Chilled Mosambi (Sweet Lime) Juice.

“Chilled Mosambi (Sweet Lime) juice” … one of my favorite fruit juice that I enjoyed sipping on to from childhood till date ...  this is one fruit juice that is a must whenever in season in my home, especially when summer creeps in and you feel energy being drained ... try it, its awesome ...  Yummilicious ...

** There are some things that mark a permanent etch in our life when introduced to during childhood and goes on to live with us through our lifetime. I am thankful to both Amma and Aanu for introducing good food habits into our lifestyle. Off course over the years a few things have changed, but I still follow many of them and one of them is mosambi juice. The Mumbai heat often becomes unbearable especially during summer and October and one needs to pamper oneself with plenty of liquids to stay well hydrated. 

** I can never say No to this simple delicious drink that I have enjoyed through childhood to date. My Late Father had the knack of selecting the best Mosambi that were sweet and juicy. It was somehow his forte and he was just too good in selecting them. I am indebted to him for teaching me marketing/ purchasing skills of buying veggies, fish, fruits etc. as I always tagged along behind him in his marketing ventures carrying large bags in my small hands. Oh! he did not even glance back, as he trusted me to follow him faithfully.

** He first took a few rounds of the market before really purchasing any and I ran behind him fascinated, in awe, my eyes rolling here and there looking at everything, trying to grasp everything I saw, even giggling at grinning sellers trying to lure Dad into buying veggies/ fish. Sigh, I miss dad and those marketing days and every time I see Mosambi, I remember him more so, as not only did he buy them, he also bought for me a huge glass of chilled mosambi juice when I worked in his office for a few years before marriage.

** Amma still insists that we drink it for overall good health and more so in case of body weakness or fever or just not keeping well. The first thing she asks when we are not well is if we have had mosambi juice and she still asks us to add Glucose D in place of sugar to juice. When summer creeps in there is a tendency of overall tiredness as the body prepares itself to the coming in of summer heat. During that period this is one of the best fruit juices to be had as it replaces the lost nutrients, so make a habit of having it instead of colas.

** Even now that habit of relishing Mosambi juice brought about by my parents hangs on in me and i still love sipping on to it the most. During normal days I add on a little bit of sugar, sometimes also avoid it, and when not in good health I add Glucose D. I recommend this juice to all my friends to make it sort of a habit for their families good health. Children switch on to aerated or packed fruit juices which is not at all healthy, how much ever the tall claim that are made on their purity, that's just their marketing skills but trust me ...... It's NOT.

** Just imagine how can a fruit juice be healthy when prepared and kept months ahead, even if packaged hygienically on whatever recommended base. I understand the disability of some but most of us can squeeze in some time if not daily atleast of weekends to ensure we prepare them and relish fresh with our family and friends. Yes it that lazy habit and ready accessibility to food that makes us reach out for ready to eat food kept on shelf in stores which deprives us actually of healthy habits.

** So, the next time your hand reaches out to pick it out, hit hard at your knuckles, pick up some fresh fruits/ veggies instead and prepare them yourself. Check out the difference yourself,. you will not only love the fresh genuine flavor but will never go for packed ones for lifetime henceforth. Above all you will be instilling in your children and coming generation the habit preparing good food. It is never fair to blame the youngsters for their faults when you have never attempted to show them the right direction.

** Here is my method of preparing “Chilled Mosambi (Sweet Lime) juice” ... my style; its simple and gives best results ...

** Mosambi juice is very easy to prepare, you can use any method like, hand used juicer, electric juicer or even blenders. My best suggestion is to buy a electric citrus juicer which is what I have in my home and trust me it has served me for a good 25+ years and is still running strong, or you can just use ordinary electric mixer too. You can also follow the age old traditional method of preparing it on that glassware citrus juicer by just cutting the fruit into half and squeezing it out on the juicer knob.

** Picture of my Electric Citrus Juicer

** If using citrus electric juicer (which I recommend strongly), just wash the mosambi's and wipe clean, just to ensure there is no dust particles. Now cut them horizontally around the center part into two. Now press them gently on the citrus electric juicer which will rotate and give you juice along with a little bit of fiber too. 

** The seeds will automatically get sieved via the attached sieve and get collected into the receiver bowl below. If serving to toddlers you may need to sieve it through a fine sieve again to avoid the fiber, otherwise just add in required amount of sugar, mix well, add few ice cubes or chilled water and serve it immediately.

** It is always recommendable to serve fruit juices freshly prepared, however, if for any reason you need to prepare it prior to be served later or to carry it along with you then you may do so to, stays good for 1-2 hours at room temperature and if stored in fridge remains fresh for atleast 12-14 hours. So go ahead, prepare and enjoy it. 

** If using normal kitchen mixer grinder then you will need to first peel off the outer skin of the required number of Mosambi's. Open and separate the segments, and then open them each to remove the inner seeds after which you can put it in mixer along with little bit water/ ice cubes and run for a few minutes until done.

**Sieve the juice through a fine stainless steel sieve into a vessel adding more water if desired. Now sugar to taste or Glucose D if you have body weakness, a few ice cubes if desired, mix well and serve immediately. Always prepare fresh juice and relish it chilled, nothing beats this one in beating the rising heat, or body weakness ... it is one of the best thirst quenchers … Slurpilicious.

** Note : If using mixer grinder or juicer, you should remove the seeds from within or else the juice turns bitter in taste. That is the very reason the packaged ones have a strange smell, so avoid it, you and your family will be thankful in the long run.