Kashaya

The weather has been playing tricks on us lately! One moment it’s hot and sunny, the next it turns cloudy, followed by heavy rain. With these sudden changes in weather, many people seem to be down with colds and the flu.

Along with proper medication and care, simple home remedies can also be comforting and helpful.

So, I’m sharing a simple and traditional Kashaya recipe that is perfect for this unpredictable weather. 

Ingredients:

• 5–6 Betel leaves (Paan leaves)
• A few Doddapatre / Indian borage leaves/Sambarpalli
• 1 small piece ginger, crushed
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• 8–10 black peppercorns
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• A small piece of jaggery, to taste
• 1–2 stalks lemongrass, chopped or smashed(not in the picture)
• 3–4 cups water

Method:

1. Wash the betel leaves, doddapatre leaves and lemongrass well.
2. Crush the ginger, peppercorns, coriander seeds and cumin seeds slightly.
3. Add everything to a vessel along with the water and turmeric powder.
4. Boil well and let it simmer until the water reduces to about half.
5. Add jaggery towards the end and mix until dissolved.
6. Strain and serve warm.

A warm, comforting drink for those rainy days and sudden weather changes!

This is a traditional home remedy and not a substitute for medical treatment.