Experience the love in every sip with this delicious watermelon drink recipe from India. This appetizing (non-alcoholic) watermelon rose drink is perfect for hot summer days! Make this Mohabbat ka Sharbat recipe in just 10 minutes! Can easily be made dairy-free!
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What is Mohabbat ka Sharbat
I didn't come up with this name! This Indian watermelon drink is actually called Mohabbat ka Sharbat! Some also like to call it Sharbat-e-Mohabbat or Pyaar Mohabbat Sharbat. In Urdu and Hindi. Mohabbat means love and sharbat means sugar-based juice or drink. So it's a "drink of love". The name justifies this drink!
Mohabbat ka Sharbat recipe is mainly made with milk, Rooh Afza (rose syrup), sugar, watermelon juice, and chunks! These ingredients are carefully blended in exact measurements to attain the ideal harmony of sweetness and freshness. If you love watermelon and rose flavors, you will love this drink! Just a few sips can cool and refresh you instantly.
Origin of this watermelon drink
Many theories and stories are out there talking about why and how this drink got its name. Many feel that the best Mohabbat ka Sharbat can be found on the streets of Old Delhi, near Jama Masjid. This rose sharbat was made popular by Nawab Qureshi, the owner of the Pyaar Mohabbat Sharbat Wala shop in Matia Mahal. There are stories of it originating in the royal kitchens of India too.
Over time, this watermelon drink gained a lot of fan following because of its cooling properties and unique blend of flavors. This popular Indian street food of India is also very popular in Pakistan. It's ritually consumed during Eid and Ramadan as one of the most popular Iftari drinks. If you love exploring Pakistani cuisine, then check out my Aloo Bharta recipe.
Best watermelon drink recipe
This watermelon dessert drink is perfect to cool you down on a hot summer day. Mohabbat e Sharbat is loved by kids and adults! It has the potential to become a staple at picnics and backyard parties everywhere. I love this fruit-based drink in comparison to other fruit juices because it has a very unique flavor. There are many variations to making Sharbat e Mohabbat, and this is my indulgent homemade version of the recipe.
Why make this
- Can be made in 10 minutes with 7 ingredients
- Requires basic pantry essentials and little prep time
- It's easy, simple and quick to make
- It's a vibrant, cool, and refreshing drink
- No blender or gadgets required
- This indulgent rose sharbat recipe can easily be doubled or tripled
- Can easily be made vegan
🧾 Ingredients Needed
Watermelon is a delicious and nutritious fruit that many enjoy during summer. This Indian drink recipe calls for fresh watermelon. Make sure that the watermelon is ripe and red to get the best color and flavor in the drink. It also gives a nice crunch when drinking this sharbat.
Milk - To make a smoother and creamier summer drink, use full-fat whole milk. You can also use low-fat or fat-free milk but then the drink will get too watery because of the ice cubes. Half-and-half or creamers can also be used.
Rose syrup - Use any homemade or store-bought rose syrup or Rooh Afza. This is what gives this non-alcoholic summer drink a beautiful pink hue. It also gives the drink a sweet underlying rose flavor. Rose also pairs well with watermelons.
BTW, I love adding Rooh Afza to many recipes like Rose Lemonade, Mango Rose Lassi, Coconut Rose Ladoos, and Rose Basundi.
Sweetener - I have used Simple Syrup as it blends well in the milk. You can also use powdered sugar or make fresh sugar syrup. You can also use castor sugar or icing sugar here.
Vanilla Ice cream and condensed milk are generally added to give this Indian watermelon drink a rich and creamy texture.
Chia seeds or sabja seeds (holy basil seeds) are added to give this watermelon drink some texture. Alternatively, you can also use boiled sago or cooked vermicelli instead for some texture.
Dried or fresh rose petals can be added as garnish. It's optional though.
How To Make It 🔪
- Soak chia seeds in ¼ cup of water for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, de-seed and chop the watermelon in your preferred shape. I used a fruit melon baller to shape them in rounds. Chef tip - If you have time, once cut, pop them in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
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- In a mixing bowl, add chilled milk, simple syrup, rose syrup, soaked chia seeds, and condensed milk.
- Then add the watermelon balls. Reserve some for garnish.
- Now add the vanilla ice cream and ice cubes (only if serving immediately).
- Mix it all.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Pour in serving glasses, and top it with chopped watermelon and dried rose petals (for an extra boost of flavor and texture). Serve with both a spoon and a sipping straw. Transfer the bowl to the fridge if there's still time to serve. Always serve Mohabbat ka Sharbat chilled.
Some other toppings like dry fruits, chopped nuts, tutti frutti, jelly, cardamom powder, saffron, and whipped cream can also be added (similar to Mango Mastani). You can pair this watermelon mocktail with some spicy food like Indian Curry Pasta, Soya Pulao, Veg Kolhapuri, Misal Pav, or Spicy Thai Noodles!
This non-alcoholic watermelon rose milk is ideal for date nights, Valentine's Day, potlucks, picnics, parties, weddings, baby showers, and festive occasions like Diwali, Holi, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
💭 Priya's Recipe Tips
Keep the size of the watermelon chunks small bite-sized. They should not be too big. Taste before adding the ice cubes. The drink should be very sweet. The ice cubes will dilute the sweetness when added. As an additional step, you can freeze milk in ice trays and use these milk cubes instead of regular ice cubes.
You can easily make this thirst-quenching drink with any other juicy fruit like pomegranate, mango, apples, musk melon, strawberries, honeydew, etc.
FAQs 📖
Yes. I have used fresh fruit but you can also use frozen ones to make this drink. Frozen watermelon will be good for eight to 12 months, which is perfect to use when it is no longer the watermelon season. Cut and deseed the fruit and spread it on a tray. Flash-freeze it for a couple of hours. Then transfer it to a storage bag and store it in the freezer. Chop and use as needed.
This watermelon drink can be made ahead of time. Store it in the fridge. Add the ice cubes just before serving the drink. It will stay good in the fridge for 1-2 days. Another fun way of consuming any leftover watermelon milkshake is to convert it into a Popsicle or even an ice cream! Get creative!
Instead of whole milk, use any unsweetened plain non-dairy milk like cashew milk or almond milk and instead of condensed milk, use dairy-free condensed milk. Vanilla ice cream can be skipped or use vegan vanilla ice cream. These alternate kinds of milk are also a great option if you are looking to make Mohabbat ka Sharbat without milk. You can use vegan honey as a sweetener.
I have used simple syrup because that will blend easily with the milk. You can also use powdered sugar. Regular sugar will not blend easily since this is a cold drink. Jaggery or sugar-free options can also be used. It will alter the taste/color of the drink.
If you want to make this drink without Rooh Afza or rose syrup, then substitute it for kewra water or rose essence. In that case, mix fresh watermelon juice with milk along with the chunks. That will ensure you still get this beautiful color.
According to Ayurveda, mixing milk with watermelon may cause some gastric issues because of the high water content in watermelon. So if you have a sensitive stomach, you may want to skip this drink. But there are many people (including us) in the world who consume it without any issues. It is one of those drinks where milk and water-based fruit go well together. Also, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. But please use your discretion.
More summer drink recipes
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Recipe 📖
Mohabbat ka Sharbat | Watermelon Drink Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 cup watermelon chunks
- 2 cups chilled milk
- 2 tablespoon simple syrup
- ¼ cup condensed milk
- 2 tablespoon rose syrup
- 2-3 scoops Vanilla ice cream
- 1 cup ice cubes
Instructions
- Soak chia seeds in ¼ cup of water for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile, de-seed and chop the watermelon in your preferred shape. I used a fruit melon baller to shape them in rounds. Chef tip - If you have time, once cut, pop them in the freezer for 5-10 minutes.
- In a mixing bowl, add chilled milk, simple syrup, rose syrup, soaked chia seeds, and condensed milk.
- Then add the watermelon balls. Reserve some for garnish.
- Now add the vanilla ice cream and ice cubes (only if serving immediately).
- Mix it all together.
- Pour in serving glasses, top it with chopped watermelon and dried rose petals (for an extra boost of flavor and texture). Serve with both a spoon and a sipping straw.
Notes
Nutrition
Darwin says
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It seems like some of the written text on your posts are
running off the screen. Can someone else please provide feedback and let me know if this is happening
to them too? This could be a problem with my internet browser
because I've had this happen before. Kudos
Priya says
Hi, Thank you so much for writing in. Can you please provide more details on this..what internet browser are you using and what operating system? and did you check this from phone or desktop? please let us know so we can check. Thank you
Erika Ravnsborg says
This looks fabulous. I love watermelon in the summertime.
Priya says
Thank you. Do give it a try! It tastes so good.
Cathleen says
This looks so refreshing!!! I have yet to buy watermelon, but will definitely give this a go when I find some in the grocery stores!
Romina says
I love this. Watermelon juice is something I grew up with and when I have it as an adult I always feel nostalgic
Priya says
Yes, I love it too. It's so refreshing.
Pravin says
Prepared this yesterday for a few friends coming over, turned out to amazing, everyone loved it including kids. Made it with roohafza since couldn't find rose syrup, very easy to make and took less time. Thanks for bringing a different perspective of watermelon into our lives..there were multiple servings taken.
Priya says
Thank you so much. Glad you and your friends enjoyed.
Andrea Metlika says
This sounds very refreshing and healthy.
Priya says
Thank you
Pam says
We love watermelon too, but can you believe we have never made it into a drink? Thanks for all of the tips.
Priya says
Oh then you must give this drink a try! It tastes so good.
Naughty Kitchen says
This is such a good idea. I have all the ingredients EXCEPT the main one - WATERMELON! haha
Priya says
haha..pick it up from a local grocery store.. 🙂