Did you ever think that Indian cuisine has many dishes that taste extra delicious at a particular time of the year? For instance, pakodas seem to be all the more delicious when enjoyed in monsoons with a cup of chai, while gajar ka halwa is a winter essential for us and so is sarso ka saag. On the other hand a chilled glass of jaljeera or aam panna is relished dring the scorching heat of summer season. Similarly, gur or jagggery is another such seasonal delicacy that is enjoyed at the onset of winter. While nowadays, it is available all year round, the freshest and the tastiest gur is only enjoyed during winters. In fact winter special recipes like chikki, gur ke chawal, etc., uses only gur as a sweetener. It replaces refined sugar in many desserts made in winters too.
While it is sort of a winter staple, did you know making gur is a time-consuming process? It requires a rigorous process of boiling the sugarcane juice till it is completely concentrated. And if you haven’t seen how it is made, we found a video giving a glimpse of the elaborate process. And let us tell you, we were amazed to see how is an energy and time-consuming process. Take a look:
In the video, shared by Foody Vishal on YouTube, we see how kilograms of sugarcanes are pressed through a giant juicer to extract fresh sugarcane juice. Post which, the juice is cleaned by boiling it at high temperatures so the impurities are removed. The clean juice is then processed by boiling till it is concentrated to a thin sticky orange liquid. Then the liquid is cooled down by folding it to give us the sweet treat of gur we know and love so much.
The wholesome video got close to 65k views and multiple comments. Jaggery or gur is highly recommended in winters due to its warm nature that is produced due to the calories in it, besides a host of health benefits. As per experts, it may help in reducing dryness of throat; it also helps reduce dryness of the throat. It also helps to dilate blood vessels and produces warmth in the body. It is therefore said to be beneficial to have jaggery in winters. Apart from the health benefits, gur is known to be versatile enough to be added in a number of delicacies. From desserts such as gajar ka halwa and ladoos to rice preparations like gur ke chawal, the sweet treat can be found in countless dishes. It is also a popular accompaniment with sarson ka saag and makki ki roti.
What do you think about the laborious process of gur-making? Let us know.