Lassi () is a

yogurt Yogurt (; , from , ; also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt) is a food produced by bacterial Fermentation (food), fermentation of milk. Fermentation of sugars in the milk by these bacteria produces lactic acid, which acts on milk protein to ...

–based beverage with a

smoothie A smoothie is a beverage made by puréeing ingredients in a blender. A smoothie commonly has a liquid base, such as fruit juice or milk, yogurt or ice cream. Other ingredients may be added, including fruits, vegetables, non-dairy milk, cru ...

-like consistency. It has been called "the most popular and traditional yogurt-based drink" in India. It has also been described as the form in which yogurt "is most cherished and unbeatably popular in ..

Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...

", its "best-loved summer drink", and "the

air conditioner Air conditioning, often abbreviated as A/C (US) or air con (UK), is the process of removing heat from an enclosed space to achieve a more comfortable interior temperature, and in some cases, also controlling the humidity of internal air. Air c ...

of the Punjab". Lassi originated in the Punjab region of the

Indian subcontinent The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

. The word 'lassi' means yogurt mixed with water in

Punjabi Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabis, Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a ...

and

Hindi-Urdu Hindustani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in North India and Pakistan as the lingua franca of the region. It is also spoken by the Deccani-speaking community in the Deccan plateau. Hindustani is a pluricentric language with two standa ...

. Lassi is prepared by blending yogurt, water, and spices. In Punjab, the yogurt is traditionally made from water buffalo milk. However, variations of lassi can be prepared in different ways.

Cumin Cumin (, ; ; ''Cuminum cyminum'') is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the Irano-Turanian Region. Its seeds – each one contained within a fruit, which is dried – are used in the cuisines of many cultures in both whole ...

and

cardamom Cardamom (), sometimes cardamon or cardamum, is a spice made from the seeds of several plants in the genus (biology), genera ''Elettaria'' and ''Amomum'' in the family Zingiberaceae. Both genera are native to the Indian subcontinent and Indon ...

are the most common spices added to lassi. Lassi is traditionally served in a clay cup known as ''

kulhar A ''kulhar'' (Hindustani language, Hindi: कुल्हड़ and Urdu: کلہڑ) or ''kulhad'', ''matir bhar'' () or simply ''bhar'' (), sometimes called a ''shikora'', is a traditional handleless pottery cup from South Asia that is typically ...

''.

Varieties

Namkin / Namkeen lassi

Namkin or namkeen (salty) lassi is made by adding salt, black pepper, cumin, and sugar to the yogurt-water mixture.

Lassi masalewal

Lassi masalewal (spicy lassi) is made by adding ingredients such as almonds, ginger, green chilies, and pistachios to namkin lassi.

Meethi lassi

Meethi (sweet) lassi is made by adding

, rosewater, and saffron to the yogurt-water mixture.

Bhang lassi

Bhang lassi is a Cannabis edible#Drink, cannabis-infused drink that contains bhang, a liquid derivative of cannabis (drug), cannabis, which has effects similar to Cannabis edible, other eaten forms of cannabis. It is legal in many parts of India and mainly sold during Holi, when pakoras containing bhang are also sometimes eaten. Uttar Pradesh is known to have licensed bhang shops, and in many places, one can buy bhang products and drink bhang lassis.Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations Collection 2, Episode 5; Final Segment.

Others

Fruits such as mangos and strawberries may be added to the yogurt-water mixture to yield, for example, mango lassi and strawberry lassi.

Gallery

File:Fatfreelassi.jpg, Lassi served in a restaurant. File:Mint lassi.jpg, Mint lassi File:Bhang lassi (3304878869).jpg, Bhang lassi File:Patiyala Lassi.jpg, Lassi served in a brass cup in Patiala File:Banaras-ki-Lassi.jpg, Benaras-ki-lassi, a style of lassi from Varanasi served in

File:Odia style Lassi-Puri-Odisha-IMG 9776.jpg, A style of lassi from Odisha

References

{{Indian dishes Yogurt-based drinks Indian drinks Pakistani drinks Indian cuisine Punjabi cuisine Indian dairy products Bangladeshi dairy products