Jal-jeera

Jal Jeera

Jal Jeera (left) and mango lassi (right)
Place of origin	India
Region or state	North India
Main ingredients	Water, cumin, ginger, black pepper, black salt, mint

Jal-jeera, or jaljira, is an Indian beverage. The spice mix used to flavor this drink is also known as jal-jeera powder. In Hindi, "jal" means water and "jeera" means cumin. The beverage form is essentially lemonade and jaljira powder, and is a popular summer drink in India. It is sometimes served as an appetizer, as it is intended to "startle" the taste buds.

Jaljira powder generally consists of cumin, ginger, black pepper, mint, black salt, some fruit powder (usually either mango, or some kind of citrus zest), and chili or hot pepper powder.

Jaljeera has a very long history, originating on the banks of the Ganges river. At one time, the powder was ground on stone slabs, and stored in clay pots. It is still a common drink at Indian cultural events.

The cumin is a medicinal ingredient which aids digestion. The mint has a cooling effect. Black salt or rock salt acts as a digestive.

Jaljeera is popular in northern India because it is thought to have cooling properties, against the temperature of the region. It is generally served with appetizers before a meal, but is also drunk between meals. Some versions do not involve any added sugar.