Rabri doodh does roaring business in Rawalpindi

RAWALPINDI: The rising temperature has led to an increase in sales of rabri doodh — a traditional creamy milk drink — in Rawalpindi, as the chilled drink provides much-needed respite from the heat.

Rabri doodh is prepared using creamy milk, khoya (dried whole milk), Chinese vermicelli, tukh malanga (chia or basil seeds), and almonds with crushed ice.

The drink is a healthy, refreshing, and soothing treat in the summers. It is a meal in itself for people who lose appetite for oil and spices in the summers.



A refreshing and soothing treat in the summers, rabri doodh is also being served to guests at homes and people also visit different markets to consume the seasonal drink.

Well known outlets of the drink are found in Saddar, Raja Bazaar, Commercial Market, and Sadiqabad.

Haq Baho Rabri Doodh at Saddar is considered the most famous and the busiest of all outlets as customers throng the shop especially in the evening to get some respite from scorching heat. Its popularity has led the owners to open another outlet nearby to accommodate the ever increasing number of customers.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Danish Raja, owner of the shop, said that his father had started the business after moving to Rawalpindi from Kashmir.

Muhammad Awais, a government employee out shopping with his family said all sorts of drinks and shakes were sold in Saddar bazaar during the summer but children and other family members favour rabri doodh more. “You can get different flavours of ice cream shakes, milk shakes, and other drinks at any time but rabri doodh is offered during summer only and its taste is very different,” he said.



Babar Majid a resident of Khawaja Corporation on Adiala Road said that it was a routine in summer to visit Saddar and drink rabri doodh. The creamy dessert is very delicious that they could not help drinking it.

It is so rich that you don’t need a meal after a full glass chilled rabri doodh.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2017.