With the rain clouds throwing a cold and damp blanket over us, what better way to weather the chill than with a cup of hot brew of perhaps, a cuppa, a steaming cup of coffee from freshly ground beans, or a glass of chukku kaapi (dry ginger coffee) and even a bowl of home-made rasam!
Curl up in your cocoon of comfort, sip your hot brew and watch the rain pattering down. Romance the rain, but don’t forget to sip some hot stuff, for it’s easy to catch a common cold. It’s the kids who need a touch of special care. With the new school year started, it’s time for all the ills of the season. Which kid can resist the temptation of splashing about in muddy waters or jump up and down in mud puddles? Wisdom says prevention is better than cure. Hence, the best way to ward off rain-related ailments is to give one’s resistance some good booster shots. Here are some drinks from grandma’s monsoon magic potions.
Tulasikappi
Nothing to beat this. When the more sophisticated green tea entered our parlors, the humble tulasi coffee had to bow out. But Malayalis over the years, were always hooked to this coffee with tulasi and karupetty (unrefined brown sugar made from palm sap) once the monsoon set. The drink has the power to drive away bacteria and fungus of any sort and build resistance.
Ginger and honey
Ginger and honey, try a spoonful of this combination to sooth your tummy and your soul. Ginger and honey when taken together destroys bacteria and puts up a stiff resistance to disease germs. It soothes the throat and is a wonderful remedy for sore throat. As brothers-in-arms, the combo can ward off any attack from even the deadly dengue.
Hot soups
Hot soups can rev up one’s resistance. Chicken and egg soups are best for kids. They are sure to relish it. This helps them to keep fit and healthy. Mutton soup is the slurpiest of them all! Best avoided are ready-made soups which come packed with preservatives and flavoring agents. There’s nothing to beat the taste and nutrients of soups made in earthen pots at home. A rich mix of onions, ginger, garlic and vegetables would make a fine bowl of soup.
The much-laughed-at rice soup, our rice gruel is perhaps the most nutritious of all natural soups. Drink a bowl of hot rice soup and you’ve had your carbs for a full day.
Grains
Have your proteins, fatty acids, carotenoids, vitamins B and C from grains rich in them. These grains keep you healthy and whole during the monsoon. Green gram, Bengal gram, and toor dal (pigeon peas) are ideal resistance-boosters, and best for the rains. The mysterious connection between parippu vada and rain is yet to be unraveled.
Fruits
Nature knows its seasonal fruits and vegetables which it gives man in abundance. The newest phenomenon of having all sorts of fruits all through the year, is a purely human, rather, commercial endeavor. Stuff yourselves on what nature gives you when it rains. Look no further.
