Sonti Kashayam Dried Ginger Ale

[Snowy Owl]

<small><small>Sonti Kashayam, </small></small>


Dried Ginger Ale

http://www.nandyala.org/mahanandi/archives/2006/01/23/sonti-kashayam-dried-ginger-ale/

I was tagged by lovely Rosa of Yummy Yums to list my cold/flu remedies. Like her, it?s been a while, 10 years to be exact, since I got sick. I go through mental up&downs like a normal human being, but physical ailments like common cold/flu, fever etc., nothing, nada, zip. My immune system, like me, seems to be enjoying an early retirement deal. Or overworking? Anyway, the deal is not bad at all.
Home remedies for common cold & flu, that I can think of, like and often prepare-cold or no cold, are- one is tomato rasam, I blogged already and the other is ?sonti kashayam?. This traditional remedy, an ayurvedic weapon against cold/flu is prepared with dried ginger, black peppercorns and sweetened with jaggery or honey. The resulting concoction is one strong drink that reboots the downgraded systems, starting with GI. Body on fire, is the sensation it gives at first. Then once it settled down there, ginger and peppercorn work their magical powers and make the symptoms of cold/flu disappear.

Recipe:
<small>(For two cups)</small>

1 inch length dried ginger (Sonti) <small>(available in Indian grocery shops)</small>
4 peppercorns (Miriyalu)
1 tsp of powdered jaggery or honey
1 glass of water

Preparation:

First, make a powder of dried ginger and peppercorns using a mortar and pestle. Meanwhile take water in a pot, bring it to a rolling boil. Add the powdered ginger, pepper and jaggery to the water. Cover partially; boil it for at least 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, cover completely, and let it rest for 5 minutes. After 5 to 10 minutes of rest period, using a filter, pour the drink into a glass. Stir to cool and finish it off in two or three gulps.
Set the body on fire and say goodbye to cold/flu symptoms.

Variation - add tealeaves to make an extra strong tea or plain soda (carbonated water) to make ale.

<small><center>A glass of Sonti Kashayam (dried ginger ale)</center></small>
I like this meme (to spread) and I would love to learn other food bloggers remedies for common cold/flu. So I?m going to tag

Barbara of Tigers and Strawberries
Barrett of Too Many Chefs
Brett of In Praise of Sardines
Doc of Gluttony is no Sin
Heidi of 101 Cookbooks <small>(Thank you Heidi, for ?Daily Links?)</small>
Kay of Towards a Better Tomorrow
Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness

I?m sure they have some fabulous remedies up their sleeves and I hope they share them with us

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Sonti Kashayam Dried Ginger Ale

I used 2 teaspoons of dried ground ginger, freshly ground pepper and honey.
Not able to filter it becouse the ginger and pepper were so finely ground.

[Mellie]

Re: Sonti Kashayam Dried Ginger Ale

We drink this often in the winter - ginger, peppercorns, with honey and a twist of lemon added at the last minute. Our son came up with it several years ago, recommended by his kung fu teacher -- and we all like it.
.

[Mingus]

Re: Sonti Kashayam Dried Ginger Ale

I once do something like that but with fresh ginger roots and lemon.
I made the ginger "confit" (boiled in satureted sugar water) to get my concentrated wich will stay in the fridge for mounth and use it to make my lemonade.

That's very good.