Cocktails with Dina
As the calendar shifts into November, our lives start to get filled with all the seasonal celebrations this time of year brings. One celebration that opens up every autumn season is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. During the five days of festivities, revelers around the globe light diyas, wear new clothes, and eat an amazing variety of unique confections. It is also a time when families bond, share traditions, and reflect about what it means to be Indian, even in the City by the Bay, thousands of miles from where these traditions were born.
Among the traditions, the drinks of Diwali hold a special place. Of course, there are classical Indian refreshments like the lassi or chai tea. But there are also concoctions for the more adventurous, such as the badaam thandai, a unique mix of thandai, nuts, saffron, and fennel, or the nimbu pani, an Indian take on lemonade that includes chaat masala. But perhaps my favorite is the falooda, a unique dessert drink with rose and sweet basil seeds, often served with ice cream.
Rose is a particularly common flavor in India, both in drinks and sweets. One business that embodies this flavor (with a unique Bay Area twist!) is Naya Delights. Their drinks blend traditional Indian flavors with modern flair in a way that helps the Southeast Asian diaspora feel connected even when celebrating in San Francisco. Their focus is on sharing these flavors with South Asians and non-South Asians by creating beverages that evoke nostalgia while also enticing newcomers with something delicious. Diwali is a time for new experiences no matter your background, and in that spirit, I have collaborated with them to develop some unique new takes on classic Indian drinks designed to pique everyone’s interest.
San Francisco-based Dina Novarr enjoys sharing her passion for fine wines, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.
Cocktails With Dina
Published on October 17, 2024
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