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What to eat & drink in Northern India? Top 10 Northern Indian Beverages

Last update: Wed Feb 19 2025
Top 10 Northern Indian Beverages
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Northern Indian Beverage Types

01
Mango lassi
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Mango lassi is one of the most popular lassi varieties, consisting of yogurt (dahi) and fresh mango. It commonly includes cardamom, water, and sugar. The ingredients are combined until the drink is creamy and frothy. Mango lassi should always be served well-chilled.


Among numerous types of lassis, this sweet mango version is the most common variety on the menus of Indian restaurants outside the country.

THE BEST Mango lassi Dairy Beverages
1
Lancashire Farm
Mango Lassi

5.0

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International Cheese Awards - Gold 2024

02
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As the name suggests, this lassi variety is sweetened. Along with sugar, it incorporates yogurt (curd) and usually some fruit or flavorings such as saffron or cardamom. Sweet lassi is often enjoyed after a meal or simply as a refreshing drink that is especially popular during warm summer days.


Lassi is traditionally prepared in clay pots. It is often topped with a dollop of thick cream (malai), and sweet varieties are commonly garnished with slivered nuts. There are many sweet lassi variations, and apart from traditional versions, mango lassi recently grew into one of the favorites.

VARIATIONS OF Meethi lassi
03

Dairy Beverage

PUNJAB, India
4.3
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This traditional Indian yogurt-based drink hails from the pre-refrigeration era when Punjabi farmers mixed their milk with sugar and curd, and kept the concoction in clay pots. Lassi is often flavored with a variety of fresh herbs, different spices, fruits, and floral essences.


It is typically mixed with ice and served as an accompaniment to hot and spicy dishes, as it provides refreshment for the palate and soothes the body, especially on hot summer days. Sweet lassi is called metha lassi and it often contains ginger, mint, rosewater, cardamom, and exotic fruits like mango. 
04

Lemonade

NORTHERN INDIA, India
4.3
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Nimbu pani or shikanjvi is a type of spiced lemonade that hails from North India. It is usually prepared with freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice, kala namak (black salt), still or soda water, and cumin, but the ingredients can significantly vary depending on the region.


Most varieties are sweetened, and the list of optional ingredients is vast and includes a wide array of additions and spices such as pepper, turmeric, jaggery, ginger, and many more. Nimbu pani is a refreshing, thirst-quenching drink that is typically enjoyed in summer. 
05

Dairy Beverage

RAJASTHAN, India and  one more region
3.3
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Thandai is a North Indian milk-based beverage that incorporates nuts, seeds, and various spices. The preparation starts with a thick paste that is usually made with a different combination of nuts and spices such as cashews, almonds, cardamom, peppercorns, poppy seeds, and fennel seeds.


The milk is combined with sugar and saffron, sometimes with the addition of rose water, before it is mixed with the nut and spice paste. The combination is then left to set before it is strained. Thandai should always be served well-chilled and typically comes garnished with slivered nuts and saffron threads. 
06

Dairy Beverage

RAJASTHAN, India and  one more region
2.9
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WARNING: It should be noted that bhang lassi is a potent beverage and that there are several claims that its consumption can lead to psychosis and hallucinations, or cause psychosis-like symptoms. It is highly recommended to purchase it only from licensed shops. Bhang lassi is a variety that is laced with cannabis.


It is a traditional drink prepared by crushing cannabis plant into a paste (bhang) that is then combined with dahi and usually spices and nuts. Bhang lassi comes in many variations, and it became especially popular during the 1970s. It is traditionally associated with Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. 
07

Tea

JAMMU AND KASHMIR, India
n/a
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Noon chai is a tea-based beverage that has its origins in Kashmir. It is made with green tea that is brewed and then mixed with a pinch of salt, baking soda, and optionally milk. Although it is not traditional, sugar can be used as a sweetener.


This tea is distinguished for its pink hue—which is achieved with the addition of baking soda, and apart from the basic ingredients, it can also incorporate crushed nuts, herbs, or dried fruit. Noon chai is popular in many other regions that have a large Kashmir population. 
08
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Mint lassi is a refreshing lassi variety flavored with fresh mint. It is usually prepared as a savory (salted) lassi, and in its basic form, it combines yogurt, salt, and a handful of fresh mint leaves. Optionally, it can include other herbs like cilantro or spices such as cumin or black pepper.


Mint lassi is a refreshing and thirst-quenching drink, always served well-chilled and often paired with spicy dishes. It can be served with ice and garnished with chopped mint leaves. Occasionally, it is made with sugar, falling into the category of sweet lassi.

09

Tea

KANGRA DISTRICT, India
n/a
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Cultivated and grown at the foot of the Himalayas for hundreds of years, in small family-owned tea gardens at the border between India, Kashmir and China where it seems time has stopped, the famous Kangra tea is either green or black tea produced in relatively small amounts and used mainly in blends, very often for the so-called Kashmiri chai.


While Kangra green tea is light and fresh, with a touch of earthiness and nuts, Kangra black tea from the early spring harvest produces a bright, tangy cup and is somewhat reminiscent of first flush Darjeeling. Kangra teas taste fragrant and fresh with hints of earthiness, a little bitterness and an intense, long-lasting finish.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Northern Indian Beverage Producers

01
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AWARDS

World Gin Awards - Country Winner

2022, 2021

BEST Nao Spirits and Beverages Spirits
02

Spirit

NEW DELHI, India
5.0
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AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold

2024

BEST Greater Than Spirits
03

Spirit

NEW DELHI, India
5.0
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USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100

2020

BEST Jaisalmer Spirits
04

Spirit

GURUGRAM, India
4.8
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Indri is an Indian single malt whisky produced by Piccadily Distilleries, known for its premium quality and crafted in Indri, Haryana. The distillery uses local six-row barley sourced from Rajasthan and traditional copper pot stills for distillation.


Their flagship product, Indri-Trini, is matured in three types of casks: ex-bourbon, ex-French wine, and ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, creating a rich and complex flavor profile.
AWARDS

The World Whiskey Masters - Gold

2023, 2022

NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Gold

2024, 2023

05
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2021

BEST Nao Spirits & Beverages Spirits
06
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2019

BEST Omsons Marketing Pvt. Ltd. Spirits
07

Spirit

GURUGRAM, India
4.8
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Camikara is a premium Indian rum produced by Piccadily Distilleries, crafted from pure sugarcane juice and aged in American oak barrels. The name "Camikara," meaning "liquid gold" in Sanskrit, reflects its rich heritage and quality. The flagship 12-year-old expression offers a complex flavor profile with notes of honey, ginger, toffee, raisins, prunes, and leather on the nose, followed by honey, vanilla, bitter chocolate, ripe bananas, orange peel, dark chocolate, and charred wood on the palate.


The finish leaves a lasting impression of fruitcake, inviting another sip
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2023

BEST Camikara Spirits
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Best Northern Indian Beverages

01
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AWARDS

World Gin Awards - Country Winner

2022, 2021

02
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AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold

2024

03
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AWARDS

USC- Ultimate Spirits Challenge - Top 100

2020

04
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AWARDS

World Gin Awards - Country Winner

2022

05

Spirit

GURUGRAM, India
4.8
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Indri-Dru is a cask strength single malt whisky produced by Piccadily Distilleries in Indri, Haryana, India. The name "Dru," meaning "wood" in Sanskrit, pays homage to ancient Indian mythology, where "Dru" was a vessel used to collect and offer the divine drink "soma" to the gods.


This expression is crafted by carefully selecting and marrying handpicked ex-bourbon barrels, resulting in a robust and captivating profile. Bottled at 57.2% ABV, Indri-Dru offers a nose of mixed fruits, vanilla, subtle citrus, gentle spice, chocolate, and honey. 
AWARDS

The World Whiskey Masters - Gold

2023

NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Gold

2023

06
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2021

07
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AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2019

08
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Camikara 12-Year-Old Rum is a premium Indian rum produced by Piccadily Distilleries. Crafted from pure sugarcane juice, it matures for 12 years in American oak barrels, resulting in a rich and complex flavor profile. The rum is bottled at 50% ABV without added color or sugar, making it an excellent choice for sipping neat.


On the nose, it offers aromas of honey, ginger, toffee, raisins, prunes, and leather, with deeper notes of wood. The palate reveals flavors of honey, vanilla, bitter chocolate, ripe bananas, orange peel, dark chocolate, and charred wood. The finish leaves a lasting impression of fruitcake, inviting another sip.
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold

2023

09
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Indri-Trini is an Indian single malt whisky produced by Piccadily Distilleries, located in Indri, Haryana. This whisky is matured in three types of casks: ex-bourbon, ex-French wine, and ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, resulting in a rich and complex flavor profile.


On the palate, it reveals notes of caramel, honey, overripe stone fruit, and almond butter, with a subtle hint of rum. This unique combination offers a distinct tasting experience that has captured the attention of whisky enthusiasts worldwide.
AWARDS

The World Whiskey Masters - Gold

2022

10
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AWARDS

NYWSC - New York World Spirits Competition - Gold

2024

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Northern Indian Beverages