DRINKING WATER & BEVERAGES The Indian loves tea called locally chai it forms an essential part of the social milieu and served as a hospitality brew. Tea is available all over in roadside teashops or restaurant and even on railway and bus stand platforms. A very hygienic tea service is available largely on railway station is in clay pot, which are disposable, but this now being replaced by disposable plastic cups. Unless you specify specially tea is a mixed brew and many traveller find it too sweet. So you specify tea in a tray and manage the addition of milk and sugar. Coffee though less freely available can be found in more exclusive joints. Now coffee vending machine of popular international brands is also gaining currency and some places also have an espresso machine. There is an apparent over dose of international Cola and carbonated drinks like Coco Cola and Pepsi, which are available in abundance at every corner. These are supplemented by local brands like Thums UP and Limca. Masala Soda a peculiar concoction of rock salt and lime with soda can be a pleasant surprise and very digestive. A variety of fresh and canned fruit juices and local drink particularly good for summer like khas and rose are also very soothing. A diluted and churned curd drink called lassi, which is thinly salted and sweetened and often topped with cream can be quite filling and a remedy to sun strokes. A variety of alcoholic drinks like whiskey, gin, rum, brandy or vodka is available in good standard. Blended whiskeys with Scotch are available and are generally more expensive. Wines and Champaign are also available but in major towns. Bottled and canned Beer is very easily available and is generally chilled before sale. Bars are licensed by the government and are available only in mid range and expensive hotels. There are plenty of liquor shops but public drinking is banned.

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