Watermelon sharbat is a popular hydrating summer drink with fruit and dairy. With fresh watermelon, sweet cold milk and fragrant rose petals. It satisfies all the senses in one go.
Watermelon Sharbat is an eye appealing drink, offering a perfect blend of hydration, flavor, and nutrition. A common yet popular drink sold by street vendors in parts of Delhi and Pakistan during peak summer days, also in the evenings near the Muslim mosques to devotees for breaking their religious day long fasting and Iftar gatherings.
This pinkish sharbat is locally called Muhabbat ka Sharbatver ( drink of love ). Definitely a crowd pleasing drink!
History of sharbat :
It is believed that sharbats originated in Iran (Persia)in the 11th Century. Persian word sharbat meaning - a drink of cane sugar and water. Many Ottoman Muslims did not have a custom of consuming or serving alcoholic beverages, which contributed to the popularity of sherbet during the Middle Ages. Sherbet could take three forms: syrups called şurup, pastes called çevirme and tablets. Ottoman confectioners would create concentrated essences out of fresh ingredients that could be diluted to make sherbet.Just like perfumes and attars these preserved concentrates made with edibles flowers and herbs were brought by travelers during those days through the trade route. Sharbat was introduced to India by the Mughals in the 16th century. It was popularized in the Indian subcontinent by Babur, who sent for frequent loads of ice from the Himalayas to make a cool refreshing drink.
Over the years the large scale production of concentrate flourished . Rooh afsa is a squash concentrate brand since 1906 from Old Delhi and moved to Pakistan that contributed as a base to sherbets. It originally contained rose essence and herbs that went into sharbat making back in the days. But over the years it has become cloyingly sweet with the synthetic essence flavor standing out. Nevertheless the nostalgia remains!
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY THIS SARBATH RECIPE?
Healthy, paleo friendly, simple to make, known to cool off the body heat adding herbal extract. Provides immediate hydration to the body. Above all Ideal healthy summer drink for all ages.
- TASTE: Sweet dairy rich fruit rose scented drink.
- TEXTURE : Watermelon adds crispness and texture in every sip.
- TIME: Simply cut the fruit and mix with the rest of the ingredients to make this drink !
- EASE: No blender needed. Simply prep and mix.
Whether you're hosting a summer party, potluck or barbecue party or simply looking to cool down, this refreshing beverage is sure to be a hit. So, grab a ripe watermelon and whip up a batch of this delicious sharbat. Your taste buds and body will thank you!
How to select a good watermelon ?
- A shiny rind likely indicates an underripe melon.
- If you press on the skin of the watermelon there should be a slight give. If its too firm and no give its not ripe enough.
- Look all over the whole melon. If you find soft spots, cuts, dents, cracks, or other signs of damage, don't buy it.
- Large white spot or spots means the watermelon did not get enough sunlight to ripen properly.
- If the stem part is green it was picked too early. If the stem looks more brown then it ripened on the vine.
- Choose a dull-looking watermelon with yellow patch. If the watermelon is ripe, the field spot should be a large, yellow patch on one side of the melon. dried scratch marks indicates birds trying to peck on it since it's ripe. The bigger the yellow belly and the creamier the color means the more time the melon spent ripening on the vine.
- Tap the underbelly and listen for a deep hollow sound. If its sounding very flat then it may not be ready inside or old.
- A heavier melon likely holds more water, which will make it juicier.
- Make sure the dark green lines are 2 fingers width APART. That is in between the white stripes on the fruit's peel. Apparently hundreds of people on Facebook say this is true, no harm in trying right!
Ingredients and substitutes :
- Watermelon - Nice ripe and red watermelon tastes best, yellow watermelon or not so acidic fruits should work
- Rose / strawberry syrup - This brings all the aroma and taste to the sharbat . Use rooh afsa (synthetic concentrate)
- Whole milk - The sharbat is thick and creamy so whole milk or evaporated milk is best
- Cardamom - Cardamom enhances the flavor of dairy hence go for it.
- Sugar - Add a little sugar according to the sweetness of the fruit. Instead 2-3 tsps of condensed milk brings a good flavor
- Rose petals -Rose petals with the water in which its soaked adds a cooling element with fragrance to the drink
- Optional : Skinless watermelon seeds (sold in Indian stores as magaj ) adds bite and nutty flavor.
- Substitues : I have seen versions with condensed milk, added instead of sugar, evaporated milk for thickness etc.. All are tastes preferences you can choose. Strawberry is from the rose family hence the strawberry syrup can be used instead of rose.
Steps for making watermelon sharbat
- Step 1: Chop the watermelon into small pieces
- Step 2: Mix sugar and the milk then add cardamom powdered, add the fruit and the rose syrup and the rose essence from petals with some petals for flavor.
- Step 3: Assemble the drink
- Step 4: Garnish
Tips for the Perfect Watermelon Sharbat
- Choose the Right Watermelon: Opt for a ripe and juicy watermelon for the best flavor. Look for one that feels heavy for its size and has a uniform shape.
- Sweeten to Taste: Adjust the sweetness of your sharbat according to your preference. You can also use natural sweeteners like honey, agave syrup or stevia.
- Instead of ice cubes simply freeze watermelon juice on ice tray and use that so the drink doesn't get diluted.
- Add a Twist: Experiment with additional flavors by adding a few crushed basil or mint leaves for a unique twist.
The Health Benefits of Watermelon Sharbat
1. Hydration Powerhouse: Watermelon is composed of over 90% water, making it an excellent choice for staying hydrated during hot days.
2. Rich in Nutrients: Packed with vitamins A, B6, and C, as well as antioxidants like lycopene, watermelon helps boost your immune system and keeps your skin healthy.
3. Aids Digestion: The natural fiber in watermelon aids digestion, helping you feel light and comfortable even after a hearty meal.
Others Shabbat's to try this summer:
In my Sharbat series this is the third, others were Nannari sharbat (a woody flavored lemon soda), Paal sharbat(Cooling milk drink).
Other watermelon recipes to try :
Watermelon Sharbat
Ingredients
- 1/4 Watermelon
- 2-3 Tbsp Rose / strawberry syrup
- 1.5 cups Whole milk
- 1 pinch Cardamom Freshly powdered
- 1 tsp Sugar
- 2-3 tsp Rose petals
Instructions
- Soak the rose petals in a tablespoon of water. Keep it aside to soften. Cut the ripe watermelon into small pieces.Keep it chilled.
- Into the chilled milk, add a pinch of cardamom, add the required rose syrup, a teaspoon of sugar and mix well. Add 3/4 of the watermelon pieces cut earlier and add all the watermelon juice from the pieces to the milk. Also add the water in which the rose petals were soak. Give this a gentle stir.
- Garnish with the remaining watermelon pieces on each individual cup and serve chilled.
Notes
- Please remember to keep each item chilled in the refrigerator, so the drink is cold when served.
- Watermelon pieces quickly absorb the white color and loses the beautiful red color hence remember to keep some aside for garnish in the end.
- Adding ice cubes to the drink will dilute the flavors and taste watery.
- Adding too much of a rose syrup will make the drink too sweet hands add more of watermelon juice for the color.
Do give this refreshing watermelon sarbath a try and let me know.
Meena
Divya
Love the old Delhi sharbat stalls. Never really bought anything cos of ocds. Meena, those pics so beautiful u are tempting me to try at home now.
elephantsncoconuttrees
Thank you Divya. Do give this recipe a try and let me know.