Mattha

Mattha or spiced buttermilk is a very famous drink in Maharashtra. Mattha and Kairi Panha are the favourite beverages of Maharashtrians in summer time. Mattha is usually to be consumed after (heavy) lunch, mostly during the hot summer days.. This drink is prepared from buttermilk or “taak” as we call it in Marathi. The exact proportion of salt sugar n chilli gives mattha the unique taste. This is a must in weddings that usually take place in summers. This drink is good for digestion and is so refreshing that people can easily make some space for 2-3 glasses of Mattha even if they are full. :)

In Maharashtra, most (non working) ladies prepare “Tup” (Ghee) at home. Every day the “sai” (cream) that accumulates on the boiled milk is separately kept in a “chini maticha bhanda” (clay vessel) and once the vessel was full, the process of making ghee starts. The whole lot of saii was churned using a “rawi” to separate the “loni” (butter) and “taak” (buttermilk). This taak was used to make kadhi or mattha. The loni is then heated to prepare tup at home… Unforgettable are those days when the smell of the loni and ghee used to be so tempting that we used to eat dollops of loni as kids. And now, even a bite of it is “full of calories!” :D Anyways, the mattha is just as good for calorie conscious people as well.. So here's a glassful to beat the summer heat and for RCI Maharashtrian Cuisine!

Mattha

What you need:

½ cup Whole Yoghurt
1 cup Water
½ tsp Ginger, minced
1-2 Green Chillies, finely chopped
1 tsp Sugar
1 tsp Cumin seeds, roasted and coarsely pounded
Salt to taste
Chopped corriander for garnishing

How to proceed:

1) Beat the yoghurt and add water to it to make buttermilk
2) Add all above ingredients to buttermilk and mix well
3) Add more water if it’s too thick
4) Serve cold

*Addition of pepper n chaat masala instead of chillies gives the mattah another yummy taste!