Variyali Sherbet From Gujarat To Beat The Heat

By Devi Poojari

The variyali sherbet – a fennel-based drink sweetened with rock candy (khadi saakhar), is known to be one of the go-to drinks in Gujarati households that is served as a welcome drink or mid-day beverage during the summers.

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons fennel seeds 1 lemon-sized ball rock candy 2 cups water 3-4 mint leaves Few drops lemon juice

METHOD

Soak the fennel seeds in a cup of water, overnight.

METHOD

Drain it the next morning and use a mortar and pestle to grind into a coarse paste.

METHOD

Add a lemon-sized piece of rock candy to the pestle and continue to pound the fennel and candy mixture until it turns dark green.

METHOD

Scoop the fine paste using a spoon into a strainer and press the pulp to squeeze out the juices into a glass or jar of your choice.

METHOD

Add a few mint leaves to this concentrate, if necessary, and pour some cold water to top it up.

METHOD

Add a dash of lime juice and drink at room temperature or chilled.