Local Drinks

1. चाय

   Chaay

   Chai (Indian milk tea)

   Usage

   Tea boiled together with milk and sugar. At roadside tea stalls it comes in a small clay cup or a small glass.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled and used as in Hindi.

2. दूध

   Dudh

   Milk

   Usage

   Sold by milk sellers and sweet shops morning and evening. It is usually drunk warm.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled and used as in Hindi.

3. लस्सी

   Las-si

   Lassi (yoghurt drink)

   Usage

   A cool drink of yoghurt thinned with water and sugar. Many shops serve it in clay cups on hot days.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled and used as in Hindi.

4. छाछ

   Chhaachh

   Chaas (buttermilk)

   Usage

   A thin drink made from yoghurt, taken with salt or cumin after a meal. Also called "माठा".

   Grammar Note

   Also called "मठा" or "माठा".

5. सतुआ के शरबत

   Sa-tu-aa ke shar-bat

   Sattu sharbat

   Usage

   A summer drink of roasted gram or barley flour stirred into water with salt or lemon, well loved in Bihar.

   Grammar Note

   "शरबत" is a cool drink. The flour is called "सतुआ". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

6. बेल के शरबत

   Bel ke shar-bat

   Bael fruit sharbat

   Usage

   A summer drink made from the pulp of the bael fruit, said to cool the body.

   Grammar Note

   "बेल" is the name of the fruit. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

7. गन्ना के रस

   Gan-naa ke ras

   Sugarcane juice

   Usage

   Cane pressed on the spot and served with ice, ginger or lemon.

   Grammar Note

   "रस" means pressed juice. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

8. नारियल पानी

   Naa-ri-yal paa-ni

   Coconut water

   Usage

   The water of a young coconut, drunk straight from the cracked nut and sold by the roadside in hot weather.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled and used as in Hindi.

9. नींबू पानी

   Nin-bu paa-ni

   Lemon water

   Usage

   A cold drink of lemon juice with water and salt or sugar, good for rehydrating on a hot day.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled and used as in Hindi.

10. ठंडई

    Than-da-i

    Thandai

    Usage

    A cold milk drink with almonds and spices, popular in Varanasi around Holi.

    Grammar Note

    Around the festival a version with cannabis (भाँग) may be sold, so check before you buy.

11. एह में भाँग बा का?

    Eh men bhaang baa kaa?

    Does this contain bhang?

    Usage

    Used before buying a festival drink to check that it contains no cannabis.

    Grammar Note

    "एह में" means "in this". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

12. एक कप चाय दीं, चीनी कम।

    Ek kap chaay din, chi-ni kam.

    One cup of tea, please, with less sugar.

    Usage

    Used at a tea stall to avoid very sweet tea.

    Grammar Note

    "दीं" is the honorific imperative, "please give". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

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