How to make Kokum Sharbat at home

Kokum, scientifically known as Garcinia Indica, is a fruit native to the Western Ghats region of India. It is commonly used in culinary preparations, Ayurvedic medicine, and traditional remedies. Kokum offers several potential health benefits due to its rich nutritional profile and active compounds. 

To make Kokum Sharbat, a refreshing Indian drink, you'll need a few key ingredients and simple steps. Here's a recipe to guide you:

Ingredients:

1 cup dried kokum petals

4 cups water

1 cup sugar (adjust to taste)

1 teaspoon roasted cumin powder

Black salt or rock salt (to taste)

Ice cubes

Fresh mint leaves (for garnish, optional)

Instructions:

Wash the dried kokum petals under running water to remove any impurities. Place them in a bowl for one hour.

This will help extract the flavours from the kokum petals.

Then strain it into another bowl or jug using a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth. Press the kokum petals to extract as much liquid as possible.

Add sugar to the strained kokum liquid and stir well until the sugar dissolves completely. Taste the mixture and adjust the sugar according to your preference.

Now, add roasted cumin powder and black salt or rock salt to the kokum syrup. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.

Transfer the prepared kokum sharbat into a clean glass bottle or jar. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.

To serve, fill a glass with ice cubes and pour the kokum sharbat over the ice. You can dilute it with water according to your taste preference.

Garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired and enjoy the cool and tangy kokum sharbat!

Note: Kokum sharbat can be adjusted to suit your taste. If you prefer a more concentrated flavour, you can reduce the amount of water or increase the amount of kokum petals. Similarly, adjust the sugar, salt, and cumin powder to your liking.