Despite the sweat & heat, one of the reasons I love summer is-- MANGOES!! It is perhaps the most loved fruit across the country. From buds to ripe sweet fruit, in its every form this king of fruit never ceases to amaze me with its diverse taste. All delicacies prepared from any form of mango, have their own story associated with each household; be it pickle, chutney, tangy drinks made from raw mango or innumerable desserts made from ripe ones.
Last week during a regular conversation with my parents, my mother inquired about the summer and her favorite aam panna. I could still recollect mom making us aam panna almost every day during summer, and I along with my siblings would devour it in no time. It was pure joy, with all our senses lit up with this amazing drink. My mom always inspects if I am depriving my kids of this delicious drink. All thanks to the advanced communication technologies, she ensures that family tradition is passed on.
Aam panna is a sweet and sour drink made from raw mango and few spices and is commonly adopted both as a remedy and precautionary measure from heatstroke during summer. The aroma arising from roasted cumin powder and black salt, sweetness from sugar and tang from raw mango create a wonderful harmony of flavors, that is simply beyond depiction. Also, from an Ayurvedic perspective, black salt is good for digestion and cumin seed reduces the body heat altogether making this a very healthy drink. I just made a little alteration in my mother’s recipe; to make it diet friendly replacing sugar with honey, as sugar is not allowed in Vedika’s diet.  It is amazing to see how a drink made with minimal ingredients can enliven all your senses. I guess it must be the magic of the king of fruits.