Sandalwood can do wonders for our body. It is a natural way keep the body cool during summers. Come, summer – kids and adults alike need lots of fluids and drinks to keep themselves refreshed!!
In our family we avoid aerated drinks as far as possible! We stick to regular water, lime water and a variety of juices! Any kind of natural sharbat is welcome!!
This sandalwood syrup is made using pure sandalwood powder and organic jaggery. You can also make use of sugar or palm jaggery. The sandalwood powder should be food grade – and that is important. If the powder is being used for specific purposes like skin remedies or pooja then they may not be food grade and there are chances that it may also be adulterated.
Once you make the syrup you need to store it in a sterilized glass jar. Here’s how to do that.
Sterilization of Glass Jar
If you are planning to store any syrup in a glass jar, it is important to sterilize the glass jar very well.
Take some water in a pan and place the glass jar into it. The jar should submerge in the water. Allow it to boil for 10-15 minutes. Take the lid of the glass jar and boil it in a separate pan for 10-15 minutes. Don’t sterilize the glass jar and lid together. Wipe the glass jar completely with a dry clean kitchen towel, add then only add the syrup to it.
How to sneak in nutrition:
Use organic sugar or jaggery instead of normal sugar to increase the nutrient quotient.
- 100 grams of Food Grade Sandalwood Powder
- 4 Cups of Water
- 4 Cups of organic jaggery (You can also add 5 cups if you prefer more sweet)
- Few Saffron strands (Kesar)
- Soak the sandalwood powder in water for 8-12 hours or overnight mix well when you add the powder to the water.
- Next day, stir the solution very well and strain it using a strainer covered with the muslin cloth.
- Wait for some times and allow the solution to get coated into the muslin gradually. The small particles of sandalwood will get collected into the muslin clothes. Use a spoon and stir it occasionally.
- Press very well with the spoon so that the water drains off completely. Take the muslin clothes in hands and squeeze all the water from it completely.
- Boil the jaggery in 1 cup of water and filter it very well.
- Mix the jaggery water and the sandalwood water together and mix well.
- Take a pan and pour this solution and allow it to boil. Boil the solution until you get one thread consistency.
- The syrup is ready. Allow it to cool for some time and once it is cooled, you can pour the syrup into a sterilized glass container.
- Keep refrigerated. It stays good for 4-5 weeks.
To Serve
To serve Sandalwood Summer Delight dissolve 1/4 parts of the sandalwood syrup into 3/4 part of chilled water. You can also add ice cubes to it. Stir well and serve. Enjoy the Sharbat!
