Spiced Lemon- Ginger- Turmeric Syrup.

“Spiced Lemon- Ginger- Turmeric Syrup” … Lemon’s are filled with Vitamin-C that is supposed to build immunity and resistance power from cold, cough, fever etc. … Here is a simple syrup prepared with spices and other ingredients that are good for health too …  you can either have it hot or cold ... tastes equally good both ways ...

** All of you are very well aware of the present situation of the country and the world. There is absolutely no need for me to go into details. It is a very desperate situation, wherein even if the veggies are getting rotted we are helpless to purchase them and have to do with little sources available. Yes, off course the country is in able hands, but the fear is much larger looming on each one of us. It is definitely not my intention to scare anybody, so let us take good care of ourselves with plenty of rest, cook and eat hot whatever is available and please remember to exercise for minimum an hour to build body resistance. I had only 3 lemons and I certainly did not want to go in search of it outside considering the lock down of the country. 

** The lemons that remained out of the bulk I bought were somehow getting worn out and had to be used immediately. In any other given occasion I would have just tried out something for the day, but here I had to think how best I could make it run for a few days more, by then we would somehow know the condition of the country. To cut short I tried this spiced syrup today, though it tastes good when added on with cold water or room temperature water, But, for now I definitely do not recommend that and suggest a little bit of warm water to be mixed and drunk immediately. One learns from bad situations and we should learn to compromise. So be it, lets have this hot, as hot drinks are the best under present condition for all to have. 

** Here is my simple method of preparing “Spiced Lemon- Ginger- Turmeric Syrup” … My Style. 

** I had just Three Lemons (limbiyo/ Nimboo), so washed them, wiped them dry with a clean cloth and squeezed out the juice as much as possible directly into a sterilized bottle. I then added on ½ tsp of Kesar (Saffron) to it and kept it aside. 

** Add into a mixer grinder, finely chopped 3-4 inch piece of Ginger (Adrak/ Alle’), 1 tsp of Black Pepper (Kali Miri), 2 pieces of Cinnamon (Dalchini/ Tikesal), 8 Cardamom (Ellaichi/ Yelu) with skin and grind to a coarse paste and keep it ready aside. Do not add water. 

** In a large stainless steel vessel add in about 1.25 liters of Water (Pani/ Uddaka) and bring to boil. Then add in a large bowl say about 2.5 cups of Sugar (Shakkar) and boil for 5-10 minutes. Now add in the prepared and kept aside coarse paste along with 2 tblsp of Turmerci (Haldi) powder and mix well. 

** Let the mixture boil for a good 15-20 minutes. Let it reduce an inch level in the vessel. Now remove and keep it aside covered and allow it to cool to lukewarm temperature. Once it has just warm enough, strain in through a muslin/ cotton cloth into another vessel. 

** Add the strained liquid immediately into the sterilized bottle in which you have put the saffron and the lemon juice. Add in ¼ tsp of Kala Namak (Optional) and stir to mix well with a clean dry spoon. Cover the bottle with a plastic sheet and then cap it and it is ready. 

** “Spiced Lemon- Ginger- Turmeric Syrup” is done and ready to be served. You can add about ¼ cup of the syrup to one cup of just HOT WATER, mix well and drink it immediately or you can add either normal tepid or cold water and mix to serve. This drink tastes great with both Hot or Cold water, but under the present situation it is advisable to drink it hot.

** It is advised by the Doctors that we should consume food and liquids that are hot for our own good, so I have come up with this drink that tastes great both ways as its sort of a healthy drink. 

** Caution : I am not a Dr. nor a nutritionist, so if you have fever- cold- cough, consult your general practitioner and do not drink anything cold. 

** Do keep the prepared syrup in the fridge so that it remains good for a week or so. I have absolutely no knowledge if it will remain good when kept at room temperature as I am preparing it for the first time. Also I prefer to preapre either fresh or that which lasts for maximum 10 days. Once again I request all to drink “HOT BEVERAGES TO AVOID COMPLICATIONS”.