Bel Ka Sharbat, Maredu Drink, How to make Bael syrup

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Bel Ka Sharbat, Maredu Drink, How to make Bel syrup

Bel Ka Sharbat, Maredu Drink, How to make Bael Syrup – Summer Drinks

Along with Nannari syrup, I also prepared a batch of Bel Syrup since it is a healthy thirst quencher, filled with nutritional goodness. The Bael tree is considered sacred in Hinduism where the leaves and fruit are used to worship Lord Shiva. Bael fruit (Botanical name ~ Aegle marmelos), also known as Stone Apple, Bael Pathar, Vilvam (Tamil), Bilva (Hindi) and Maredu pandu (Telugu) is packed with nutrition, helps cure acidity, ulcers, gastric disorders and helps to cool and detoxify the body. In fact, every part of Bael tree is useful, the roots and leaves are used to treat skin infections and stomach ailments.

bel ka sharbat
Bel Ka Sharbat

Most people prepare Sharbat using the ripe fruit. One can also prepare Sharbat using bel syrup that is prepared from dried Bel fruit. Bel syrup preparation is similar to Nannari syrup preparation. It is slightly labor intensive but simple. Basically you wash the dried Bael aka Maredu thoroughly and soak in water overnight. Next day morning the dried bel is boiled along with the soaked water till it reduces to half the original quantity. The resultant mixture is strained and further boiled with sugar till it becomes slightly thick brown colored mixture. To prepare Bel Ka Sharbat, pour 3 heaped tablespoons of the prepared Bel syrup into a tall glass, add 1 tbsp of lemon juice and pour chilled water to the brim. Add ice cubes and serve.

If you want to prepare Bel ka Sharbat using the ripe fruit, all you need to do is break open a bel and scoop out the pulp using a spoon. Soak the pulp in a cup of water for a few minutes and use your hands to squish the pulp. Strain to remove the seeds and discard them. Blend the bael pulp to a smooth mixture. Add add sugar or jaggery as per taste, roasted cumin powder, pinch of black salt, chilled water to the blended pulp, mix well. Pour into tall glasses, add ice cubes and serve.

maredu
Maredu ~ Dried Bael Fruit

Maredu aka dried Bael is usually available at any local Ayurveda medical stores. In Vizag, Maredu (in its dried form) is available at Pachipulusu Venkata Sannaiah & Sons and Sri Sambasiva Ayurvedic Centre in Kurupam Market. You can even buy ready made Bel syrup from Ayurveda medical stores. In Vizag, Maredu drink is prepared by juice vendors in their push carts especially in Kurupam Market area, near CBM High School and Seethammadhara.

Bel Ka Sharbat, Maredu Drink, How to make Bel syrup

  Prepare time:  Cook:  Serves: 30  Cuisine: andhra bel,drinks,maredu,summer-drink,All Recipes,Andhra Recipes,Ayurvedic Cooking - Ayurveda Recipes,Indian Drink - Sharbat Recipes,Indian Vegan Recipes,Indian Vegetarian Recipes
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 Ingredients

  •   To prepare Bel Syrup:
  •   Dried Bael fruit 250 gms (Maredu)
  •   Water 2 lts
  •   Sugar 1 kg
  •   Citric Acid large pinch
  •   To prepare Sharbat:
  •   Roasted cumin powder 1/4 tsp
  •   Black salt 1/4 tsp
  •   Lemon Juice as required
  •   Ice cubes as required

Method for making Bel Ka Sharbat, Maredu Drink, How to make Bel syrup

  1. Wash dried Bael aka Maredu thoroughly. Soak them in 2 liters of water overnight. On soaking, the liquid turns a dark color.

  2. Next day morning, boil them along with the soaked water till it reduces to half of its original quantity, approx 1 liter. Strain the liquid with a double layered cheesecloth so that no particles trickle down. Pour the strained liquid into another clean heavy bottomed vessel.

  3. To this liquid, add 1 kg sugar and heat it till it turns slightly thick and sticky, approx 15 mts on low medium flame. Do not over boil it. Cool completely and store the dark brown liquid in a clean bottle.

  4. If you want to preserve the syrup, add a pinch of citric acid and mix. I usually store the sweetened bael syrup without citric acid in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks.

  5. To prepare Bel ka sarbath, pour 3 heaped tablespoons of the Bel syrup into a tall glass, add 1 1/2 tbsps of lemon juice and pour chilled water. Add ice cubes and serve. A variation is to add roasted cumin powder and black salt and mix well.

  6. To prepare Bel Soda, pour 3 heaped tablespoons of the Bel syrup into a tall glass, add 1 1/2 tbsps of lemon juice and pour soda to the brim. Add ice cubes and serve.

Tips

  •   Bael syrup slightly thickens on cooling.
  •   You can preserve the syrup without adding sugar by refrigerating it for 2 to 3 weeks. Use jaggery syrup or dates syrup to sweeten Bel ka sarbath.
By Published: Bel Ka Sharbat called Maredu in Telugu is a herbal summer drink made with Bael fruit that has health benefits. Learn how to make Bel syrup with dried Bel.