It’s time to celebrate summer!
On a warm summer’s evening, there’s nothing quite like indulging in a refreshing drink that seems tailor-made for the season.
Picture yourself with your family and friends relaxing in our outdoor dining area under a sunsetting sky, with a cooling breeze rustling through the air, enjoying one of our jugs of summer special refreshers.
Our cooling sharing pitchers have been created to quench your thirst and provide instant refreshment. Whether it’s a traditional summer Pimm’s or a smooth Mango Lassi, the blend of fresh fruit, herbs or spices tantalise your tastebuds, you can feel the stresses of the day melting away, replaced by a sense of tranquillity and contentment.
The pleasure of summer drinks on a warm night is a multisensory experience that combines physical refreshment, aromatic delights, flavourful sensations, and emotional connections, creating unforgettable moments that linger long after the last sip has been savoured. Summer drinks in the company of friends and loved ones is a pleasurable experience; sharing stories, memories, laughter, and good conversation on a balmy summer evening.
This season we have two favourite summer drinks to share with you:
One is the Jug of Pimm’s – a true taste of summer; a British drink consisting of a gin-based liqueur (Pimm’s No. 1 Cup) that is mixed with sparkling lemonade and served in a highball glass with ice, assorted fresh fruits, and mint.
James Pimm, the owner of a London oyster bar, invented the drink c. 1823- 1840. The original version featured gin, quinine, and various herbs, and it reportedly aided digestion. The drink was known as the ‘house cup’ which inspired the name ‘Pimm’s No. 1 Cup’; later it was typically shortened to Pimm’s Cup. There are 7 more cups available based on different spirits, however, it is the iconic gin-based No. 1, served traditionally with lemonade and mint or fruity garnishes that is the most popular type of Pimm’s today. The refreshing beverage is the signature drink of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, where the first Pimm’s bar opened in 1971, but it is also enjoyed widely across Britain in the summer months.
The other is Mango Lassi – an ancient drink originating from the Punjab region and is a blended drink with yogurt, water, spices and fruit. It originated sometime around 1000BC and was said to have Ayurvedic healing properties, calming the stomach and the mind. Again, this refreshing drink was usually enjoyed after eating to help aid digestion. Traditionally, Mango Lassi is served in a clay cup, called a kulhar and an extra dollop of clotted cream may be spooned on top before serving.
The fruit varieties, like the Mango Lassi we serve here at Zara (Danbury), are especially refreshing and great to cool down with during hot summer evenings. Cardamom may be the traditional spice of choice, but so many other flavours can enhance your Lassi; cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, cumin, saffron, and even paprika or cayenne work well.
Why not book a table with us and experience our summer drinks sensations; order some delicious Indian dishes to add to your experience and enjoy them al fresco or in our air conditioned restaurant bar? It’s time to celebrate summer!
