What to drink in India

Chai – or tea – is an integral part of Indian society. One of the country’s iconic sights is a ‘chai wallah’ or tea seller walking through the streets. It's delicious, it’s inexpensive 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 story or two.  

This yoghurt-based drink is thought to be the world’s first smoothie and it’s popular all over India. There are a few different types, though the most popular include salty lassi, mango lassi and the famous bhang lassi, which is infused with cannabis and often served as part of the Holi festival celebrations.  

Chaach is often confused for lassi, but while lassi is made from yoghurt, chaach is made from buttermilk. There’s a difference! It’s more watery than lassi with a slightly sour and salty taste, and sweet or savoury spices are often added to provide Ayurvedic benefits. Chaach goes down very well on a hot day.  

This one’s the iconic Indian beer. It can be found all over and while it isn’t anything particularly different from your average beer, 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 packs a punch if you’re not ready for it.  

This one’s self-explanatory, but it gets hot in India, so this is your friendly reminder to stay hydrated. Avoid drinking any tap water or getting ice in drinks because it’ll upset your belly, so only drink filtered water – ask your local leader where to drink safe water and keep drinking it!