Lemonade with Indian Spices

Jayasri Ravi — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 11:31:03 +0000

Three weeks ago one fine day, yes, I mean it! I know you are wondering fine and English weather not a good combination, but a big YES! just like today :). It was a beautiful sunny day for almost a week and I was so thrilled to think that finally the spring is here, my tulips have all blossomed beautifully and my little cherry blossom tree is full of pink flowers and all the perennial shrubs are springing back to life. I was literally dancing with joy! Ahem.., don't laugh if you are in this part of the world you would too! I am a fanatic gardener, mean to say I am not an expert but love gardening I try my best to keep all my plants alive (most of the time).

Remember my post when I told you about the wind which took off with my greenhouse and all the pots in it. It destroyed few of my plants and pots, my garden was looking like somebody ransacked my garden with a vengence. Every day I used to stand in my conservatory and cry myself in my heart thinking when is all this going to be set right? Sigh.

All these days I hadn't stepped out to clean up my garden, I hate to go out when it is cold and your hands go freezing. When the sun came up it was like a gold lining on every cloud visible. My conservatory gets too hot when the sun is bright. Anyways I was so excited at last I could clean up my garden did a lot of jobs cleaned out the whole garden got rid of all the weeds and made space for the sprouting plants. Had to bin few pots and sorted out all compose and I have dumped them in a big bin so I can sort it out later, when doing all this I got really thirsty that was when I made this lemonade, I make this often because I love it!, If you taste it you would too.

It brings back memories, it's always going back to our memory lane! something to chew on when you are getting old. The good old memories bring joy, happiness, tenderness and all the sparkle in your eyes right? Just like spring. Amma(mum) used to make this lemonade often made this for us to keep us hydrated. Summer in India is unbearable we get our school holidays just for the kids to stay at home. That's when we need lots and lots to drink, my parents never bought any aerated drinks for us it was always homemade and super healthy with herbs and an Ayurvedic touch to it. This is one such drink which we used to enjoy.

I don't make this lemonade just during summer, but whenever I feel I need some refreshing drink, As I don't drink any aerated drinks very rarely I take a sip or two of coco-cola or a fanta, I always love to drink fresh fruit juices. This reminds me of Banglaore my home town, during summer we have all these shops spring up where they sell fresh fruit juices. So, when I went out I used to go looking for these kinds of shops where we would get fresh fruit juices. I don't get this kind of happiness here, it's always bottled juices in our supermarkets!

Coming back to this recipe, it has a touch of Indian panakam (juice) recipe it's so delicious you will love it, It has also turmeric and ginger which has anti-inflammatory properties, helps you in many ways good for joint pains, osteoporosis, digestion and has many health benefits.

LEMONADE WITH INDIAN SPICES

Recipe Author: Jayasri
Recipe type: Juices/Drinks/Mocktails
Prep time: 10minutes
Time: 20 minutes
Shelf life: 1 month
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients:

1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
3'' turmeric stick
2'' Ginger
3 cloves
3 to 4 cardamom pods
3 and 1/2 cups of water

Method:

Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them). In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame. Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.

Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

NOTES:

*You can use sugar or Jaggery to make this I have given measurements to my liking you can increase or decrease the sweetness apt to the Lime/Lemons you use.

I have given the shelf life as a month, but I have used it before that.

C you soon with a cold soup stay tuned and enjoy the weather.

Lemonade with a Indian Spices

A very refreshing drink which is not only delicious but is loaded with aniti-inflammatory properties and keeps fresh and hydrate in summer

Course Juices/Drinks/Mocktails

Cuisine Indian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Author Jayasri

Ingredients

1 Cup Sugar/1/4 to 1/3 cup of grated Jaggery*
1/2 to 3/4 Cup Lemon/Lime Juice from 10 Lemons/Limes
3 '' turmeric stick
2 '' Ginger
3 cloves
3 to 4 cardamom pods
3 and 1/2 cups of water

Instructions

Using a pestle and mortar or a mixie grind dried turmeric, ginger, cardamom and cloves. (I used my pestle and mortar and crushed all of them). In a vessel take 3 cups of water add the crushed spices and add it to the water and allow it to boil for 10 minutes in a low to medium flame. Then add sugar or Jaggery and boil for another 3 to 4 minutes. Once the sugar dissolves filter everything into another bowl and then allow it cool down completely.
Once it cools down completely add the filtered lemon/lime juice and mix well and store it in an air tight clean bottle and store it in the fridge as it is like a squash you can add water and serve it.

Notes