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For many of us, the only way to survive extreme summers is by having chilled drinks and if you are belonging to a desi household, cold drinks are not your cup of tea. You would rather go for a glass of chilled sharbat. Isn’t it? We are familiar what sharbats are. While some are made with fruit juices, some are the extracts from herbs and flowers which are mixed with water and sugar. Did you know that sharbat could be labelled as the world’s first soft drink?
If some legends are to be believed, ‘sharbat’ is a Persian word which comes from Arabic word ‘shariba’ and indicates to a drink made of sugar and water. This drink was believed to feature Zakhireye Khwarazm Shahi which is a 12th century’s Persian medical encyclopedia. Among so many sharbats we know, there is one green coloured concentration best known for its taste and cooling properties. We are talking about the khus sharbat. Extracted from vetiver grassroot or khus, this bright green coloured concoction is power packed with ample health benefits too. Loaded with vitamin A, B, and C, Khus sharbat has immunity boosting power and can protect the body from the adverse effects of changing weather. Besides, it is high in antioxidants and reduces inflammation in the body. It can help in promoting better eye health and ensures proper blood circulation in the body.
You may find this sharbat at some old shops, but many have started to forget about it, thanks to the market invasion by cold and fancy drinks. But is it possible to make this sharbat at home to bring back the childhood memories? Yes, it is! Here is the recipe.
Khus Sharbat
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tsp khus or vetiver essence
- 4 cups water
- 3 cups sugar
- 2 tsp green colour
Method
- To begin with, heat a pan and add sugar and water. Keep stirring the mixture and mix until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- When the sugar has dissolved completely, let the mixture come to a boil. Cook until the mixture gets thickened properly. Try to get one thread consistency.
- To check the one-thread consistency, take a drop of the mixture and press it between your forefinger and thumb and see if a thread is formed when you separate the fingers. If yes, you have attained the right consistency.
- Now, add in the khus essence along with green colour. Mix well and store the mixture into an air-tight bottle.
- At the time of serving, add this mixture up to ¼th capacity of the glass and add water and ice. Serve.
- You can also add milk and served a beautiful green coloured delight to your kids!
Try making this sharbat at home and let us know if you liked it!
