Jaljeera | Tangy Cumin Water | Refreshing Indian Drink
Jaljeera is an Indian beverage used as an aperitif during the summer season. It is best to consume 20-30 minutes before lunch or dinner. The word is derived from the Hindi word Jal which means Water & Jeera means Cumin. In English, you may also call Cumin Water.
Cumin has a long history & we use it as a traditional medicine in Ayurveda and add it as a spice in our food preparation. India is the largest producer of Cumin & contributes around 70% of world production.
With the recipe for jaljeera, here is some of the information about the drink:
Jaljeera has a long history, & its place of origin is India. It is one of the most popular North Indian drinks during the summertime because of its coolant effect. During the summer season, the temperature in Northern, Western & central India crosses 40 degrees & because of its cooling properties, it is popular in these regions.
Its main ingredients are water, cumin powder, dry ginger powder, black pepper powder, dry mango powder, lemon juice, mint leaves & black salt.
Jaljeera Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Roasted Jeera Powder (Roasted cumin seeds powder)
- 1 tsp Amchur (Dry Mango powder)
- 2 tbsp Mint leaves
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
- ½ tsp Black pepper powder
- 1 tsp Black salt
- ½ tsp Dry Ginger powder (Saunth)
- Pinch of Asafoetida (Hing)
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Grind the fresh mint leaves to a thin paste.
- Add all the above ingredients along with 4 cups of water. Mix it well.
- Finish it by adding lemon juice & salt to taste. Transfer it to glass & garnish with Mint leaves.
Notes
Benefits of Drinking Jaljeera:
- It helps to improve immunity.
- It is the best aperitif and helps to dilute your acidity problem.
- Best hydrated drink because of its cooling effect. People drink during a summer afternoon.
- Ginger powder & lemon juice helps to treat nausea.
- Cumin helps in the purification of blood and has lots of other benefits.
Let's see the importance of these ingredients:
Cumin (Jeera):
Cumin is a good source of Iron & potassium. It also contains magnesium, calcium & vitamin like A, B, and C. Cumin has lots of health benefits like it helps fight diabetes, lowers cholesterol levels, and helps in digestion.
Dry Ginger Powder (Saunth):
As per Ayurveda, dry ginger powder has health benefits: it has anti-inflammatory properties, helps to cure cold cough, ease bloating, stomach cramping, gas & improves digestion.
Black pepper powder (Kali Mirch):
Black pepper improves bone health, and is good for stomach pain & digest food.
Mango Powder (Amchur):
It is good digestive & helps to fight acidity & increase your digestion & good for the heart.
Lemon Juice:
It promotes weight loss, regulates blood sugar levels & helps to boost immunity. It is also good for the skin as it contains Vitamin C.
Mint Leaves:
One of the oldest herbs used in our kitchen. Mint has cooling properties, helps in digestion, has a refreshing taste & fights against acidity.
Black Salt
It is a good source of Iron, Magnesium & Calcium. It has a lower sodium level & helps in digestion. It treats constipation and acidity.
Asafoetida (Hing):
A pinch of hing helps to treat weak digestion & stomach ache. It is very effective & used in Indian kitchens for ages.
So all the ingredients in Jaljeera are good for the stomach. It acts as an aperitif & its tangy taste stimulates the taste buds. It removes toxins from the body & mint helps to bring down the body temperature & keep it cool. In northern, central & western India it is also known as body cooler.
