India’s cuisine may be loved and emulated all over the world, but where there’s smoke there’s fire, and where there’s curry there’s a soothing beverage somewhere close by. Whether you’re sipping sweet, milky chai on the Vivek Express or drinking a cold beer overlooking the Ganges, sitting down to drink one of these popular Indian beverages is a great way to drink in the atmosphere.
1. Masala chai
Chai, or tea, has been an integral part of Indian society since the British helped popularise it. One of the country’s iconic sights is a ‘chai wallah’, or ‘tea seller’, walking through the streets or a train carriage selling some of the tastiest, sweetest tea you’ll ever find. It’s delicious, it's cheap and it’s woven tightly into the country’s fabric. When you buy a cuppa from a chai wallah, we have no doubts they'll be able to tell you a fascinating story or two about India.
2. Lassi
This yoghurt-based drink is thought to be the world’s first smoothie, and it's super popular all over India. There are a few different types of lassi on offer, though the most popular include salty lassi, mango lassi and the infamous bhang lassi, which is infused with cannabis and often served as part of the Holi festival celebrations.
3. Chaach
Chaach is often confused for lassi. While lassi is made from yoghurt, chaach is made from buttermilk – the liquid leftover when butter is churned out of cream. It’s more watery than lassi, with a slightly sour and salty taste, and sweet or savoury spices are often added into the mix to provide Ayurvedic benefits. Chaach goes down very well on a hot day.
4. Kingfisher
Kingfisher is the iconic Indian beer. It can be found all over India, and while it isn’t anything particularly special from a taste perspective, it’ll hold a special place in your heart once your time in India has come to an end. Just watch out for the ‘Kingfisher Strong’ brand – at eight per cent, it’s been known to play havoc with the uninitiated traveller’s stomach.
Our tours in India
15 Days
From
1998
Travel to India and visit the Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar through...
8 Days
From
1186
Take an action-packed eight-day tour through the essential sights and bites of India’s...
11 Days
From
842
Get the most out of 11 days in India on this trip exploring the best of Delhi, Varanasi...
15 Days
From
3124
See the best of Rajasthan on this 15-day tour. Behold the delights of Agra, Jaipur,...
22 Days
From
1272
See the essentials of India’s north on a 22-day trip through Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur,...
Tailor-Made trips
Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary
14 Days
From
4658
Take in north India’s fabled cities and encounter the exotic wildlife of Ranthambhore...
10 Days
From
3784
Take a 10-day India Premium adventure with Intrepid through the country’s north,...
15 Days
From
2232
Explore the tropical and spiritual southern India. Ride the toy train in Ooty, relax in...
15 Days
From
2385
Travel to India and Nepal on a tour from Delhi to Kathmandu. Visit the Taj Mahal of...
10 Days
From
1377
Take an action-packed family tour of India, following tiger trails, visiting Delhi and...
13 Days
From
2049
Travel to India and visit Delhi, Shimla, Mandi, Dharamsala, Rishikesh and Amritsar on...
13 Days
From
4569
Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore the beaches, bazaars and backwaters of...
15 Days
From
1248
Discover India in all its glory on this 15-day spice-filled adventure from Delhi...
16 Days
From
1420
See the landscapes of South India on a 16-day adventure from Varkala to Goa via Kerala...
22 Days
From
9486
Join Intrepid on a Premium adventure to explore opulent places, holy Ganges, dense...
12 Days
From
1688
Join an all-women group and female leader on an inspiring women’s expedition through...
15 Days
From
3012
Relish the sights and flavours of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai and Goa on this...
13 Days
From
2688
Explore the backroads of India’s south on this 13-day tour. Travel from Chennai to...
13 Days
From
1067
Explore India and Nepal on an adventure that hits Delhi, Jaipur, Tordi, Lumbini, Agra,...
37 Days
From
2840
Discover the colours and cultures of India on this trip visiting Delhi, Rajasthan's...
10 Days
From
2423
Adventure through North India, hitting all the highlights like Delhi, Varanasi, the...
19 Days
From
3468
Spend 19 days touring India and Nepal, departing from Delhi and visiting Jaipur, Agra,...
29 Days
From
4471
This 29-day tour traverses India from south to north, winding from Kochi to Delhi and...
14 Days
From
1660
Tour Northern India on this comfortable family holiday from Delhi to Agra, Ranthambhore...
16 Days
From
864
Get an authentic slice of the real Rajasthan on a trip that takes you to Delhi,...
15 Days
From
2440
Travel to India and cycle the romantic Rajasthan region. Tour from Delhi to Pushkar and...
19 Days
From
3145
Visit India and tour the famous Golden Triangle of Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur, delve into...
20 Days
From
1607
Take a journey through India and Nepal, exploring Kathmandu, Tordi, Jaipur, Agra,...
3 Days
From
515
Visit India and travel from Delhi to Agra. Travel to the Taj Mahal and Agra’s Red Fort,...
11 Days
From
873
Jaunt around north India, with rickshaws in Delhi, spirituality in Varanasi, yoga in...
15 Days
From
2081
Get on the road from Kathmandu to Delhi on a trip from Nepal to India, through Pokhara,...
11 Days
From
1392
Discover northern India on this tour through Delhi, Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Nimaj,...
22 Days
From
5547
Get a cultural insight into India’s north and south, travelling through Delhi, Agra,...
20 Days
From
3035
Spend time in Kathmandu and Pokhara and then see where Buddha did his thing. Get active...
16 Days
From
4388
Discover the beauty of India’s most remote area on an expedition that visits Sikkim,...
4 Days
From
458
Lift your spirits as you float on the Ganges at dawn in Varanasi, and explore the city...
18 Days
From
8105
Explore Northern India and Sri Lanka on this 18-day Premium adventure