We all know Indian cooking is synonymous with spices. They not only add a unique flavour to a dish but also have health-boosting benefits. Turmeric is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, star anise alleviates cramps and cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants. But have you ever imagined your cocktail with a delicate flavour of cinnamon or a strong pungency of chilli or your regular cuppa with a dash of turmeric giving it a healthy twist? Forget heavy, sugary cocktails and mundane lattes, mixologists are spinning offbeat drinks using a hint of our regular kitchen spices for health enthusiasts.
Flavours
With Diwali here, restaurants and pubs are curating a festive bar menu to lure customers. While the true essence of the festival is all about lighting the home with aakash kandils, decorating with colourful rangolis and indulging in delicious traditional fare, eating and drinking together at plush restaurants serving sumptuous spreads and quirky blends of alcohol with rich, warm flavours is a contemporary thing.
Our humble kitchen spices are game changers. These spices are no more confined to Indian curries, vegetables and homemade remedies. Turmeric, star anise, clove, chilli, ginger, cinnamon are making their way into handcrafted drinks to make the customers go ‘Aaah!’ Apart from the humble kitchen spices, more robust elements like chamomile and paan are also making a star entry into cocktails of all kinds due to their proven benefits.
Concoctions
“We think making drinks is a form of art, and we try to be the best artists. We boost a wide range of drinks in our menu as it adds to the flavoursome cuisine of India,” says Rajendra Sonawane of Courtyard by Marriott Pune Chakan.
While Edge-Infusion Bar & Kitchen, Bengaluru, is introducing Mango Chilli Margarita — a cocktail with a pleasant colour of mango purée mixed with tequila, a dash of piquant bird’s eye chilli served in a glass rimmed with lime and salt, closer to home Starci is going to be a showstopper. “Whisky infused with cinnamon and star anise shaken with apple juice and a dash of kahlua helps in digestion and reducing stress levels,” believes Pratik Kolhe, assistant food and beverage manager, Fairfield by Marriott Pune Kharadi.
Talking of soothing cocktails, Grandmama’s Café Pune is all out to calm your senses with Chamomile Martini — relaxing chamomile tea infused with vodka. The newly opened Chianti in Viman Nagar Pune is, on the other hand, whipping up coffee with innovative, in-house latte. Because of an emerging trend of leading a healthy life, turmeric-infused caramel latte will make waves during festivities. Caramel and Turmeric Chiantichino is an interesting mixture of caramel syrup and sauce, milk, vanilla powder, ice with a pinch of sunshine-turmeric powder topped with dollops of whipped cream.
Not only are the cocktails hogging all the attention this Diwali, but also their names are ready to knock you out with equal fervour. Take for instance funky Muchadwala cocktail offered by Madeira and Mime, Powai. The drink is a fascinating blend of complex flavours of vodka, paan, clove and apple juice.
Food and Fun
In addition to interesting cocktails, many restaurants are coming up with unique pairings of spice-infused blends with scrumptious food. For instance, Spicy Lamb Curry or Chicken Kolhapuri goes very well with Starci, or Savoury Beetroot Gnocchi — deep fried beetroot gnocchi served with peanut and yoghurt sauce enhances the flavour of chamomile tea infused with vodka. While sweet-toothed folks can relish Pera In Camica Con Torta Di Formaggio, in simple words, an eggless cheesecake with red wine poached pears and strawberry coulis at Chianti Pune.
So those who want to treat their taste buds with something festive yet healthy and tantalising, head out this Diwali to sip festival-special drinks and dig into delish food with friends and family.
