Aguapanela is a drink that hailed from South America and can be found throughout the whole country. As much as the drink is popular in South America, it is also relished in a few parts of Central Asia and Caribbean. The name translates to ‘panela water' as the drink is an infusion made from panela, which is derived from hardened sugarcane juice. Panela is an unrefined whole cane sugar. Indian panela is known as jaggery or gur. This drink is blended by combining tiny pieces of panela in water and boiled until it dissolves completely. Sometimes a dash of lime juice is also added that gives it a bit of tangy flavors.The drink can be served both hot and cold. The hot version of aguapanela is usually with chunks of fresh cheese in place of fruit juice. There are innumerable ways of putting together this drink. Also, tons of variations of this drink exist throughout South America. In Columbia, a glass of Aguapanela is savoured with a hint of lemon, similar to how a cup of tea is consumed. The drink is not only loaded with satisfying mildly sweet flavours but also essential minerals and vitamins. It is believed that this beverage packs more vitamin C than most juices. It is also considered to be a helpful drink in curing a cold and acts as a perfect immunity booster. The best time of the year to consume jaggery is of course the winter season. Consuming jaggery in winters provides your body with warmth and relaxes your soul. So what are you waiting for? Grab a cup of this soothing drink. Here is the recipe for making this hearty drink at home.
Ingredients-
- 1 glass water
- A dash of lime juice
- 4-5 pieces of jaggery
Method-
- Take a saucepan and add water. Mix it with jaggery and pour some lime juice into it.
- Boil everything together on low-medium flame till jagger dissolves in the water.
- Stir and mix well. Then strain it into a glass or cup.
- There you go, your drink is ready to relish.
