Tag Archives: summer drink

Tanqueray Gin & Tonic (with Rosemary)

Beverages/Drinks January 13, 2019 Leave a comment

I have never been a huge fan of Gin & Tonics. But in the last year, I had the opportunity to experience some well crafted gins that opened up the world of delicious G&Ts too.

And one such gin was the Tanqueray Rangpur. Crafted using the rare Rangpur limes, this gin has a distinct flavour with the zesty freshness of the limes and the sweetness from the mandarins. Makes it an excellent choice for a G&T.

Tanqueray Gin & Tonic (with Rosemary) - thespiceadventuress.com

Most of the time, I enjoy the Tanqueray Rangpur simply poured over ice, but it works brilliantly as a G&T and in cocktails too.

Recently at a Food and Wine event, I had a G&T infused with rosemary. It was delicious; I loved the combination of the herby flavour of the rosemary with the citrusy zing of the lemon. Plus the addition of rosemary only intensifies the herbaceous undertones of the gin. The Tanqueray Rangpur also has that distinct lime flavour, so I decided to try a G&T infused with rosemary this time.

A premium tonic water is best suited to a G&T like this as it has a subtle flavour that lets the gin shine unlike the standard ones that are unnecessarily sweet. Since this gin has a distinct lime flavour, no extra lime is necessary except as a garnish.

Tanqueray Gin & Tonic (with Rosemary) - thespiceadventuress.com

Tanqueray Gin & Tonic (with Rosemary) - thespiceadventuress.com

Especially refreshing on a warm summer day…….

Ingredients:

(Serves 1)

  1. 40ml Tanqueray Rangpur Gin
  2. 2 sprigs rosemary
  3. Lemon slices
  4. Premium tonic water
  5. Ice cubes

Method:

(Best served in a Collins glass or Stemless wine glass)

  1. Pour the gin and one sprig rosemary to the glass. Crush lightly using a muddler to infuse the flavour of the rosemary. Remove the rosemary sprig after muddling.
  2. Add a few ice cubes and fill the glass with the tonic water.
  3. Garnish and serve with a sprig of rosemary and lemon slice.

Tanqueray Gin & Tonic (with Rosemary) - thespiceadventuress.com

 

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Tomorange

Beverages/Drinks, Vegetarian April 6, 2014 Comments: 11

Autumn has set in and winter will soon be here. But since the rest of the world is welcoming spring and summer, I decided to post this healthy thirst quencher today.

Tomorange = Tomato + Orange. Simple!

Not a combination that you thought of? Surprisingly, these two go very well together and it is a beautiful experience to taste both these fruits (yes, tomato is a fruit) at the same time.

We are generally fruit lovers at home. And I always advocate eating whole fruits whenever possible as these provide you with wholesome nutrition. But juicing is a great way to include fruits or veggies in your diet that you do not otherwise enjoy. My hubby is not very fond of tomatoes (how can someone dislike tomatoes?). Well, he does and I found this a perfect solution to feed him some.

When you first take a sip of this juice, you experience the fresh citrusy taste from the oranges which slowly paves way for the sweet savoury tanginess of the tomatoes. Loaded with nutrients, this drink is not just refreshing but extremely hydrating and a great immunity shot. And what a pretty colour combination!

Recipe Courtesy – Natalie Savona

Tomorange - thespiceadventuress.com

Ingredients:

1. Ripe red tomatoes – 4
2. Oranges – 2

Note – No added sugar is necessary for this drink.

Method:

• Blend the tomatoes till smooth. Strain into a bowl.
• Squeeze orange juice in another bowl.
• Add orange juice to the tomato juice little at a time. Keep tasting so that you get the balance right.
• Garnish with grated orange zest and serve chilled.

Punjab de Beer!

Beverages/Drinks February 22, 2014 Comments: 4

Before you start getting ideas, this is the modern Anglicized name for the humble chaas…..

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Chaas is a traditional refreshing buttermilk drink served at all restos or dhabas serving North Indian cuisine but is more popular in Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

I had my first glass of chaas at the ‘much famed’ Gyan Vaishnav Dhaba in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. It was served in tall dark beer bottles and hence the name. This rustic, refreshing, chilled drink that the serving boy recommended (I asked for Pepsi!) went amazingly well with hot buttered tandoori rotis, paneer butter masala and roasted pappads. It was love at first taste…..so much so that I had this same meal combo every Thursday for 2 years of my college life (why Thursdays? Because we had the worst dinner in our mess on that day – oily soggy baturas and bland chole).

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Though it is lassi (sweet buttermilk preparation) that gained global recognition, for me it will always be chaas. Though I love the South Indian equivalent of this drink (that’s a whole different post), my first preference will always be chaas.

Basically, chaas is a refreshing buttermilk drink which is subtly spiced with chat masala, cumin, black salt and asafetida. The chat masala and black salt is what gives this drink its unique flavour. It is extremely simple to prepare and is one of the healthiest and cooling drinks to combat the summer heat.

Recipe Courtesy – Tarla Dalal

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Ingredients:

1. Fresh plain curd/yoghurt – 2 cups
2. Cumin seeds/jeera powder – ½ tsp
3. Ginger paste – 1/4th tsp
4. Green chilli paste – 1/4th tsp
5. Black salt – ½ tsp
6. Salt – to season
7. Vegetable oil – 1 tsp
8. Cumin seeds/jeera – ¼ tsp
9. Asafetida/hing – a pinch
10. Water – 2-3 cups (depends on thickness of curd)
11. Coriander leaves – for garnish

Method:

• Blend curd, cumin seed powder, ginger paste, green chilli paste and black salt along with water.
• Temper cumin seeds in hot oil. Remove from flame and add a pinch of asafoetida.
• Add this to the buttermilk, mix well and season with salt.
• Serve chilled with finely chopped coriander leaves as garnish.

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Watermelon Mint Mania

Beverages/Drinks December 16, 2013 Leave a comment

Just the other day, I realized there is no category for drinks/beverages on my blog. I am a big fan of fruit juices and other drinks but I and my family are bigger fans of eating fruits as a whole. But I do prepare fruit juices, smoothies and other drinks at home though never thought of documenting any of these really. You derive the maximum nutritional benefit from any fruit when you eat it whole but if there are fruits that you do not like to eat, then juicing it is the best way to go.

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It is summer out here and what better to chill out with than a glass of cold watermelon juice.

Watermelon and mint is a classic combination; the mint adds a touch of herby freshness to the cool sweetness of the watermelon. No extra sugar was added making this drink super healthy – high in nutrients but low in calories.

A perfect summer drink!

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Ingredients:

1. 2 cups watermelon; cubed
2. 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
3. Ice cubes

Method:

• Use a blender or juicer to prepare this refreshing drink.
• Blend together all the ingredients and serve chilled.

Note – To retain the fiber content, I did not strain the juice after blending. But you can if you want a clear drink.

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Do you live in a hot and humid country? What are your special summer drinks?

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