Some journeys you just can’t forget. I was going home on a short holiday, eager and cheerful, when I boarded the flight. It’s a short 2-½ hour journey from Bangalore to Kolkata. The time usually zooms by even before you realize. However, that journey felt like never ending! Almost immediately after taking off, it started. Turbulence! Bad ones, most of us were freaking out and some even screamed. I am always terrified of it. I was scared, sick to the stomach and desperately waiting to get out of that flight. A very fine crewmember came towards me, sat down, held my hand and offered me a glass of water. She probably figured it out looking at my face. She assured me everything is fine and turbulence is absolutely normal. Of course, I know that! I was a little embarrassed too. After a while, she came with this drink; tangy, a little sweet with a hint of spice and gorgeous green in color. It tasted so good and just what I needed to refresh my mood. That’s how I had my first taste of Aam Panna!
Indian summers can get very brutal. One needs numerous glasses of not just ice water but also quintessential coolers to help them carry on in midst of the heat. Aam Panna is one such fresh fruit drink, prepared with raw mangoes, mint, lime and spices. It not only quenches thirst but is also believed to help curing gastronomical disorders and increase resistance.
There are several versions of this drink. One could either roast or grill the mangoes for an intense smoky flavor. Or just boil it. The color however doesn’t stay that striking green like the one I had the first time. Well, that came out of a bottle, so I am guessing food color. When you prepare it at home, it’s more pale yellow in color. As for the flavors, some like to add tamarind, some like to add heat from green chili and some might prefer it mild with just a hint of lime juice and mint leaves.
One key ingredient that goes in most of these summer coolers is black salt. Don’t go by the name because it’s more dark purple in color and when grounded, it turns into this lovely pink color. It’s a type of rock salt that’s being infused with herbs and spices, which makes it quite medicinal. It might not be easily available everywhere, in which case, plain salt or Himalayan salt would work too. Whatever spices or herb you choose, just keep it low profile or else you will not be able to enjoy the flavor of fresh raw mangoes.
The concentrated aam panna will stay fresh in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. You can also mix it with water and store in a big jar. That will also stay fresh in the refrigerator for a couple weeks. Make sure you don’t leave the lime wedges in the jar or else, it will turn bitter.Raw Mango Cooler (Aam Panna)
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
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IshitaUnblogged
April 27, 2015 at 12:08 AMAam Paana is my favourite cooler – specially the *pora* aam pana. These pictures look so so refreshing. I also do a frozen one… almost like a sorbet. http://ishitaunblogged.com/2012/11/12/frozen-aam-panagreen-mango-pulp-the-change-initiative-inspiration/
Kankana Saxena
May 6, 2015 at 3:26 AMI need to make the ‘pora’ version before raw mangoes vanishes from the market. It’s my fav too 🙂
Rosa
April 27, 2015 at 12:58 AMRefreshing and heavenly! I love mangoes and limes.
Cheers,
Rosa
Our Food Stories
April 27, 2015 at 1:48 PMso happy that we discoverd you blog!! gorgeous photography and the drink looks amazing!! <3
best wishes,
laura & nora
Kankana Saxena
May 6, 2015 at 3:24 AMThanks Laura and Nora! Your work are extremely inspirational. I love going to through your blog and Instagram feed. A huge fan 🙂
Nusrat Azim
April 29, 2015 at 5:39 AMA soul-soothing recipe indeed which looks really really easy to execute. Thanks a bunch for the post.
Your soft, dreamy, delicious Aam-panna pictures are so frameworthy! They will make anybody’s dining space a ‘heaven-on-earth’ <3
Kankana Saxena
May 6, 2015 at 3:23 AMYou are always so kind Nusrat 🙂 Thanks! xx
Sylvie | Gourmande i
April 29, 2015 at 2:06 PMI’m curious to see if I can find black salt!
Kankana Saxena
May 6, 2015 at 3:23 AMMay be online you would. It smells terrible but extremely good for tummy.
Abbe @ This is How I
April 29, 2015 at 7:55 PMThis sounds very comforting and I love mangoes. Would one use a ripe mango or a green one?
Kankana Saxena
May 6, 2015 at 3:22 AMThis particular cooler is made only with green raw mangoes 🙂
angiesrecipes
May 4, 2015 at 11:02 AMBeautiful photography! I have never made cooler using raw mango. These look very tasty.
Prash @ YummilyYours
May 9, 2015 at 11:18 AMThe panna looks spot on Kankana! The consistency, colour and everything. Loved it! 🙂
torviewtoronto
May 13, 2015 at 7:16 PMa favourite looks wonderful
Carina
May 31, 2015 at 12:34 AMAs always your blog is a barrel of wonderful information – your recipes most delicious sounding but, to me, your photographs are absolutely brilliant! And as Nusrat (above) said, they are certainly frame-worthy and would cheer up anybody’s kitchen. Thank you for showing all this to us. Carina