Local Drinks

1. ਲੱਸੀ

   Lassee

   Lassi (yoghurt drink)

   Usage

   Curd churned with water; what remains after the butter has been taken out. The core drink of Punjab. Plain lassi is not sweet. Contains dairy.

2. ਮਿੱਠੀ ਲੱਸੀ

   Mitthee lassee

   Sweet lassi

   Usage

   Lassi sweetened with sugar or fruit. In Amritsar and elsewhere some shops top the glass with a thick layer of cream. Contains dairy.

3. ਨਮਕੀਨ ਲੱਸੀ

   Namkeen lassee

   Salted lassi

   Usage

   Lassi seasoned with salt and roasted cumin. This is the traditional version, drunk in hot weather. If you want the sweet one, ask for ਮਿੱਠੀ ਲੱਸੀ.

4. ਖੱਟੀ ਲੱਸੀ

   Khattee lassee

   Sour lassi

   Usage

   The tart everyday lassi of the villages. No sugar is added, so it will surprise you if you expected a sweet drink. Contains dairy.

5. ਮਸਾਲਾ ਚਾਹ

   Masaalaa chaah

   Masala chai (spiced milk tea)

   Usage

   Tea leaves boiled with milk, sugar and spices such as cardamom and ginger. Sugar and milk come as standard, so say so when ordering if you want it without.

6. ਗੰਨੇ ਦਾ ਰਸ

   Ganne daa ras

   Sugarcane juice

   Usage

   Sugarcane pressed to order in a roadside mill; a summer street drink. Ginger or lime is often added. Ask about the ice if you are careful about it.

7. ਸ਼ਿਕੰਜਵੀ

   Shikanjvee

   Shikanji (spiced lemonade)

   Usage

   Lemon juice with water and sugar; some places add black salt or cumin. The spelling ਸਿਕੰਜਵੀਂ is also used, so the written form varies.

8. ਕਾਂਜੀ

   Kaanjee

   Kanji (fermented carrot drink)

   Usage

   Black carrot or beetroot fermented with salt, mustard seed and red chilli. Strongly sour, not sweet. Contains no dairy.

9. ਸ਼ਰਬਤ

   Sharbat

   Sharbat (sweet syrup drink)

   Usage

   A general word for a sweet drink made by diluting a fruit or flower syrup with water. Often the first thing offered to a summer visitor. Which syrup is used varies from place to place.

10. ਕੌਫ਼ੀ

    Kaufee

    Coffee

    Usage

    A loanword. In Punjab ਚਾਹ is far more usual and small tea stalls often do not have coffee at all. If they do, it comes with milk and sugar by default.

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