Advancements in Ethnobotanical Sciences 2 2 2026 06 30 Ethnobotanically Important Beverages of India: A Mini-Review 35 47 10.34172/jaebs.2026.12 EN Sudip Kumar Mandal https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8547-030X Ismail Mondal https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3893-3837 Souvik Bhandary REVIEW 10.34172/jaebs.2026.12 2026 04 15 2026 06 10 India has exceptional biological and cultural diversity, and many communities prepare beverages from plants and plant-derived ingredients. This mini-review provides an overview of selected plant-based beverages consumed in India, focusing on their botanical sources, plant parts used, preparation practices, and cultural significance. Information was compiled from ethnobotanical studies, scientific publications, literature on traditional foods and beverages, and relevant online sources, and was reviewed descriptively. For each beverage, the region, community, plant material and part, scientific name, processing method, and traditional use were extracted and tabulated. Seventy-four beverage entries were compiled and grouped into five categories: fermented, non-fermented plant-based, tea- and coffee-based, milk- and yogurt-based, and other culturally significant preparations. Fermented and distilled beverages account for 32 of the 74 entries (43.2%) and are predominantly grain-based, including beverages made from rice (Oryza sativa), finger millet (Eleusine coracana), and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Non-fermented examples include Aam Panna, Kokum, Khus and Nannaari Sharbat, Buransh, Jal-Jeera, and Saunf Pani. Tea and coffee preparations include Masala Chai, Tulsi Tea, regional teas such as Assam, Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Kangra, and Indian filter coffee. Milk- and yogurt-based beverages include Haldi Doodh, Kesar Milk, and several types of lassi. Thandai and Bhang Lassi are examples of beverages with particular cultural associations. Traditional Indian beverages reflect the country's biocultural diversity and local knowledge of plant use and preparation. Their documentation would benefit from systematic reporting and reliable botanical identification. Traditional medicinal uses should be presented as ethnobotanical information and should not be interpreted as evidence of therapeutic efficacy without pharmacological or clinical support.