A refreshing combo of lime juice & mint in a drink – my all time favorite. With the increasing temperature the first thing that comes to my mind is always a refreshing glass of Nimbu Pani. This simple yet heavenly glass of lemonade is seen in every house in India. You can say an Indian version of Lemonade. A drink that I grew up drinking. Every summer we used to have this many times a day. I still remember as soon as me and my brother used to come back from school, first thing our mum used to give us was a chilled glass of nimbu pani.
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Nimbu Pani – Indian Lemonade
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A refreshing combo of lime juice & mint in a simple Indian drink.
Ingredients
- Lemons - 4 ( 1 sliced for garnishing )
- Fresh Mint sprigs - 4 - 5
- Sugar - to taste (I added 6 teaspoons for 4 glasses)
- Salt - a pinch
- Cumin Seeds Powder - as per taste ( I added a pinch )
- Water - 3 glasses chilled water , 1 glass normal room temperature
- Ice cubes
Instructions
- Take a large Jug, add one glass of normal water to it. Now add sugar (you can adjust the sweetness as per your taste) and stir till it dissolves into the water nicely & completely. Squeeze all lemons and add the juice to the same jug. Add pinch of salt and cumin seeds powder to it and continue to stir. Now add chilled water and crushed ice to the jug and stir again. Add in few mint leaves to it too. Serve in chilled glasses garnished with lemon slices and mint sprigs.
Notes
Add black pepper to it, pureed mint for flavour or some chat masala/black salt. You can replace water with soda water, replace sugar by glucose D. I shared with you the way I make it at home. I prepare this in the morning and refrigerate the jug so that my kids can have it anytime during the day.
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
Frequently Asked Questions
What does cumin powder actually do in nimbu pani, can I skip it?
Cumin powder is what separates nimbu pani from plain lemonade. Even a pinch adds an earthy, slightly smoky undertone that makes the drink feel cooling rather than just sweet-sour, this is a very deliberate flavor move in Indian drinks, especially on hot days. Start with just a pinch as listed and taste before adding more. You can skip it if you must, but you’ll end up with a good lemonade rather than a proper nimbu pani.
Should I use lemon juice or lime juice, the recipe mentions both?
In India, what’s called ‘nimbu’ is almost always a small, thin-skinned lime, tart and fragrant, closer to a Key lime than a Persian lime. Limes give the drink a brighter, sharper acidity that works better with the salt and cumin. Regular lemons work fine and are more widely available, but expect a slightly mellower, less punchy result. Whichever you use, squeeze fresh, bottled juice kills the whole point of a five-minute drink.
Can I make a big batch of nimbu pani ahead of time?
Yes, I mix a full jug in the morning and keep it refrigerated so it’s ready whenever anyone wants a glass during the day. Dissolve the sugar in one glass of room-temperature water first so it fully incorporates, then add the lemon juice, pinch of salt, cumin, and chilled water. Add mint leaves just before serving rather than soaking them all day, as they can turn bitter and discolor the drink after a few hours.
It was the drink featured in The Jewel in the Crown. Now, I can try it!
I notice people of southeast asia origin often mix up lemons amd limes or use them interchangeably. In the images amd recipes it says and shows yellow lemon. In the text you write ‘lime’. Im wondering, which is used for nimbu pani traditionally? Thanks!
Why is it that Indian restaurants do not serve this drink?
should this be lemons or lime. In your preview you talk about lime drink, but the recipe itself is for lemons?
Lemon oil may be used in aromatherapy. Researchers at The Ohio State University found that lemon oil aroma does not influence the human immune system, but may enhance mood.