Five cool refreshing traditional summer coolers you should be having right now

It’s hot outside, and sitting there in your office, you are probably wanting something cold to slosh down your gullet. How about traditional Indian drinks that have been popular across the country for ages? Chef Sandip Narang, executive chef, Taj West End, Bangalore, and the folks at the Konkan Cafe at the Vivanta by Taj -President, in Mumbai, provide quick and easy recipes for four heat beaters, and a pina colada with a twist. (Text: Team Express Foodie)

Raw mango drink (kairi panna) is one of the best summer coolant drinks, perfect thirst quencher and easy to prepare. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Elaneer Pina coloda: Say “Pina colada”, and it's hard not to envision a beach or a pool. Want to get more into the beach spirit? Think swaying coconut trees, and add some coconut milk and coconut cream to your drink and let your virgin pina colada transport you to the beachside. (Text: Team Express Foodie)

Ingredients
350ml- Fresh Pineapple juice
150ml- Thick Coconut Milk
200g- Tender Coconut flesh (malai) chopped
250g- Vanilla ice-cream
Crushed ice- As required
1/2 cup- Pineapple, chunks

Method
* In a juicer mix pineapple juice, coconut milk, coconut, vanilla ice-cream and ice in a blender till smooth. Strain the mixture. Add chopped tender coconut flesh into the mixture.
* Serve the drink in a tall glass garnished with pineapple.

Jil Jil Jigarthanda: Originating in the city of Madurai, this popular South Indian cooling drink loosely translates into 'Cool Liver' and it's hard to think of a better drink that cools not just your liver but your whole body down. (Text: Team Express Foodie)

Ingredients
800ml- Milk
20ml- Rose Syrup/Sarbath
5g- Agar Agar/China Grass
500ml- Water
Sugar- To taste
400g- Vanilla Ice-cream

Method
*Take milk and sugar in a sauce pan, heat till it is reduced by half. Pour the reduced milk in a jug and chill it.
*Take agar agar in a sauce pan, cover with 2 cups of water. Soak it for 10 minutes. Now heat till it melts. Pour it to a bowl, chill till set. Take it out and use a fork to scrape it.
*Now take your serving glass. Add few tablespoons of the scraped jelly, pour over some rose syrup, some reduced milk and a scoop of ice-cream.
*Serve immediately.

Sol kadhi: Part of every proper meal — and thali — in Konkan and Goa, this blend of kokum and coconut milk is great for digestion and cools the body down. (Text: Team Express Foodie)

Ingredients
250g- Fresh coconut, grated
5g- Ginger
2 pods- Garlic
2- Green chilli
5g- Jeera whole
10g- Kokum
10g- Sugar
Salt to taste

Method
*Soak fresh coconut along with warm water.
*Grind the coconut along with above ingredients together.
*Now squeeze the mixture through strainer and add sugar and salt
*Serve chilled

Mattha: Who doesn’t like spiced buttermilk? Popular in Maharashtra, this version contains black salt, cumin powder, and coriander leaves among other ingredients. (Text: Team Express Foodie)

Ingredients
2 cups- Fresh Plain yogurt
1 tbsp- Cumin seeds
1/2 tbsp- Black salt
Salt to taste
Coriander leaves for garnish

Method
* Combine the curds, cumin seeds powder, black salt and salt in a deep bowl and mix well.
* Add 4 cups of chilled water and whisk well. Keep aside.
* Serve chilled garnished with coriander.