Local Drinks

1. தேநீர்

   tēnīr

   Tea

   Usage

   Normally brewed strong and served with milk and sugar. Sri Lankan Tamil calls sugar cīṉi. Stalls often write it as ṭī

2. காப்பி

   kāppi

   Coffee

   Usage

   In South India this means filter coffee, frothed between two metal vessels. Also spelled kāpi; Sri Lankan Tamil uses kōppi

3. இளநீர்

   iḷanīr

   Tender coconut water

   Usage

   The vendor opens a young nut on the spot. One of the safest cold drinks on the street; ask them to split it afterwards for the soft flesh

4. மோர்

   mōr

   Buttermilk

   Usage

   The liquid left after churning butter from curd, salted and often spiced with ginger. Drunk after meals or through the heat of the day

5. பழச்சாறு

   paḻaccāṟu

   Fruit juice

   Usage

   From paḻam (fruit) plus cāṟu (pressed juice). The word on juice-stall signs. Say "ais illāmal" if you want it without ice

6. கரும்புச் சாறு

   karumpuc cāṟu

   Sugarcane juice

   Usage

   Pressed through a roller at the roadside, usually with lime or ginger added

7. பதநீர்

   patanīr

   Padaneer (sweet palm sap)

   Usage

   Naturally sweet sap tapped from palmyra or coconut inflorescences; non-alcoholic. It ferments within hours of tapping, so it is sold only early in the morning

8. சர்பத்

   carpat

   Sarbath (chilled syrup drink)

   Usage

   Chilled drink of syrup made from fruit, flowers or sarsaparilla root (naṉṉāri), let down with water. Naṉṉāri carpat is the classic Tamil Nadu street version

9. ஜில் ஜில் ஜிகர்தண்டா

   jil jil jikartaṇṭā

   Jigarthanda (Madurai cold milk drink)

   Usage

   Cold drink of reduced milk, seaweed jelly, syrup and ice cream. A speciality of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, sold in shops around the city

10. பால்

    pāl

    Milk

    Usage

    The basic word, which also turns up when tea or coffee is explained. Tēṅkāyp pāl is coconut milk, common in descriptions of dishes

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