cocktails with dina
As the calendar shifts to November, our lives begin to be filled with all the seasonal celebrations this time of year brings. One of the festivals held during the autumn season each year is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. During the five-day festival, revelers from around the world light diyas, wear new clothes, and eat an astonishing variety of unique sweets. This is a time when families bond, share traditions, and reflect on what it means to be Indian, even in a coastal city thousands of miles from where these traditions were born. It’s also the time.
Among traditions, Diwali drinks hold a special place. Of course, there are also classic Indian snacks like lassi and chai. But there are also concoctions for the more adventurous, such as Badam Thandai, a unique mix of thandai, nuts, saffron and fennel, and Nimbu Pani, an Indian-style lemonade with chaat masala. But perhaps my favorite is falooda, a unique dessert drink with rose and sweet basil seeds, often served with ice cream.
Rose is a particularly common flavor in India, both in drinks and sweets. One business that embodies this flavor (with a unique Bay Area twist) is Naya Delights. Their drinks blend traditional Indian flavors with modern flair, allowing the Southeast Asian diaspora to feel connected even while celebrating in San Francisco. Their focus is on sharing these flavors with South Asians and non-South Asians by creating beverages that evoke nostalgia while also enticing newcomers with deliciousness. Diwali is a time for new experiences, irrespective of your background. In that spirit, I worked with them to develop a unique new take on a classic Indian drink designed to intrigue everyone.
Based in San Francisco, Dina Nova enjoys sharing her passion for fine wine, spirits, non-alcoholic craft beverages, and more with others.
cocktails with dina
Published October 17, 2024
