JOIN US FOR JAL JEERA

Spiced Iced Tea Lemonade 

This week at The Chai Bar, we are feeling the heat. If you love the idea of a hot, tropical summer and cant wait to sip on some cooling chai, join us for Jal-jeera 

Jal is Hindi for Water 

Jeera is Hindi for Cumin

Unconventional to think of a cumin chai, we know. 

But hear us out. 

Jal-jeera is a classic Indian beverage. 

Chilled water flavored with a spice mix containing cumin, dried mango powder, gingerblack pepper, black salt/ fruit salt, fruit powder, and more.

It's a tangy, spicy summer drink, often used as an appetizer to stimulate the tastebuds- (amuse-bouche).

Every household has its own special recipe for Jal-jeera. Some add fruit powder like orange to the mix; others add spicy green peppers, lemon, coriander, and others still garnish the drink with puffed crispy balls called boondi. 

At The Chai Bar, we make Jaljeera with a Tea'wist. 

We prepare a cup or two of Aprajita Butterfly Blue Brew, chill it overnight, and then mix it with our very own Jal-jeera spice mix. An iced spiced lemonade with a squeeze of lime/ lemon juice, garnished with fresh herbs like mint and Cilantro 

 

Aprajita is made using flowers from the butterfly pea vine

 

This tea is prized for being naturally vibrant blue and has many medicinal properties. Butterfly pea flowers bloom only late into the night and are harvested between midnight and three in the morning.

 

The bright blue tea's flavor is earthy and woody, similar to green tea. It contains compounds beneficial for healthy skin. 

 

Aroma: Earthy

Taste: 

Head Notes: grassy; 

Body Notes: woody and earthy; 

Tail Notes: crisp, fresh, dry. 

 

 Enjoy this caffeine-free herbal tea for a quick boost. 

 

Just like Aprajita, Jal-jeera has been a popular herbal drink in India for centuries. It is believed to have been invented by Populations along the banks of the Ganges River. These indigenous people used "silla-batti" (stone slabs) to grind the spices into a powder. This powder was mixed with water and preserved in clay pots to keep it cool.

 

Nowadays, vendors will store large quantities of the drink in clay pots with spouts. These clay pots are known as "matkas." The pots are covered with a wet cloth to keep the drink cool

 

The spice mix in Jal-Jeera has many medicinal benefits. Cumin and black salt aid digestion, mint has cooling properties, lemon boosts vitamin c, and more. This is known as a summer drink due to its cooling properties aiding the body to sustain hot Indian summers. In the pre-pandemic days, thirsty travelers would often wait for handcarts selling chilled Jal Jeera water to come along for a quick refreshment. 

 

 

Possible Benefits of Aprajita Jal-Jeera 

 

1. Improved digestion

Black salt, cumin, and ginger all help digestion

Summers aren't the best time to eat spicy, creamy, rich meals, but sometimes you can't resist the curry. This is your go-to drink if you want a little extra something to boost your belly juices. 

 

2.Cool It 

Mint, ginger, and black salt all have cooling properties. They reduce acidity, relieve gas, and reduce heartburn. - So help regulate your body temp with this chilled Chai. 

Sip some Jal-jeera and Keep Calm and Curry On. 

 

3.Stay Hydrated 

Jaljeera is known as a thirst-quencher, and for a good reason. This chilled Chai is, after all, mostly water, plus the cooling effect is a bonus. Hot, sweaty summers call for extra hydration. Sip on some Jaljeera and stay fresh all pool season.

 

4.Health Is Wealth 

Seriously, if the pandemic has taught us one thing, it is to mind our health. Most summer beverages are loaded with preservatives and sugar- it's fine as a treat but not as a regular heat beater. 

Try this sugar-free, caffeine-free, all-natural, spiced, iced herbal tea

 

5.Summer Time Glow

Blue Pea Tea is known to have health and skin benefits, so is water, so sip guilt-free and soak in the Sun. 

 

6.Boosts Healthy Appetite. 

Ginger helps suppress nausea, especially due to heat and humidity. 

It helps treat abdominal cramps and indigestion. 

 

7.Salty Looks

As much as we love Jal-Jeera, it is high on salt, so those with high blood pressure can alter the DIY spice mix and reduce the quantity of salt. 

 

8.When life gives you lemongrass.

The Chai Bar's Blue Brew contains lemongrass. It not only boosts the flavor of the butterfly pea flowers but also compliments digestion, boosting immunity and aiding repair of wear and tear from respiratory ailments. 

 

HOW TO MAKE THE JAL JEERA SPICE MIX 

 

INGREDIENTS 

 

-2 tsp dried mango powder

-2 tsp dried mint leaves

-3 tsp roasted ground cumin

-1tsp grated jaggery (optional -for a sweeter flavor) 

-2 tsp black salt

-1 teaspoon of rock salt

-2 teaspoon of black salt

-2 black peppercorns

-1/4 teaspoon asafoetida

-1 teaspoon dry ginger powder / optional

 

 

Grind using a coffee grinder or go old school and prepare using a mortar and pestle. 

Store in an airtight jar. 

It keeps well refrigerated, but we prefer making ours fresh to maximize the flavors from the spices. 

 

 

FOR THE APRAJITA BUTTERFLY BLUE BREW 

 

INGREDIENTS 

-2tsp The Chai Bar's Aprajita Butterfly Blue Brew 

-2c water 

 

INSTRUCTIONS 

 

  1. Bring water to a boil 
  2. Add Aprajita to the boiling water 
  3. Simmer for 1 min 
  4. Turn the heat off and let it steep for at least 15 mins 
  5. Strain 
  6. Chill Overnight 

 

TO PREPARE JAL-JEERA 

 

INGREDIENTS 

 

-Aprajita Tea - Chilled 

-Jaljeera powder 

-1 tsp fresh grated ginger (optional)

-1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

-1 tsp Salt 

-A pinch of chili powder (Kashmiri Mirch optional)

-Fresh Mint Leaves 

-Fresh Cilantro Leaves 

 

INSTRUCTIONS 

  1. Mix all the dry ingredients with 2 tbsp blue pea tea in a small wet mixer. 
  2. Blend this paste into the rest of the blue pea tea. 
  3. Chill for 4 hours 
  4. Strain if desired 
  5. Serve with ice
  6. Garnish with fresh mint and Cilantro. 

 

We hope you enjoy this Chilled Chai. 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest to stay updated with the latest from The Chai Bar. 

 

Tag us in your photos when you make Aprajita Jal-Jeera. We love to share the love. 

 

☆ Product Note: Tea blends are made in a facility with tree nuts, soy & dairy.

☆☆ This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Any info shared is for informational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

*This herbal tea is intended to be used in combination with a sound diet, ample exercise, social distancing, good personal hygiene, and rest.

Chai bye, 

Co-Authored by, 

Sargam Merchant & Madura Chaudhary  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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