Indian Lemonade/ Mojito/ Masala Lemonade/Lemon And Mint Mocktail
Indian Mojito is the most appropriate nomenclature that struck me as I think of Lemonade.
A fizzy drink with loads of lemon flavour and some black salt and some hint of mint is what I have seen as the most popular in the go summer drink, we had as kids…..Mc D’s or KFC came late in life and when we would go out for shopping in sun with mom, apart from the large bottle of water we would carry, the next best thing that we would look out for, to quench the thirst, was BANTA LEMONADE.
Banta Lemon
The vendor would squeeze a generous amount of Nimboos….Lemons.., rusticly add some salt splashing around, and tuck…a sound would come and he bangs open that Banta bottle, as we called him, as it had that little marble to seal the neck, which is an art to push and open the bottle, no less than opening a champagne bottle…, and we would just love the site of it, as if a bartender is mixing up an exciting drink for us….This was the Banta lemonade saga of our childhood days..and it was indeed one of the most exotic things we knew…
Now when I dine out with my girlfriends..and the person at the restaurant asks, “what would you like to have for the drinks, ma’am?” My safe going friends very carefully scans the whole mock tail section, and very safely, ” One mojito Please…” And I wonder what is so exciting about a Mojito…Maybe it sounds very familiar and has a very Indian touch of the lemonade we have enjoyed all these years, which makes it a drink of choice for those who wanna keep it simple.
The similarities between the two and the simplicity of the two made me chose on writing about them, and believe they do are hot favorites, with all age groups and super simple to make. In fact on a lazy summer evening, when I am tired enough to make myself a quick cool drink, Si, my daughter also happily dons a mixologist hat and with all style and her little mortar and pestle muddles the mint leaves and lemon and make s me quick lemonade in no time..
I believe the simple Neembu Paani ( Limewater) gets a modern twist with mint thrown in, and the humble Banta gets an”at home feeling….” Whatever said, I am sure everyone has their version of Mojito kind of drink, with lemons and mint, and all of us have had Nimbu Paani , The Lemonade in our life.
My Love to a simple drink through my post, No fuss, no time, Just like that Indian Mojito….Apna ( our own) Lemonade..
At times we do play around with our dear lemonade and add a twist to it by muddling some fruit like orange and shaking it up, gives an altogether new drink, or adding chilies gives me a base for a classy cocktail for an evening with friends…Lemonade is like the most accommodating friend, happy to mingle with all…
| Prep Time | 10 Minutes |
| Servings |
Glasses
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- 500 ml Soda water or PlainWater
- 100 ml Lemon Juice
- 1/2 Cup Fine Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Mint leaves
- 2 Tsp salt
- 1 Tsp Chaat Masala Optional
- Plenty of Ice
- Few Lemon wedges
Ingredients
|
|
- Take 3 glases in which the drink has to be served, and fill with ice.
- Divide 1/3 rd of the lemon juice in each glass.
- Add sugar/ sugar syrup( Read Recipe Notes), Salt, Chaat masala, and muddled mint leaves
- Top it with soda water/ plain chilled water.
- Stir and garnish with lemon wedges and serve.
I usually keep some sugar syrup handy.
To make some take 1 cup of sugar, 1/4 cups water and boil just enough to dissolve the sugar. Cool and Store in an airtight bottle and refrigerate. Use 1 Tbsp of syrup if 1 tbsp of sugar is required.
Add Homemade fresh chaat masala from MilesnMeals
Adjust the chaat masala to suit the spice level.
Any citrus fruit like oranges/ Lime can be added along wi
th lemon. Quantities have to be checked for required sourness.
Top up with soda water only while serving.
If using plain water, it can be made ahead and stored.
For another Homemade Refreshing summer drink read this recipe of Masala Chaach
