Delightful drinks

Forget the ice-cold sugar-loaded drinks at Ramadan bazaars and try making your own delightful concoctions at home, suggests Aiman Ahmad Anuar

RAMADAN is a time for fasting but it’s also a wonderful time of the year to eat. While it might seem a little ironic, a lot of Malaysians actually end up eating more during the fasting month than any other time of the year. But eating is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s something else that we, quite literally, thirst for during Ramadan — delicious drinks.

Where in the past our beverage selection comprised the likes of bandung, syrup, coconut, sugar cane and soya milk, these days we’re really spoilt for choice.

Some of the selections at Ramadan bazaars are truly mindboggling. There are blue concoctions, yellow punches, green coloured milky liquids and probably a lot more if you care to trawl the stalls. But buying drinks at Ramadan bazaars isn’t the only way to enjoy delicious drinks during this month. How about trying your hand at making your own at home? It’s extremely fun to do and is healthier too.

The first way to do it is by using drinking water as your main “ingredient”. If you think this choice is a little unappealing, think again. Water is a great vessel for carrying all sorts of flavours, especially natural ones. Whatever you have at home can easily be incorporated into it for something a little more interesting. For example, you can always use fruit. And any fruit will do. All you have to do is cut them up into little pieces and soak them in a jug of water for a couple of hours. Voila! You have a flavoured drink.

If you need something a little sweet for the breaking of fast but still want something natural, add a little honey. It goes great with the fruit and it’s still relatively healthy.

HOUSEHOLD STAPLES

If you think it’s still a little too plain for your taste, think outside the box. Spices and herbs make for great additions to fruit-flavoured drinks. For example, if you were to make apple-flavoured water, add a little cinnamon, and you’ll end up with something of an apple pie-esquewere tasting drink. Or if you to use lemons, try adding mint for a nice cooling effect. Pear and basil also make for a great and slightly complex combination. If you’re daring enough, try adding a little “creaminess” to your water with a vanilla pod. Just remember to use whole dried spices and fresh herbs. Powdered spices will cloud your drink while dried herbs don’t have enough flavour. Alternatively, you can try using tea instead of water.