From cooling chaas to exotic basil drinks — Indian beverages are as vibrant as the cuisine itself.

India's drink culture is as rich and diverse as its food. From the cooling probiotic chaas (spiced buttermilk) served at every Gujarati meal to the sweet and tangy golgappa pani of Delhi's bustling streets, Indian beverages have centuries of tradition behind them. And today, many of these iconic drinks are available right here in Los Angeles — stocked at Anora's Cash n Carry at 567 S Fairfax Ave, at wholesale and retail prices, with local delivery.

In this definitive guide to Indian drinks and beverages, we cover every drink category — from traditional dairy-based drinks and Ayurvedic beverages to modern Indian fruit shakes and exotic tropical drinks. Whether you're shopping for your household, planning a Diwali party, running a restaurant, or just curious about Indian drinks, this guide has everything you need.

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🌎 Why Indian Drinks Are Trending in Los Angeles

The global wellness movement has put traditional Indian drinks firmly in the spotlight. Turmeric lattes, golden milk, chaas, lassi, and sabja (basil seed) drinks now show up across social media, wellness blogs, and restaurant menus all over Los Angeles — driven by growing interest in natural, probiotic, and plant-based alternatives to carbonated soft drinks. You'll find many of them in our beverages aisle.

Key trends driving growth include:

• Gut health awareness — Probiotic dairy drinks like chaas and lassi are gaining popularity
• Ayurvedic wellness — Basil seed drinks (sabja) are trending as a superfood ingredient
• South Asian diaspora growth — Growing demand for authentic homeland beverages
• Diversity in soft drinks — Shoppers seeking alternatives to mass-market sodas
• Hot weather demand — Cooling Indian drinks are perfect for the Southern California summer

🥛 Indian Dairy Drinks: Lassi, Chaas & Flavored Shakes

Dairy-based drinks are central to Indian food culture. Unlike Western dairy drinks, our Indian dairy beverages are typically spiced, fermented, or blended with fruits — making them far more complex and functional than a simple glass of milk. Here are the key Indian dairy drink categories:

Lassi

Lassi is arguably India's most iconic drink. Made by blending yogurt with water, salt or sugar, and spices, it comes in two main varieties:

• Sweet Lassi — Blended with sugar and often cardamom or rose water. Thick, creamy and refreshing.
• Mango Lassi — The most popular variant worldwide. Ripe Alphonso or Kesar mango pulp blended with yogurt. Bestseller in Indian restaurants.
• Salted Lassi — Also known as namkeen lassi. Made with yogurt, water, cumin, and black salt. Digestive and refreshing.

Chaas (Spiced Buttermilk)

Chaas is the lighter, thinner cousin of lassi. Made from yogurt diluted with water and seasoned with cumin, ginger, coriander, and rock salt, it is one of India's most important digestive drinks. Served at nearly every Gujarati and Rajasthani meal, chaas is known to improve gut health, reduce acidity, and cool the body during summer.

Flavored Milk Shakes (Indian Style)

Indian flavored milk shakes differ from Western milkshakes in their use of real fruits, traditional flavors like badam (almond) and pista (pistachio), and often a lighter, less sweet profile. Milky Mist has perfected this category with their range of ready-to-drink flavored shakes.

🍓 Milky Mist Shake Range: All 5 Flavors Fully Reviewed

Available at Anora's Cash n Carry, the Milky Mist flavored shake range is one of our best-selling Indian beverage lines. Here is a complete review of every flavor:

🥬 Milky Mist Spiced Buttermilk (Chaas) 1 Liter — Benefits, Uses & Why You Need It

Milky Mist Spiced Buttermilk — also known as chaas or takra in Ayurveda — is one of the most functional and traditional Indian beverages you can buy. At 1 liter per bottle, it's perfect for families, restaurants, and catering businesses.

Health Benefits of Chaas (Spiced Buttermilk)

• Probiotic-Rich: Contains live cultures that support gut health and improve digestion — particularly useful after spicy Indian meals
• Cooling Properties: Lowers body temperature. Traditionally consumed in summer and tropical climates
• Reduces Acidity: The combination of yogurt and spices (especially ginger and cumin) is a natural antacid
• Low in Fat: Unlike lassi, chaas is diluted with water, making it significantly lower in calories
• Rich in Calcium: Good source of calcium and Vitamin B12
• Hydration: Rehydrates the body with electrolytes — especially useful during hot weather or after exercise

According to Healthline, fermented dairy drinks like buttermilk contain unique peptides and compounds that may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.

How to Use Milky Mist Spiced Buttermilk

• Serve chilled as a digestive drink after an Indian meal
• Use as a marinade base for tandoori chicken or paneer
• Add to Indian kadhi (yogurt and gram flour curry)
• Use in baking as a buttermilk substitute
• Serve in restaurants as a complimentary digestive after a thali

🍹 Nanak Golgappa Pani (Khatta Meeta) 1 Liter — Bring the Street Food Home

Golgappa — known as pani puri in Western India, puchka in Bengal, and gup chup in Odisha — is arguably India's most beloved street food. These crispy hollow spheres are filled with spiced water, mashed potato, and chickpeas to create an explosion of flavor in a single bite. The most important element? The pani (water).

Nanak's Golgappa Pani Khatta Meeta (1 Liter) is a ready-made, authentic pani puri water that captures the complex sweet-sour-spicy balance of the original street version. Made with:

• Fresh mint and coriander
• Tamarind for sourness
• Jaggery for sweetness
• Green chillies for heat
• Black salt and cumin for depth

Perfect For:

• Diwali and Eid chaat parties at home
• Indian street food nights
• Restaurant chaat menus
• South Asian community events
• Indian cooking classes

🌿 ZYKA Exotic Basil Drinks: The Ayurvedic Superfood Drink Range

The ZYKA drinks range is one of the most exciting and health-forward Indian beverage products on the market. Available in our cold drinks & juices range at Anora's in four unique flavors, these drinks combine the exotic tropical flavors of India with the wellness power of sabja (sweet basil seeds) — a traditional Ayurvedic superfood ingredient.

What Are Sabja (Basil) Seeds?

Sabja seeds — also called tukmaria or sweet basil seeds — are tiny black seeds from the Ocimum basilicum plant. They are not the same as the regular basil herb used in Italian cooking. When soaked in water, they swell up and develop a translucent gray outer gel — creating a unique, pleasant texture. Health benefits include:

• High in dietary fiber (helps digestion)
• Natural cooling effect on the body
• Blood sugar regulation
• Weight management support (the gel creates a feeling of fullness)
• Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and minerals

⚡ Energy Drinks at Anora's Cash n Carry

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🏥 Health Benefits of Indian Traditional Drinks: A Summary

❓ Frequently Asked Questions — Indian Drinks in Los Angeles

📚 Related Reading:

• The Ultimate Indian Grocery Guide for Los Angeles: Everything You Need From Spices to Snacks
• British Pantry Essentials at Anora's Cash n Carry

Sources: Healthline | Harvard Nutrition Source | Wikipedia: Lassi | Wikipedia: Chaas