Puliambazha Panagam/Hunase Hannina Panaka - Tamarindade

PULIAMBAZHA PANAGAM/HUNASE HANNINA PANAKA

It is customary to make, distribute and relish Panagams/Panakas while celebrating feasts like Ugadi, Ramanavami and Tamizh Varushapirappu which always fall during the Summer months.The traditional thirst quenchers act as ORS (Oral Re hydration Solutions) and prevent dehydration while helping one to beat the sweltering heat.  Home made Panagams/Panakas are refreshing drinks with lots of health benefits without any side effects. Various types of Panagams/Panakas are prepared using different ingredients, the most common being the Indian lemonade prepared out of lime and jaggery.

Puliambazha Panagam / Hunase Hannina Panaka is a  sweet and tangy thirst quencher prepared using Tamarind and Jaggery. Both Tamarind and Jaggery are rich sources of iron and help in  Rakta Vridhi, meaning: improves the red blood cell count.This drink detoxes the system, purifies blood and is also beneficial for digestive health. Tamarindade is an easy to make healthy drink to stand up to the heat of Summer the healthy way.

INGREDIENTS

Tamarind - 1 lemon size ball

Jaggery - 1 orange size ball

Fresh ginger (peeled and crushed) - 1 tbsp

Powdered cardamom - 1 pinch

Salt - 1/4 tsp

METHOD

1. Boil tamarind and jaggery in 2 glasses ( 1/2 liter) of water.

2. Boil till the jaggery melts completely emanating a pleasant aroma.

3. Cool the tamarind - jaggery water and filter it.

4. Add 2 more glasses of water to make one liter of Panagam/Panaka.

5. Mix in the crushed ginger and cardamom powder.

Chill the Puliambazha Panagam / Hunase Hannina Panaka / Tamarindade and relish the sweet sour drink sip by sip.