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A traditional South Indian summer cooler that's both refreshing and divine. Made with jaggery, ginger, and cardamom, this sweet and spicy drink is a festive favorite, especially for Sri Rama Navami, offering a perfect balance of flavors to quench your thirst.
For 4 servings
In a large bowl or pitcher, combine the jaggery powder and 4 cups of chilled water. Stir continuously with a whisk for 3-5 minutes, or until the jaggery has completely dissolved.
Place a fine-mesh sieve or a piece of muslin cloth over a clean bowl. Carefully pour the jaggery water through it to strain out any impurities. This step is crucial for a clean, smooth drink.
To the strained jaggery water, add the dry ginger powder, cardamom powder, freshly crushed black pepper, and fresh lemon juice. Stir well to combine all the spices.
If using, add a tiny pinch of edible camphor. This adds a unique, divine aroma characteristic of temple prasad. Mix one last time.
For the best taste, chill the Panakam in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving. Pour into glasses, garnish with a fresh tulsi leaf if desired, and serve cold.
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A traditional South Indian summer cooler that's both refreshing and divine. Made with jaggery, ginger, and cardamom, this sweet and spicy drink is a festive favorite, especially for Sri Rama Navami, offering a perfect balance of flavors to quench your thirst.
This south_indian recipe takes 10 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 157.03 calories per serving with 0.28g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for beverage.
Add a pinch of nutmeg powder or a few crushed saffron strands for a different aromatic profile.
Lightly muddle a few mint leaves in the bottom of the pitcher before adding the Panakam for an extra layer of freshness.
While jaggery is traditional, you can also make this with palm sugar or coconut sugar for a slightly different flavor.
Panakam is an excellent natural coolant that helps replenish fluids and essential electrolytes lost through sweat, making it a perfect beverage for hot summer days.
The inclusion of dry ginger and black pepper helps stimulate digestive enzymes, preventing indigestion and bloating, and promoting overall gut health.
Jaggery, being an unrefined sugar, is a good source of essential minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are vital for energy production and maintaining bodily functions.
The combination of lemon juice (a source of Vitamin C), ginger, and pepper provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that help strengthen the immune system.
Yes, Panakam is considered a healthy beverage. It acts as a natural electrolyte drink, aids digestion thanks to ginger and pepper, and provides minerals from the unrefined jaggery. It's a much healthier alternative to processed sugary drinks.
One serving of Panakam (approximately 1 cup or 240ml) contains around 190-200 calories, primarily from the jaggery.
You can, but it will significantly change the taste, color, and nutritional profile. Jaggery provides the authentic, earthy flavor and beneficial minerals that are central to this traditional recipe.
Panakam is best consumed fresh on the day it is made. However, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. The flavors might intensify over time.
Panakam is a traditional offering (naivedyam) made to Lord Rama on his birthday, Sri Rama Navami. It is then distributed to devotees as a cooling and energizing drink to combat the intense summer heat during the festival.
Jaggery is a natural, unrefined sugar and can sometimes contain tiny particles of sugarcane fiber or other impurities. Straining ensures the final drink is smooth, clean, and pleasant to drink.