10-best hot beverages
Winter is a season of indulgence. Period. Besides the numerous festivities, it is also a time when the body craves for hot and sizzling food and beverages, almost perpetually. You can’t help but cuddle on a sofa with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, or bite into golden fried pakoras and buttery parathas to keep the chill away.
The best way to heat up the body from within is to sip on hot beverages spiked with warming spices or even alcohol. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and peppers work like magic, and the flavours are such that they easily blend in with other ingredients used for the making of the beverages, including coffee, tea and liquor.
While you can use spices and herbs like tulsi to sprice up your morning cup of tea or sip on Kashmiri Kahwa, you can also get your much-loved fruit dose by making hot fruit punches. If you are a chocolate lover, try using white chocolate instead for a little variation or playing around with spices and even chillies to turn up the heat. Those of you who prefer desi flavours, there’s nothing more satisfying than a strong cup of masala chai or kesari doodh to keep warm. Or if alcohol keeps you going in this cold season, you can make a number of delicious hot cocktails using rum, brandy and Bailey’s and get the party started.
We have put together a list of our 10 best hot beverages for winter to beat the chill. Here goes -
1. Hot Fruit Punch
Recipe by Chef Roopa Gulati
Stir up this soul soothing drink made with fruit juice and warm ingredients like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and jaggery. This will keep you cozy on those chilly days. For the recipe, click here.
2. Hot White Chocolate
Recipe by Chef Kunal Kapur
Blessing in a mug! That's exactly what this steaming, hot white chocolate is. All you need is four ingredients and 10 minutes to find your way to warm, woolly, fuzzy heaven. For the recipe, click here.
3. Kahwa
Recipe by Chef Kishore D. Reddy
A comforting hot beverage that hails from beautiful Kashmir. Here, Kahwa leaves are simmered in water with cinnamon, cardamom and the added crunchiness of almonds. For the recipe
4. Spiced Coffee
Recipe by Chef Roopa Gulati
Need your daily cup of coffee? Give it a desi twist using ginger and cardamom to turn up the heat
5. Kesaria Doodh
Recipe by Chef Niru Gupta
A hot milk beverage flavoured with saffron and cardamom.
6. Spiced Rum
Recipe by Shatbhi Basu
Dark rum blended with hot apple juice and cinnamon. Perfect to snug with on a cold evening.
7. Irish Coffee
Recipe by Aashna Ahuja
Irish coffee is a bewitching combination of sweet, whisky-laced coffee through softly-whipped cream. Very simple, very indulgent, very delicious.
8. Hot Apple Punch
Recipe by Chef Niru Gupta
A light and warm, apple flavoured drink to sip on when it gets chilly.
9. Bailey’s Delight
Recipe by Plavaneeta Borah
Sweet and creamy, with the kick of alcohol, this beverage is perfect for winters giving you something delicious to sip on as well as warming you up from within.
10. Masalewali Chai
Recipe by Chef Niru Gupta
Brew up an aromatic cup of tea made with the goodness of cardamon and ginger.
