It is hot in Delhi. Temperatures are hovering around 40 degrees Celsius and they will continue to climb. May and June are supposed to be the hottest months in the year so we have only just begun to feel the heat..
It has been eleven years since I last experienced summer in Delhi and at that time I was eight months pregnant.. Not always easy as you can imagine but here is what I love about it: life slows down. People go along with the weather, unlike in other parts of the world where closed, air conditioned spaces keep us in artificial climates.
As the sun scorches the earth people find shaded spots to survive the hottest part of the day. An afternoon nap is a must for most. Sipping a cooling beverage under a slow whizzing fan has its own charm. Occasionally there are these gusts of wind that stir up so much dust that the sun is clouded out. Early mornings, when the sun has started rising, birds sing their most beautiful songs. In the evening the neighborhoods come alive when people venture out for their walks and to water their gardens and the smell of freshly watered plants is pure summer. And the fruit.. Mangos: who knew there were so many different kinds? Lychees, melons, grapes, cherries. The fruit vendors’ stalls are a colorful sight for sore eyes.
I thought I pretty much knew all the different fruits that exist in this part of the world but the other day I stumbled onto a strange looking hard-shelled round fruit that I had never seen before. It turned out to be a wood apple, or bael as they call it in India. I obviously brought one home and with the help of a hammer and the Internet I figured out what is was and turned it into a delicious juice.
Hydrating is pretty much what is going to keep you up and running in this kind of weather. Besides plain water and coconut water I fill up on a number of different healthy and refreshing beverages. If you are experiencing sizzling summer weather right now, be sure to try some. Or keep the list handy for when summer really sets in in your part of the world. And remember to slow down a bit, stay cool and stay hydrated!
- Iced chai
- Ginger mint fizz
- Mango Cucumber Lassi
- Cucumber Cooler
- Iced Mango Mint Tea
- Cherry Chocolate Almond Smoothie
I would love to hear about your favorite healthy summer drink. You can post your comments below.
