Nimbu paani (Indian lemonade)

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A refreshing and rejuvenating summer drink, that is super simple to make yet highly addictive!

 

Summer vacations, when we were in school, would mean endless hours of playing with friends. Of course, we had homework and projects, of the next academic year to finish as well, but that’s not what I remember. I definitely remember finishing breakfast and going to play until lunch, coming back home, studying, having my evening glass of milk and back to playing again! Those were the best days, truly. However, there is another bit about those vacations, that I remember. And that is, maa handing out a chilled glass of nimbu paani or Indian lemonade, to me and my brother, after our time in the sun. Not only would it be immensely refreshing, but it was also an instant energy booster.

While the lemons in it would help with our immunity, the sugar would give us the instant energy. Additionally, maa adds some chaat masala too, in the lemonade she makes. And that makes a significant difference to the taste. Therefore, that is how even I make it too. To be honest, this is such a simple summer drink to make, that I was in two minds whether to write a blog post on it or not. But then, I thought, even though simple, this is so special that it does need a post for itself. After all, so many precious memories associated with maa’s nimbu paani (Indian lemonade). 🙂

You may also like these summer recipes, too

Kesar badam milk (badam doodh)

Sol kadhi (kokum curry)

Mango chilli lemonade

Mango and rose lassi

Iced dalgona coffee

Base recipe

Besides being a yummy drink in itself, this nimbu paani serves as a great base recipe. By that I mean, you can build other summer beverages, on this. For example, you can muddle some mint leaves and add white rum in it to make a mojito. Or you could make a large batch of this lemonade and add Pimm’s along with some fresh fruits, too. While there are numerous drinks that you could add it too, this Indian lemonade is a rockstar in itself! Everybody, kids and adults alike, throughly love a chilled glass a this on a hot summer day.

Here, I have stuck to my mother’s original recipe. So, I have used refined sugar as my sweetener. I know I am not a kid anymore and so I don’t need that kind of instant energy like earlier! But since I wanted to share the exact same recipe of my mum’s, I didn’t replace it. Nonetheless, you could very well, add your choice of sweetener to your drink. Honey, maple syrup, agave, all work very well in this lemonade.

So, this summer, make some nimbu paani, our way, and feel refreshed and rejuvenated. This is a great drink to have along side your barbecued meats and veggies. Moreover, it’s a great idea to always have a pitcher of it ready in your fridge. You will be surprised to see the number of servings you are going to go for this one!

Share it!

If you have liked my recipe and are going to give it try, I’d love to see your Indian lemonade pictures. You can share them with me over on Instagram. Also, it would mean so much to me if you could leave a rating and/or a comment, with your feedback, below.

Eat hearty!