Love for Lassi: A Refreshing Ride Tracing The Enduring Popularity of Lassi

“It’s India’s first probiotic drink,” said Richa Sharma, founder of CurryIt, and a food enthusiast. “I'm a Punjabi, so Lassi is almost synonymous with my identity.”

Read: Chai in a Changing India: The Journey from Street Stalls to Global Chains

Lassi, being such a crowd favourite, is now packaged and flavoured in multiple ways to make it easy to access for the modern Indian. We trace the socio-cultural and historical roots of this beloved drink, and dig deeper into why it continues to be such a favourite, even amidst the rise of many different probiotic, refreshing drinks.

This is a series called ‘A Sip of History’, where we trace the journey of beverages commonly found in Indian households back to their roots. We then try to understand how they’ve evolved, how businesses and products have been built to incorporate them and what they mean to the modern urban Indian.

Historical Roots of Lassi

Some sources date back to the creation of this drink as early as 1000 BC. This estimate is based on trade relations being established between the Punjabi-Multani region, where lassi originated and the Mesopotamian civilisation, where yoghurt had been in use since 5000 BC.

Arun Chopra, an executive chef of the Taj Mahal Hotel, while speaking to a media publication, said, “In the old days, when there were no refrigerators, the Punjabi farmers used to drink milk cooled in a clay pot and mixed with curd and sugar and stirred by a wooden stick,”

Even in the present day, people in Punjab confirm that no meal feels complete without a tall glass of lassi. With its thick and frothy texture, it is often topped with a layer of malai (cream).

Thick, Frothy and a Staple: Social Relevance of Lassi

Traditionally, lassi is served in an earthen cup, or kulhad, or a steel glass. It leaves a moustache-like milk mark when drunk, and makes one feel a bit drowsy. In the present day, there are many types of it, like rose, mango or other added flavours, but the original form of it was between two broad flavours, sweet or salty. Its popularity lies not only in its taste, but also accessibility and affordability.

Sweet lassi is a rich and indulgent drink made by blending thick curd with water and sugar, often garnished with malai (clotted cream) for an added layer of decadence. The salty version, on the other hand, is a savoury delight featuring salt and spices like cumin and cardamom, sometimes with a dash of black salt for an extra punch. It is often topped with freshly chopped coriander leaves, enhancing its refreshing taste.

In the heart of Amritsar or Ludhiana, lassi can be found being served in oversized glasses, sometimes churned by hand in wooden madanis for that signature, grainy texture.

Makhaniya Lassi is a popular drink in Jodhpur, known for its extra creamy texture that lends it the name.

Richa, from CurryIt, added that through her travels through the country, she’s witnessed lassi being prepared and had, with minor variations. “Namkeen lassi, pudina lassi and other variants pop up in different geographies,” she said.

Culturally, lassi is often associated with making people feel sleepy. Richa confirmed, “It actually calms you down.”

The reason behind this is possibly the presence of tryptophan in yoghurt, the main ingredient of lassi. Tryptophan is an amino acid that the body converts into serotonin. Serotonin is then converted to melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep cycles.

Richa adds how truck drivers who are on the road for many hours at a stretch, often stop at dhabas for a quick boost of food and lassi, and a short nap , before continuing driving again.

Coconut Mein Lassi Milake: Pop Culture References of Lassi

Being such a cultural icon, it’s found its way into several advertisements, films and pop-culture elements.

A 2008, an ad campaign for HSBC, showed a Polish washing machine manufacturer's representative being sent to India to uncover the cause of high sales in the region. Upon arriving, the representative is directed to a lassi parlour, where he is welcomed with warmth. He is then shown around the kitchen, where several washing machines are being used to mix lassi. The owner then tells him he is able to "make ten times” more lassi than he was making earlier!

Watch it here.

The most fun trivia? Popular song Mauja hi Mauja from Jab We Met has a tiny, blink-and-you-miss-it cameo which shows the Punjabi household actually making lassi in a washing machine! It’s towards the beginning of the song. You can watch the clip on this Reddit post.

In 2013, a group of IIT Kharagpur students tried to convince Google to name its next Android version Lassi.

Coconut Lassi from SRK starrer Chennai Express was a big deal after the lyric “coconut mein lassi milake” became a household favourite. You hummed it in your head too, right?

In an interview with a media publication about the family drama Kapoor and Sons, Sidharth Malhotra said, "Since Alia and I had worked with him earlier too, it was ghar ki murgi daal barabar. But Fawad was Rishi Sir's favourite. He is a true Punjabi, very hospitable, and greets you with food and lassi. So he and Fawad bonded every evening over lassi after 8 pm. The film's director, Shakun Batra added, "Maybe we should have called the film 'Lassi And Sons. Lassi, of course, being the cover word for slightly more potent stuff.”

Packaged Lassi, Businesses Around Lassi

Packaged drinks make lassi available everywhere, in different flavours like Rose lassi and Mango lassi. These are available at local grocery stores, vending machines and quick commerce delivery apps, making lassi accessible at any point, anywhere.

Amul packages lassi in tetra packs, and Maaza, popularly known for its mango drink, has now expanded to lassi as well.

With its natural probiotics, calcium-rich base, and gut-soothing properties, it has found a place on health-conscious menus across metros. A restaurant in Delhi called The Healthy Lassi Co serves many different varieties of the drink, in flavours like kiwi, almond, blueberry and even chocolate! To make the experience more gourmet, they offer custom toppings like mint, saffron, mango chunks, whey and rose petals. For those who are lactose intolerant, they offer milk alternatives too. For sweeteners, one can choose between honey, gur, stevia and maple syrup.

For many Indians, lassi isn’t just a way to beat the heat but a symbol of rootedness, a symbol of home and familiarity. Even in fast-paced cities, lassi evokes the sentiment of being at home, of long-forgotten memories, and easy, fulfilling nourishment.