Gingerind Cooler (Ginger~Tamarind Summer Drink)

Gingerind Cooler (Tamarind and Ginger drink)

It was a cool day in the month of June 1988, the skies were overcast and the rain gods were looming large over a group of four year old school girls. Our class teacher Mrs R. had brought our class of 50+ girls for a "picnic" under a huge tamarind tree that was housed at the main gate of our vast school compound. Some girls cracked open the brittle tamarind fruit shells and ate a pulpy secretion from inside, some happily caught toads ribbiting around the tree and stuffed them in their little pockets. The scene that followed later in the classroom was both hilarious and scary at the same time (imagine 5 toads and 50 four year olds in the same space!)

Years passed and the incident faded from our memories, we were tweens now and loved eating anything that was sour, sweet and spicy in that order. A local shed shop in our colony sold hard boiled candies and various hues and flavours and it was a ten year olds favourite haunt, I had newly discovered the magic of an Imli ki goli (tamarind candy) and bought myself a handful as I returned from school everyday, making sure to finish it all as I walked from the shop to our building lest my mum find out!.

Its common knowledge that I love playing around with ingredients, combining different flavours and textures almost feels like I'm fourteen again, like a giggly school girl with my friends in the chemistry lab mixing liquids, heating them and then jotting down notes to find out what happens next...

It was a sultry 42 degrees C afternoon that I thought of experimenting with some ingredients on hand, tamarind paste, ginger syrup, club soda and some desi masalas (spices) and viola this delicious, soul soothing cooler was born!

Read on for the recipe,

Serves 2

You will need:

1 tbsp tamarind paste
2 - 3 tbsps ginger syrup
500 ml club soda
1/4 tsp red chilli powder
1/4 tsp roasted cumin seed powder
1/4 tsp black salt
A pinch of regular salt

Method:

In a large jug or bowl combine all the above mentioned ingredients and stir, making sure that the tamarind paste has dissolved well.

Check for sweetness and salt and adjust accordingly.

Pour your concoction over a tall ice filled glass and devour!