam. During summer, this drink helps in combating any sort of dehydration or heatstroke and also stimulates appetite with its perfect balance of sour and sweet taste.
4. Kairiche Panhe
This is one of the most loved and popular summer welcome drinks of Maharashtra. The drink is a golden-hued raw mango cooler that has its roots in the traditional harvest festivals in Maharashtra. This drink is made by boiling unripe mango, popularly known as kairi, with saffron, cardamom, and jaggery, which is converted into a thick syrup. It is later diluted by adding chilled water and then garnished with mint and crushed mint. Kairiche Panhe offers heat-relieving enzymes and vitamin C, which prevent people from dehydration and soothe the palate.
5. Sol Kadhi
Konkan households are incomplete without Sol Kadhi. This vibrant, pretty pink drink from Maharashtra is loved by every Maharashtrian and is a quintessential welcome drink found here. It is prepared using dried kokum petals, which are infused in coconut milk. It is also spiced with green chilies, ginger, garlic, and coriander. It is also known as a digestive aid, especially after relishing a wholesome spicy Konkan seafood feast. The drink is loved for its regional authenticity and probiotic coolness.
Summing Up
From Neera to Sol Kadhi, Maharashtra has some amazing and unique welcome drinks that have their own health benefits and traditional roots. If you have never tried any of them yet, it’s your sign to do so ASAP!
