In the sweltering Indian summer an energizing and refined sugar-free Limbu Pani is most welcome.
There are many variants of lemonade but panakam is a traditional drink made with jaggery. This wholesome energy booster from south Indian cuisine revitalises you and rehydrates as well as replenishes your electrolyte loss. Hello, and welcome to The Mad Scientist’s Kitchen, Reinventing the Foodie in you! If you want an easy and yet healthy drink to beat the heat the read on. I urge you to subscribe to our newsletter so that you get all our posts. We will not spam you, promise and the subscribe link is below or on the side-bar too.
Why I love Panka?
I love what my grandmother called Panka, and she made the best one. I am not the only one our neighbours also said the same. So making this treat takes me back in time to those carefree happy days. Every time I feel down I make myself a glass of Pankam.
Seasons play a big role in Indian food, tradition and religion is to celebrate the change in food in the guise of festivals and offerings. Ram Navmi and Narsimha Jayanti are both celebrated in the summer and Panka or panagam is one of the offerings.
Panakam is wholesome food unlike aerated drinks that we know are high in calories and zero nutrition.
So how is Pankam different from the regular Shrikanji?
The ingredients in Srikanji are lemon or lime juice, ginger juice, ice and water, salt, black salt and cumin. Some recipes include saffron in the ingredients. However, the main ingredients for pankam are jaggery, sonti (dry ginger), black pepper, table salt and cardamom. So the basically the difference is not much but the flavours differ totally.
Ingredients to make wholesome Pankam:
Why Panka is wholesome? The answer lies in the ingredients used. Shall we check them out?
- Lemon juice: I prefer fresh lemons but in this season we hardly get good lemons. But make do with what you get I for one will not like to use the preserved lemon juice or citric acid crystals.
- Jaggery: The sweetener used in making panagam is Jaggery. Jaggery has raw carbohydrates, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium, the physiological equivalent of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), and regulates the fluid and salt equivalents lost in sweating.
- Water: I prefer to use chilled water. No sparkling water please plain simple water.
- Dry ginger: As you are drinking the delicious Limbu pani, Granny has made life easy for herself. Dry ginger has astringent and anti-oxidant properties you do not even know you have had it.
- Cardamon: Green Cardamom you cannot miss the aroma as you get the glass close enough to yourself. Do you know that green cardamom is medicinal? Check the 10 benefits here they range from antioxidant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, can help prevent cavities.
- Pepper: Again black pepper has anti-inflammatory, may lower cholesterol.
- Salt: You are replacing salts lost so add some to the Panka.
- Edible Camphor: An optional ingredient you may avoid it but when offered to Lord we do add it. The taste is amazing, remember accepting "Teerth" in a South Indian temple. This is what gives the flavour.
- Holy Basil: Tulsi is added to anything you offer to the Lord. It helps in cooling the body I have used it.
- Salt: You can add table salt.
Substitutes and Alternatives for Pankam:
- Jaggery: You can always add sugar but for a healthier replacement of jaggery is honey, maple syrup, molasses. In jaggery making season we get a liquid called kakwat try that. They are healthier than sugar and have some health benefits too.
- Dry Ginger: You can add fresh ginger but use very little.
- Pepper: leave it out if you are not happy about it.
- Edible Camphor, Holy Basil you can leave out.
How to make Panagam, a Summer Cooler :
There is nothing much in making Panka. You just mix the water, jaggery, lemon juice and the dry ginger, pepper, cardamom. The edible camphor and holy basil if you are using it. That is all! Add ice too if you wish.
- The first thing I will do is soak the jaggery. Now today I have powdered jaggery ¼ cup, so that will dissolve fast. But if you get the traditional jaggery that comes in cubes that takes time to melt if you use a chunk of it. While the jaggery melts let us get the rest of the ingredients done.
- Now, squeeze the lemon and crush the cardamom seeds. when offering to the Lord I will use the mortar pestle but generally, I do it with the rolling pin and a few grains of sugar.
- By now the jaggery must have melted so add the lemon juice about 2 tablespoons or a medium lemon.
- Add some dry ginger powder. Now, this I add just a pinch as I am not sure if the family will like it. you can add up to ¼ tsp.
- Add ½ teaspoon of cardamom powder, a pinch of pepper, salt and a pinch of edible camphor as I love it. Mix well.
- If Pankam is being made for Parsad then just mix, add the holy basil and do the offering. You do not tase offering. When serving friends and family add ice to the mix.
How to make Pankam, a video:
Your Recipe Card:
Pankam, a Summer Cooler Recipe
Equipment
- Bowl
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Jaggery
- 1 cup Water or as needed
- 1 tablespoon Lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon dry ginger powder
- Pepper powder a pinch
- cardamom pinch
- edible camphor pinch, optional
- Holy basil a few springs, optional
Instructions
- Soak the jaggery in the water for about 15-20 minutes.
- Add the lemon juice, dry ginger powder, pepper powder, cardamom powder.
- Add the edible camphor and holy basil. Mix well.
- Adjust the flavours to suit your needs.
- Serve.
Video
Notes
- Jaggery: You can always add sugar but for a healthier replacement of jaggery with honey, maple syrup, molasses. In jaggery making season we get a liquid called kakwat try that. They are healthier than sugar and have some health benefits too.
- Dry Ginger: You can add fresh ginger but use very little.
- Pepper: leave it out if you are not happy about it.
- Edible Camphor, Holy Basil you can leave out.
This is an old post that I am updating with newer pictures and a write-up as a part of the group Foodies_RedoingOld Post.
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Gayathri Kumar says
This is a delicious drink we make for festivals. I love it so much. It sweet and sour and perfect for this scorching heat..
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Gayatri for me this is the first.
Usha says
Didn't know it is a coolant but it tastes amazing. When growing up, always looked forward to Srirama navami prasad, panakam and soaked & seasoned chana dal
ArchanaPotdar says
I had it this once Usha. Loved it. It will be made regularly now.
Priya Suresh says
Its quite a fabulous drink to enjoy during summer.My mom used to prepare this drink quite often during our summer vacation. Makes me nostalgic.
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Srivalli says
Oh I love panakam! bring it on!..
ArchanaPotdar says
😀
Nisha Ramesh says
Its a must have for Indian summers. So refreshing and a healthy thirst quencher.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank you Nisha.
Mayuri Patel says
I've not heard of this cooling drink but it sure sounds delicious. You're so right, that the types of food or drinks we have during festivals are just right for that season.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thank, Mayuri.
Varada says
Perfect for summer! Cooling effect without filling you up with empty calories. Nice one.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks.
Chef Mireille says
flavorful drink - perfect summer cooler
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks, Mir.
Renu says
This would be good on the digestive system too..Refreshing
ArchanaPotdar says
True Renu 😀
Kalyani says
send it here for the scorching summers ! I could use a gallon of this yummy n tasty coolant 🙂
ArchanaPotdar says
Parcelling some Kalyani.
Pavani says
This is such an amazing drink for summer -- so healthy and refreshing. I make it for rama navami, will have to make it in summer some time.
ArchanaPotdar says
Thanks Pavani.
sapana says
I have heard a lot about this drink but never tried as I don't have edible camphor. Can I try it without camphor?
ArchanaPotdar says
Yes, you can Sapana. It tastes just as good.
Seema Sriram says
Though panakam is made at certain religious days, my household love it anytime. The best summer cooler ever
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 thanks.
Priya Vj says
Panaka is the right drink for relief from scorching heat ..adding pepper is new to me . I will try adding it the next time I make .
ArchanaPotdar says
😀 do try.
Jayashree T.Rao says
Summer and panakam make the best pair. It is usually with sugar but recently had made this during Ram Navami.
ArchanaPotdar says
I guess you liked it!