DISH NAME : KOKUM SHARBATH (GARCINIA INDICA SWEET DRINK)

Preparation Time : 20 minutes

Cooking Time : 15 minutes

Description

Garcinia indica or kokum is a fruit tree, of culinary and medicinal use. The fruit is dark in colour, purple to black color, and sticky. The fruit is often halved and sun-dried to a semi-dry stage before being used. It is a preferred ingredient in Maharashtra, Goa and Konkan region.The ones found in Konkan region imparts a nice purple color, wheras the Garcinia cambogia,(kudampuli)found in Kerala is more blackish. Here i have used the kokum found in Konkan(Goa) region, which is less sour and renders more beautiful purple color. This variety is suited to make sharbath.

Method

1) Wash kokum well.
2) Soak kokum in boiling hot water for atleast 3 hours.
3) Grind kokum with the soaked water to a fine paste.
4) Add sugar with the water needed for sugar. Bring to a boil & let the sugar dissolve.
5) Now add kokum paste.
6) Mix in black salt, pepper powder & cumin powder. Stir well. Boil this mixture on medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes till it becomes thick & syrupy.
7) When cool strain the mixture & bottle it. Keep in fridge.
8) This is the concentrate. Add 3 tbsp of concentrate to about 1 cup of cold water. Add ice cubes. Mix well. Serve cold.

Serving Suggestions

Serve 3 tbsp concentrate added to 1 glass of cold water and a cube of ice.