Karpooravalli (Omavalli) neer mor / Indian Borage Buttermilk (Doddapathre neer majjige)

 Karpooravalli / Omavalli / Ajwain patha /Indian Borage - are you hearing these names for the first time ? 

Well, this is a very traditional and medicinal herb used in Indian Cooking especially in the South.  This herb belongs to the mint family, but has a pungent and strong flavor resembling that off Thyme /Ajwain/ Omam.

A perennial plant and can be grown easily at home without any effort . The leaves are used in herbal drinks to treat indigestion, cold ,cough and also to boost overall immunity. 

Due to the pungent taste and the anti microbial properties possessed by Karpooravalli it is very effective to treat sore throat and sinusitis .

Also a mild diuretic , it helps in flushing out the toxins from the body and maintains good kidney health ,there by managing the body metabolism. 

As a kid ,I remember my mom would make me chew a small leaf especially in monsoon to keep me away from seasonal flu and stomach issues due to weather change . It is always good to incorporate such healthy and natural food in our day to diet to keep us safe and healthy.

When I found some fresh karpooravalli, I was intrigued to try Preethi's recipe of making karpooravalli Buttermilk/Neer Mor using this magical herb.

Preethi has used dried powder form of karpooravalli while I have used fresh leaves since I had an access to these . My friend's mom has it growing on her home garden and aunty was kind enough to get me some fresh and tender leaves .

Summer ,winter or monsoon buttermilk is a part of daily diet in our home and I keep experimenting with different flavors . If you also like buttermilk in various taste then you must try some of it 

Pudina Chaas 

Neer Mor  - Ramanavmi Special 

Vazhaithandu Mor (banana stem) 

Masala Chaas 

Preparation Time - 5 mins
Cooking Time  - Nil
Complexity - Nil
Serves - 2 to 3

Ingredients 

2 to 3 fresh karpooravalli leaves
200ml thick yogurt
400ml water 
1/4 tsp finely chopped ginger
Salt to taste 
Pinch of kala namak (black salt)
Pinch of roasted jeera powder 

Method 

• In a small blender ,blend the ginger ,karpooravalli leaves with little salt into a coarse paste.
• Whisk the curd using an electric beater or manual whisk till it appears creamy.  
• Add the ground paste, salt , black salt ,jeera powder and chilled water and whisk it again until it appears nice and frothy. Adjust salt based on your need.
• Pour into glasses and enjoy with your meal or keep it refrigerated until your lunch time.

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Sukku Kaapi | Dry Ginger Herbal drink | Sukku Malli Kaapi

 Sukku Kaapi is a spicy herbal concoction made from a powder that is prepared by roasting corriander seeds ,pepper ,ajwain (thyme) and some dry ginger or as an alternative dry ginger powder can also be used. 

Sukku Kaapi is also known as Sukku Malli Kaapi in Tamil Nadu . In Tamil, Sukku is Dry Ginger, Malli is Corriander seeds and Coffee is colloquially referred to as Kaapi .

We can store this powder in an airtight container and use it as and when needed .One has to add a spoonful of this powder to boiling water ,simmer for a few mins and   have it warm .

Sukku Kaapi is a mild and soothing drink to keep us warm during chill winters as well as during monsoon . We can sip some sukku kaapi to get relief from sore throat,  mild fever and cold . 

Some more home made wellness drink on my blog

Tulsi Kashayam (Basil Tea)

Herbal Tea

Jaljeera

Oma Kashayam (carom tea)

Inji Kashayam (Ginger Tea) 

One can add a little bit of jaggery powder or some honey to give a mild sweetness and this also makes it really palatable . Alternatively panam kalkandu (Palm jaggery) also can be added . In my recipe I have used ginger powder as it was easily available in my pantry .

Preparation time - 5 mins

Cooking Time - 3 to 5 mins

Complexity - Simple 

Ingredients 

To make Sukku Kaapi Powder

1/2 cup ginger powder 

1/4 cup corriander seeds

2 tsp pepper

1 tsp ajwain /carom seeds

To make sukku kaapi

1 cup water

2 tsp sukku Kaapi powder

Jaggery or palm candy or honey as per taste 

Method

• Dry roast the corriander seeds until it feels warm and crisp . In same pan ,roast the pepper and carom seeds .
• Let it cool for a few mins and then grind into a fine powder in a blender. 
• Mix the dry ginger powder along with the above spice mix and pass it through a sieve to get fone powder . Store this fine powder in a air tight bottle in the fridge .
• Shelf life - stays fresh for almost 2 to 3 months is used properly with a dry spoon .

To make sukku Kaapi 

• Boil a cup of water and add 2 spoonfuls of sukku kaapi powder to it.
• Simmer for 2 mins
• Mix jaggery or palm candy sugar and sip it while its warm 
• If you want to add honey,donot add while the water is boiling. Let it cool down a bit before adding honey .

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Diwali Marundhu | Diwali Legiyam (Lehiyam)

 Diwali Marundhu or Diwali Lehiyam is a must have on the day of Diwali in our home before we eat any goodies . This practice ,I am sure is followed in many homes in Tamil Nadu.  

After having oil bath ,known as Ganga Snanam on the morning of Diwali,first thing we are given is this lehiyam to eat before relishing the other sweets and savories.

Marundhu in Tamil means Medicine and since it is specifically made during Diwali it has been termed as Diwali Marundhu. It is prepared using various natural herbs and sweetened with jaggery . One can call it as home made Chyawanprash. Not only during Diwali, you can easily make this herbal choornam anytime at home and keep it ready . Very helpful in treating mild symptoms of cough,cold or sore throat.  

As per my understanding the practice of having

this Marundhu first thing on Diwali Day is probably because we get up as early as 4am , take an oil bath and since October/Nov is winter time ,this herbal medicine will keep us safe from catching  a cold or fever due to the chill weather 

Traditionally there are close to 10 to 12 ingredients that go into the making off Diwali Lehiyam ,but today I am giving you a quick and easy recipe with easily available ingredients in the pantry and can be made in less than 15 mins without compromising on the original taste. You can call this an heirloom recipe as it was taught to my mom by my paternal grandmom .

Preparation Time - 10 min
Cooking time - 10 min 
Complexity - easy 

Ingredients 

2 tbsp dhaniya 
1 tsp ajwain /omam
2 tsp pepper corns 
3 tsp dry ginger powder 
3 to 4 cardamoms 
2 to 3 cloves 
1 tsp  ghee 
1 tsp gingelly oil /til oil 

1/2 cup grated jaggery 

** you can also roast a small stick of yashtimadhu/athimadhuram/mulethi if you have at home. 

Method 

• Dry roast the dhaniya, pepper and ajwain on medium heat until it is warm to touch..keep aside. 
• Roast the cardamom and cloves and keep aside. 
• Once the ingredients are cool ,blend into a fine powder along with dry ginger powder .
• Melt the jaggery in 1/4 cup water and once it begins to appear frothy,add the ground spice mix and mix it nicely.  The flame has to be low .
• Now add the ghee and gingely oil and continue to cook for another min . The marundhu will appear glossy and resemble halwa texture . Donot stir for a long time else it will be become hard like a candy.
• Turn it off and transfer to a dry container and store it. 

After preparing this lehiyam, we keep it in the Pooja mandir of our home along with shikakai,  til oil , new clothes and offer a small Pooja next morning and use the oil for Ganga Snanam.

Ajwain kaadha | Carom Tea | Oma Kashayam

 Come monsoon, we all love to indulge in some spicy and fried food to pep us up . When the indulgence is limited the tummy is happy but when the spice levels go up a bit,the tummy starts sending signals and it is time to cool down and balance the acidity . That is when the magical spice herb carom/ajwain/omam/ova comes to our rescue .  

Ajwain is used a lot in Indian cooking for its therapeutic effects . It is a very handy magical spice in the pantry . If you have no time to make a concoction you can just chew a few seeds and can instantly feel a relief as you will tend to burp as soon as you begin to chew .

Ajwain has a lot of health benefits especially when it comes to keeping the digestive tract and stomach clear and healthy . This simple concoction of boiling carom seeds with a little fennel seeds (saunf) is a very effective drink when consumed early morning on an empty stomach. 

Ajwain water cools down the gut and eases out gastric and acidity woes . Oma kashayam also helps in improving body metabolism and helps in weight loss too . So all in all it is a very healthy magic potion !! Don't you agree ??  😊

Consuming about 30ml daily in the morning keeps us fit and active by balancing the acidity levels and eases out the digestion process .  

Disclaimer- this is just an age old home remedy for immediate relief .Pls consult your doctor in case of persistent problem and refrain from consuming the drink if you are allergic to any ingredient. 

Some more home made wellness tea on my blog

Tulsi Kashayam 

Herbal Tea

Jaljeera

Ginger Kashayam 

Preparation Time - Nil 
Cooking Time - 5 mins
Complexity - simple
Makes about 100 ml

Ingredients 

1 cup water (200 ml) 

1 tsp ajwain/carom /omam seeds

1/4 tsp fennel /saunf 

Method 

• Take the water in a sauce pan , once the water is lightly heated ,add the ajwain and fennel .
• Let the water start boiling and reduce to 1/2 .
• Strain it through a sieve and sip it when it is warm 

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Herbal drink | Kadha | Kashayam

 In Tamil there is a saying "Unnave Marundhu aagum" meaning "Food can be the best medicine " and I totally agree to it . Each ingredient in our pantry has its own medicinal effect .

Our Masala dabba or Anjarai Petti is a mini medicine box in itself . Our elders used each of these ingredients so meticulously and more so they used them according to seasons and climatic conditions so that the family remained healthy and disease free.

To quote some ; fenugreek , buttermilk /curd , lemon, jaggery based dishes were made more frequently during summer months to keep the body cool and hydrated while recipes using ginger, pepper , curry leaves , ajwain were made during winter and monsoons which is when seasonal sickness like flu , cold cough etc would creep in. 

Some ingredients like jeera , asafoetida,turmeric,ghee ,dhaniya/corriander seeds which have general health benefits were used as a part of day to day cooking .

Apart from these,herbal concoctions known as kaadha,kashaya, kashayam used to be consumed incase people fell sick with minor ailments like cold ,cough,loose motions,stomach disorders ,mild fever etc . These were known as Nanima k nuske or Paati Vaidhiyam and were very effective if consumed correctly. 

Yester year generations or our ancestors tried to treat and heal the body naturally instead of providing external medical supplements.  Ancient scriptures have enough evidence to prove how Indians were pioneers in the field of medical study like Ayurveda , Siddha etc .

I have already blogged two different types of kaadha/ kashayam; one using fresh ingredients and another one using a herbal spice powder which can be prepared and stored. Click on the images below for the detailed recipes of Kashayam and Herbal tea .

 .

Thanks to Aruna of Vasu's veg kitchen who suggested we all share some Herbal Home remedies or Paati Vaidhiyam as part of this week's Foodie Monday Bloghop event theme . She has a very simple but effective Ginger and Lemon green tea to boost immunity and aide weight loss.

As this is a season of monsoon, there is every likelihood that we may get drenched and come down with some mild viral fever or body aches, in that case try to have this warm herbal concoction 2 to 3 times a day to get relief . 

Today we shall see another very simple concoction using just 3 ingredients which are easily available on our kitchen shelves.  Detailed recipe below

Dry ginger powder (sonth/chukku) - very good analgesic and antioxidant .

Turmeric powder /Haldi - antiseptic, anti inflammatory, anti viral as well as anti bacterial 

Pepper powder  - Aids digestion, respiratory relief, fights cold and also enhances the effect of other herbs.

**pls do seek medical advice if you experience any other symptoms.  These are just home remedies to get better along with medication. 

Preparation Time - 2 mins
Boiling Time - 3 mins
Complexity - simple 

Ingredients 

1/2 tsp dry ginger powder
2 pinches turmeric powder
1 pinch pepper powder 
1 glass water (200ml)

 Method 

• Add all the above ingredients to water and boil it well for 2 to 3 mins.
• Strain this decoction and drink it warm atleast  2 to 3 times a day to get relief. Prepare it fresh as far as possible instead of reheating. 
• You may add some honey , jaggery or palm candy (panam kalakandu) if you find the concoction pungent . 
• Donot use sugar to sweeten this drink.

Linking it to week # 263 Herbal & Health of FMBH 

Jaljeera | Jaljira

Jaljeera is an Indian drink which is served as a starter before any meal and a very tasty appetizer.  This drink helps in digestion as well a very good source of hydration in peak summer. 

Jal jeera loosely translates to cumin water.  Cumin as we know has lot of medicinal properties and plays a vital role in aiding digestion and preventing stomach disorders .

Jaljeera is flavored with fresh herbs and spices like black salt, rock salt, ginger ,  fresh mint and some lemon juice to make it all the more tasty .

This drink can be easily prepared at home and relished during summers.  We can make a big jar of this healthy and tasty drink and refrigerate it .

Instead of sugar , I have added jaggery powder which makes it all the more healthy.

Jaljeera can  be served in various ways . Some love to have the drink topped with lot of boondi while some like it with a fizz by adding club soda instead of plain water .

Preparation Time : 5 mins

Cooking time : Nil 

Makes 3 to 4 glasses 

Complexity: simple 

Ingredients 

10 to 15 mint leaves 

Small piece of ginger  chopped

2 tablespoon  jaggery powder 

1 lemon

Small piece of ginger  

2 tsp roasted jeera powder

1 tsp chat masala 

1/2 tsp black salt 

1 tsp salt 

500 ml chilled water 

Method 

• In a blender jar , add the  mint leaves, ginger ,jaggery powder , jeera powder , salt, black salt, chat masala and grind into a fine paste with little water .
• Strain this using a strainer and collect the extract in a big vessel .
• Add in the chilled  water to this extract and the lime juice squeezed from the lemon.
• Stir it well and serve chilled. 

Notes

1. Adjust jaggery if you want it a little more sweet .
2. Store bought jaljeera powder can also be used to prepare this drink . In that case, skip the additional usage of chat masala, black salt and roasted jeera powder. 

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Herbal Tea / Herbal Drink

A refreshing and healthy herbal tea or drink made using simple spices from the regular pantry at the comfort of our homes .

DETOX or IMMUNO BOOSTERS is the word of the day now. 

As much as the words look fancy and complicated their meaning is very very simple.

Detox is nothing but flushing out the various toxins that our body is exposed due to external factors like pollution , outside food , junk food etc. When there is toxin build up in the body our immunity is compromised and we tend to fall sick often . If the toxins are flushed out from the  the system , our immunity will be boosted and we can have a fit and healthy life .

Along with these some minor changes in lifestyle will help us go a long way in staying fit . Include about 15-20 mins of physical activity like walking or jogging in your daily schedule , practice breathing exercises even simple breathe in and breathe out for 30 counts will keep the lungs fit .

Enough of talks on staying healthy and eating healthy , let's get to the recipe now . This herbal tea or drink is made with very simple herbs and spices which we use in our day to day cooking and easily available in every home . 

All we have to do is dry roast these ingredients, make a fine powder and store it in an air tight container. 

Prepare some nice warm drink using this herbal powder with a spoon of honey or jaggery and sip it when you like .

We have it every night before going to  bed . You could even have it first thing in the morning too .

Some of the benefits of ingredients used 

Turmeric  - antiseptic, anti bacterial and anti inflammatory 

Ajwain /carom seeds - helps in digestion and stomach related issues. 

Cinnamon/dalchini - antiviral properties , alleviates stomach discomfort 

Pepper - eases sore throat , cough and helps in clearing sinus 

Dry ginger powder - regulates acidity and eases stomach disorders 

Fennel / saunf -  aids digestion

Cloves -  anti inflammatory, relieves tooth pain, stops bad breath  

Cardamom/elaichi- antioxidant , anti inflammatory, helps in digestion 

** these are the broad benefits of these general herbs and spices.  If you have any underlying health conditions pls consult you doctor before having this drink.

So friends eat healthy stay fit .

Preparation Time - 5 mins

Cooking Time - 2 mins

Complexity- simple 

Ingredients 

2 table spoon pepper corns

1 tablespoon ajwain /carom  

1 small stick cinnamon/dalchini

5 to 10 cardamom /elacihi

5-10 cloves /lavang 

1 tablespoon turmeric powder 

1.5 tablespoon dry ginger powder 

1/2 tablespoon saunf /fennel seeds 

Method 

• Dry roast all the ingredients except ginger powder and turmeric powder for about 3 to 4 mins without burning .
• Let the ingredients cool and then make a fine powder in a blender along with the ginger powder and turmeric powder .
• Store it in a dry airtight container and keep away from moisture. 

How to prepare the herbal drink ?

• Add about 1/2 tsp of this herbal powder to a glass of hot water and mix it well.
• You can add some jaggery powder or 1 tsp honey if you would like it sweet . 
• Keep sipping as and when you like .

Note

You can proportionately increase/decrease the quantity of ingredients depending on how much powder you want to make.

Kashaayam | Ayurvedic wellness tea

Kashayaam is nothing but a water extract or decoction of a single herb or a combination of multiple spices and herbs in a certain combination . Mostly these spices and herbs are available in our pantry and can be made easily . This is quick home remedy to combat and get relief from minor ailments like cold , cough, weakness or loss of apetite.
Today’s kashayaam or brew can be prepared in less than 10 mins and is effective to get relief from cold , cough , sore throat or body pain caused due to change in weather conditions or mild flu.
Kashayam is also called as Khaada or Kwaath. Kashayam / Kashaya is a term used in south India while khaada or kwaath is used in north India .

Preparation time : 5 mins
Cooking time : 7-8 mins
Complexity : simple