Why Kerala hotels serve pink water on the table

If you have ever eaten at a Kerala hotel, you have seen it. A jug of light pink water placed on the table as soon as you sit down, no explanation offered. Regulars pour it without a second thought. First-timers usually pause, look at the colour, then take a cautious sip.

That pink water is pathimugam vellam.

As videos of it being served in Kerala restaurants go viral online, many outside the state are discovering it for the first time. For Kerala, however, this is not a trend. It is a part of the routine.

What is pathimugam vellam?
Pathimugam vellam is water boiled with chips of pathimugam wood, which comes from the sappan tree. When the wood is boiled, the water gradually turns pink. The colour is natural and needs no additives.

This drink has been common in Kerala homes for decades, especially during summer. Before packaged drinking water became widespread, boiling water with pathimugam was a practical way to make it safer and more refreshing.

The taste is mild and woody. Some households add a bit of dried ginger or curry leaves, but hotels usually serve it plain.

Why is it served in Kerala hotels?
The reason is largely practical.

Pathimugam is traditionally believed to help cool the body and support digestion. In a hot, humid climate, that made it a sensible choice. It is also inexpensive and easy to prepare in large quantities, which explains why it works well for hotels. Over time, it became part of Kerala’s dining culture. Pathimugam water stayed on tables even as menus expanded to include Chinese and North Indian dishes.

How to make it at home
Making pathimugam vellam is simple.

Wash a small handful of pathimugam chips.

Boil them in water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Turn off the heat and let the colour develop.

Strain and cool before drinking.

It can be had warm or chilled. Use only a small amount of wood, as too much can make the water bitter.

Where to buy pathimugam
Pathimugam chips are easy to find across Kerala. They are sold in local spice shops, supermarkets, ayurvedic stores, and traditional markets. Many online stores that sell Kerala produce also stock them. The dried chips keep well if stored in a dry place.

Why is it trending now?
For people in Kerala, pathimugam water barely registers as something worth talking about. For those seeing it online for the first time, pink drinking water naturally raises questions.

The sudden attention says less about the drink and more about how regional food habits often go unnoticed until the internet stumbles upon them.

Pathimugam vellam has always been there, quietly doing its job. It just happens to be pink.