A glass of rosy summertime goodness

A tall glass of pink-coloured, milky goodness that brings back memories of good old times. It is this timeless goodness that continues to draw customers to the Rose Milk Centre, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, probably one of the oldest centres to serve the rose milk drink.

The shop, with a legacy of its own, is run by Ramachandra Rao and his younger brother, Rajendra Prasad. Every season sees large crowds, with many buying to-go packets of the drink also. Summer is the busiest season, says Rao. You can choose from three variations of the drink—plain, with ice cubes; rose milk falooda, or with khoa (milk solids).

The original recipe of the rose milk drink comes from Pakistan. Rao's father, Gubba Simhachalam, picked it up from friends who were Pakistani refugees living in Rajahmundry. In 1950, Simhachalam, started serving rose milk in his hometown a hand cart. He called it Simhachalam Rose Milk and a glass of the drink cost just one anna. Rao came to help his father in 1976.

Today, times have changed and cost of the ingredients have gone up, and so has the cost of the drink. The plain rose milk and falooda cost Rs 30 each, whereas the one with Khoa costs Rs 50.

“Ou clientele doesn't question the taste, neither do they question the rate,” says Rao. There is a slight disappointment though, for the rose syrup is not made from rose flowers. However, the drink uses water boiled with the vetiver root, which lends it a unique flavour. Permitted colours, and essence are also added to the drink.

"Our clientele has remained loyal to us and I have done the same business for 34 years," says Rao, who stands on a small platform at the counter and serves the clients all on his own. He has a bunch of women helping him from behind, as he quietly calls out for replenishments. "The ice is made from pure mineral water," he says. Full cream buffalo milk is used, part of which comes from his own farm. Khoa is also made from this milk. Besides loyal customers who come here for the refreshing glass of rose-coloured goodness, there are many who take home bottles of the custom-made rose milk syrup to try out the drink in their homes.

Rao says that despite a successful business, he is not interested in opening other branches. He, however, is open to the idea of franchises.