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There is no dearth of beverages in India. Every region in the subcontinent has a signature drink that can impress you with its enticing flavours. Lassi, shikanji, nimbu pani, sherbat and thandai make regular appearances in our wide range of beverages. Though there are times when some regional drinks are left from this amazing list. Panakam, also known as Panagam is a traditional beverage hailing from the southern regions of India. It is a cooler which is mostly savoured in the harsh months of summer. Panakam is simply a healthy dose of freshness which is apt for the sweltering weather. The delightful concoction is made from water and jaggery, which is then flavoured with aromatic spices like ground black peppercorns and cardamom powder. Panakam also has ayurvedic-properties in it because of the use of spices like peppercorns and ginger, which makes it an energy-boosting drink. The drink is also savoured during auspicious festivities like Ram Navami across the country. Panakam is very easy to prepare. You only need a handful of ingredients to put this drink together. The primary elements mostly involve lemon juice, jaggery, ginger powder, cardamom powder and black pepper. You can also add holy basil leaves (Tulsi) into the drink to give it an extra layer of flavour. Moreover, the quantity of the ingredients in this drink can also be adjusted as per your requirements. If you want your panakam to be less sour then you can remove the lemon juice completely, but we recommend you to try it with lemon as it provides a nice zingy flavour to the drink. So, without further ado, here’s the recipe for traditional panakam.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup jaggery (250g)
- 5 cardamoms
- ¼ black pepper
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1 fresh lemon
- 5 glass cold water
Preparations:
1. Pestle or crush jaggery into a fine powder.
2. In a pitcher pour the water with jaggery powder and stir it well.
3. Muddle cardamom and dry ginger together then add it to the mixture.
4. Add a dash of lemon juice by squeezing the lemon. Then stir the mixture well for a couple of seconds.
Your panakam is ready for slurping.
