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Lassi | Local Dairy Beverage From Punjab, India | TasteAtlas
Lassi | Local Dairy Beverage From Punjab, India | TasteAtlas
Lassi | Local Dairy Beverage From Punjab, India | TasteAtlas
Lassi | Local Dairy Beverage From Punjab, India | TasteAtlas

Lassi

(लस्सी)

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.


Namkeen lassi is the salty version of lassi, typically flavored with ground black pepper, garlic, and roasted cumin seeds. Another popular variety is the so-called bhang lassi which is made with crushed dried leaves or flowers of Indian wild hemp, and it is mostly consumed during exuberant Indian festivals like Maha Shivaratri.