Beat the Heat with some Taal Shansh Cocktails

Ice apple also known as Taal Shansh in Bengal

Even though the monsoon has arrived, Bengal is still in the midst of canicular days. The arrival of summer means that there are plenty of hydrating fruits to savour. Furthermore, we must always quench our thirst by drinking fruit juice.

During this season, we regularly become dehydrated, which causes our throats to dry up and makes us feel the need to hydrate our bodies with liquids, whether with water or beverages.

These are the months when summer staples like watermelon, mangoes, jackfruits, and litchis begin to appear in our fruit basket and make their way onto our regular summertime menu. The ice apple, also known as Taal Shansh in Bengali, is one of these loved fruits. It has a slight taste of delicate coconut, while its texture is similar to that of a litchi.

Ice apple is found in the coastal regions of India and other Southeast Asian countries. In Tamil Nadu, it is referred to as Nungu; Maharashtra calls it Tadgola; and in other regions of India, it is known as Munjaal.

This superfruit is high in vitamins A, B, K, and potassium. It is also ideal for diabetics because of its low glycemic index.

We have all tried out delicious ice creams and refreshing beverages to beat the heat during the summer, but did you know you can create similar delicacies from Ice Apple as well? So let us explore some summer-friendly recipes made of ice apples:

Ice apple sharbat

Ice Apple Sharbat:

Ingredients:

4 to 5 peeled and mashed ice apples
1/4 cup of sugar
2 cups of cold water
Juice from 1 lemon
Salt as required
Mint leaves

Method:

Peel and mash the ice apples, and put them in a bowl aside. Mix water with sugar and a pinch of salt in a different bowl. Stir until the sugar cubes dissolve. Add the lemon juice to it and stir again. Finally, add the mashed ice apples to the sugar-water combination. Blend the contents in a blender until it turns into a completely smooth concoction. To avoid any lumps, pour the mixture through a fine sieve. The sharbat should be served cold with mint leaves on top.

Rose Milk with Ice apple

Rose Milk with Ice apple:

Ingredients:

1 cup of sliced ice apples
2 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of rose syrup
1 cup of sugar
A pinch of powdered cardamom

Method:

Wash and peel the ice apples. Cut it into little pieces and set it aside. Thoroughly blend together milk, rose syrup, sugar, and cardamom powder (optional). Pour the mixture into a glass and top it with the slices of ice apple. Enjoy your delightful ice apple rose milk chilled!

Whilst these recipes enhance the scope of incorporating ice apples into your usual summer diets, nothing can surpass the wholesome pleasure of biting into their freshly scooped-out luscious flesh. Try this tropical fruit with multiple health benefits in an abundance of innovative recipes to revitalise your summer days in a healthier way.