Jaggery tea a hot favourite for winters

Doctors say better use brown sugar than the white one in tea


APP November 28, 2017

ISLAMABAD: Gur chai or jaggery tea is among the favourite hot drinks in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and across the Potohar region during winter.

People believe that the gur chai is elixir in treating winter ailments like cold, flu, runny nose and chest congestions. Tea brewed in hot milk and sweetened with jaggery is a delightful winter quaff.

Nutritious and tasty, gur chai is made at homes and also sold on kiosks spreading a sweet aroma to attract people.

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Jaggery sales jump from November to February owing demand in tea making. Otherwise, people tend to stickj to white sugar for making regular tea.

Apart from staving off cold, gur chai helps in fighting several winter-related diseases, said a student Asma Ali.

A rural woman Sadia Karim said: “During winter, I never take white sugar tea, rather jaggery sweetens my hot drinks which add nutrition, taste and vitality to the cup.”

In rural areas, it is very common to eat gur in winter, she said. “Though brown sugar is expensive than white, my family loves to sip on gur chai before heading out in the morning chill of the winters,” she added.

Jaggery making season starts with sugarcane harvest in autumn. Winter sees fresh supplies of jaggery coming to markets. Some varieties are even studded with peanuts, others with dry fruits like almond and pistachio foir high-end buyers.

Mohammad Abdullah, a gur chai vendor on a busy street in Rawalpindi said: “This tea is basically consumed by rural people. Anyone with farming background comes following its aroma to may stall,” he said with a smile. The village people know what the benefits of jaggery are.

Doctors also recommend that using brown sugar is always better than white one in tea. Jaggery is rich source of iron, potassium, various vitamins, it helps in detoxification of liver, good for digestive system, enhances immunity, but it should b consumed in huger doses.

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Dr Asim Bukhari said Jaggery contains potassium and sodium, which play an important role in the maintenance of acid levels in the body as well as It makes sure that a normal level of blood pressure is properly maintained.    “If you suffer from aches and pains in your joints, eating jaggery can provide you with much-needed relief,” says Dr Asim.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 28th, 2017.

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