Summer respite: Sale of sugarcane juice on the rise

ISLAMABAD: Like most parts of the country, the twin cities are in the grip of severe heat wave. The heat wave means the roadside sugarcane juice vendors’s business is booming.

Motorists as well as pedestrians throng these stalls in large numbers throughout the day.

“We set up our stalls at around 10am and continue till 4 pm,” said Ahsan Khan, who sells sugarcane juice along a roadside.

He said that he expected good business in the coming days.

“I like sugarcane juice because it is healthy and refreshing during the summer. I always prefer it to a soft drink, while I am visiting the markets,” Mohammad Usman said.

Another customer said that he liked to add lemon and ginger to his sugarcane juice, adding, “it makes it easier to digest”.

Abid Khan, a shopkeeper said, “it is the most popular drink in the area. We have been doing this business for the last 70 years, we sell fresh sugarcane juice in the winter and the summer, but most people visit the shop during summer to beat the heat.”

He said fresh sugarcane juice was also cheaper than most fresh fruit juices.

According to health professionals, sugarcane juice is good for the liver and skin, and is rich with vitamin E.

Dr Jameel Tariq, a physician and nutritionist said that, “it’s healthy for the liver and skin and other ailments, but one must beware of hepatitis as cart pushers do not always care for hygiene.

“Juice prepared using dirty machines can be dangerous,” he warned.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 16^th, 2016.