Panagam

Panagam or Panakam is a drink made with jaggery and spices. It is one of the best natural drink to beat the heat apart from Neer More (spiced buttermilk). Jaggery is unrefined natural sugar which contains iron and traces of other minerals. It is by far the most natural sweetener and it has the ability to cleanse your body, helps indigestion, relieves fatigue, etc. SInce it is unrefined it may contain some impurities but you can removed them by dissolving it in water and filtering it. Jaggery is used in many Indian sweets considering its health benefits.

Panagam is one of the best way to add jaggery to your diet. This drink is generally made as a neivedhyam (offering to God) for any pooja at home and temples. Specially on the occasion of Rama Navami, it is one of the drink that we make apart from Neer More.

Ingredients:

• Jaggery – 1/2 cup
• Cold water – 2 1/2 to 3 cups
• Sukku (dry ginger) – 1/2″ piece (powdered)
• A pinch of nutmeg powder
• Cardamom – 2 big pods
• 3 to 4 tulsi leaves (holy basil)

Method of Preparation:

1. Crush jaggery into small pieces.
2. Add this in a bowl with water, dry ginger, nutmeg and crushed cardamom along with the skin.
3. Stir well until jaggery dissolves. Panagam is ready.
4. Strain it through a fine mesh to remove any impurities in the jaggery and also the dry ginger pieces.
5. Add the cardamom skin back to the panagam.
6. Add some tulsi leaves for garnishing.
7. You can also add a few drops of lemon juice for a refreshing taste.