Kokum Sherbet: The Natural Summer Drink That Cools Body & Boosts Digestion

On a hot afternoon, cold water may not be the best option to quench our thirst. It may even be harmful. It is better to drink cold, chemical-filled drinks if they are going to upset our stomach. But there are many fruits that can make you feel as if a fan is on and help you gain weight and improve your digestion. One of them is kokum. It can prevent heat strokes during the summer season and calm your stomach from the inside. Here's the easiest way to make it.

Kokum is a fruit that grows mainly on the coasts of our country, like Goa and the Konkan region of Maharashtra. It is dry and sold as a fruit with its deep red color. In Ayurveda, it is considered a stomach healer because of its cooling effect. If you experience sour belching, chest acidity, or burning sensations in the palms and soles of your feet during the summer, kokum sherbet is a panacea. Its spicy and sweet-sour taste is so delicious that everyone, whether children or adults, feels instantly refreshed and cool after drinking it.

There are several benefits of Kokum sherbet, such as it instantly calms stomach heat. It contains hydroxycitric acid, which prevents fat accumulation in the body. It purifies the blood and removes impurities from the body. Drinking it after a heavy meal helps digestion and prevents bloating. It balances the body's electrolytes after sun exposure. In fact, it is so easy to make at home; all you need are these things: 

1. Dried kokum: 8-10 pieces
2. Jaggery or sugar: 1 tablespoon
3. Roasted cumin powder: 1/2 teaspoon
4. Black salt: to taste
5. Water: 2 glasses
6. Mint: 4-5 leaves

How to prepare?

First, wash the dried kokum with clean water. Soak it in half a cup of lukewarm water for 15-20 minutes. The water will turn a deep red. When the kokum swells, mash it well with your hands to extract all its juice. Strain this red water into a jug and discard the peel. Now, add cold water. Add ground cumin, black salt, and jaggery and stir with a spoon. Top with crushed mint leaves, add ice, and enjoy.