Aam Panna is one of India's oldest and most beloved summer drinks. "Aam" means mango in Hindi — but crucially, this is made from raw, unripe green mango, not the sweet ripe mango you know. Raw mango is intensely tart and slightly astringent, with a flavour that is completely different from ripe mango. The raw mango pulp is cooked or roasted to develop deeper flavour, then blended with sugar, black salt (kala namak — a mineral salt with a distinctive eggy, sulphurous aroma that is actually delicious in context), roasted cumin, and fresh mint. The result is a tangy, savoury-sweet drink that is powerfully refreshing. Black salt and cumin also make it an excellent digestive drink. Served chilled — exactly what you need on a warm Vancouver summer day.
Key Ingredients