Local Drinks

1. ચા

   chaa

   Chai (sweet Indian milk tea)

   Usage

   Chai is the main drink across India, usually prepared as masala chai. ⚠ Ordering plain "chai" gets you tea boiled with plenty of milk and sugar. To skip the sugar, use the phrase card in the drinks category

2. મસાલા ચા

   masaala chaa

   Masala chai (spiced milk tea)

   Usage

   Tea leaves boiled in water with cardamom, clove, cinnamon and ginger, then finished with plenty of milk to make it thick and sweet

3. છાશ

   chhaash

   Chhaas (salted spiced buttermilk)

   Usage

   The everyday drink at a Gujarati table. It is the liquid left after churning butter, or curd mixed with water, salt and spices. It is popular where milk sours quickly. Not sweet. ⚠ A dairy drink

4. લસ્સી

   lassi

   Lassi (yogurt drink)

   Usage

   Lassi is given as the Punjabi name for chhaas, though lassi and chhaas are also listed separately. ⚠ Where a menu has both, lassi is normally the sweet one and chhaas the salted one — worth confirming which you are getting

5. લિંબુપાણી

   limbupaani

   Limbu pani (lemon water)

   Usage

   The safest choice if you are avoiding dairy. Also written "limbu sharbat"

6. નારિયેળ પાણી

   nariyel paani

   Nariyel pani (coconut water)

   Usage

   Sold as a whole nut opened with a straw. Also spelled "naliyer pani"; naliyer and nariyel are two spellings of the same word

7. બદામ દૂધ

   badaam doodh

   Badam doodh (almond and cardamom milk)

   Usage

   Glossed as "milk with almond and cardamom". ⚠ Contains both tree nuts and dairy — avoid if you have a nut allergy

8. શરબત

   sharbat

   Sharbat (sweet cordial diluted with water)

   Usage

   It is a general term for a sweet syrup-and-water drink, not one specific recipe — the flavour varies by shop

9. કોફી

   kophi

   Coffee

   Usage

   It is another popular drink but is drunk mainly in South India. ⚠ Gujarati tea stalls are built around chai; coffee may be unavailable, or instant

10. શેરડીનો રસ

    sherdino ras

    Sherdi no ras (fresh sugarcane juice)

    Usage

    Sugarcane crushed in a roadside roller and served on the spot. Sugar and jaggery are made from sugarcane. ⚠ Ice is often added — ask for it without if you are avoiding untreated water

11. દૂધ

    doodh

    Doodh (milk)

    Usage

    On breakfast habits people in western India mostly choose dhokla and milk. Dairy is central to Gujarati eating — chai, chhaas, kadhi and shrikhand are all milk-based

12. પીવાનું પાણી

    peevaanu paani

    Pivanu pani (drinking water)

    Usage

    It is customary to give a guest drinking water before serving any hot or cold drink, and people drink water with their food. ⚠ Check whether what you are given is treated water

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