Summer

Aam Ki Shikanji (a.k.a. Panha) or Raw Mango Drink

by:
December  1, 2016
4.7
3 Ratings
Aam Ki Shikanji (a.k.a. Panha) or Raw Mango Drink
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 5 to 6 glasses
Author Notes

Made from raw, green mango, aami ki shikanji (pictured in the back of the photograph above) is a quintessential summer drink in India. Tangy and sweet, aam ki shikanji is equally liked by kids and adults, and the shikanji concentrate can be made to last for a few weeks. —Annada Rathi

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 1 medium raw, green mango
  • 1/2 cup sugar (or equal to the quantity of mango pulp)
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh cardamom powder (made from crushed cardamom seeds)
Directions
  1. Boil the green mango in 5 to 6 cups of water. Ensure that the mango is completely submerged in water. Let it boil for 45 minutes to an hour.
  2. By the end of an hour, the mango skin will crack and turns a pale greenish-brown color. Turn the heat off and let the mango cool.
  3. Peel the skin of mango. And now get ready to play with food! Squeeze the mango between the palm and fingers of one hand to extract pulp. Discard the pit and scrape the pulp from inside the mango skin peels. Discard the peels.
  4. Measure how much pulp you've made and add the same amount of sugar. Mix well with a whisk. Add cardamom powder. Store in a clean glass bottle in the fridge. Lasts for 3 to 4 weeks.
  5. To serve add 2 tablespoons of shikanji concentrate to an 8-ounce glass of cold water.
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  • Annada Rathi
    Annada Rathi
  • Anusha Jain
    Anusha Jain
Annada Rathi
To some people's frustration, I like to talk about food before cooking, while cooking, while eating and of course after eating.

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2 Reviews

Anusha J.
Anusha J. May 19, 2021
Thank you for this. I never had 'panha' growing up in Southern India. We mostly had what was called 'paanagam' which was made with sticky jaggery (the best kind) and lemon juice. But I married into a family from Western India and my husband's family introduced me to 'panha'. Now when I dream of Indian Summers, it's me sitting at my husband's home sipping this drink in our open terraced area. Thank you again!
 
Annada R.
Annada R. May 20, 2021
Panha is the best to cool off in the summer. You can make panha with raw mango too without boiling it. Just grate a firm raw mango with skin. Measure it and add amount of sugar. Set it aside in the sun in a bottle for day. Sugar would have melted by then. Now store in the fridge and add 2 tbsp to a glass of cold water to make panha.