Imli, aaloo bukhara drink sales increase in capital as mercury rises

Health experts highlight drink’s heat alleviating properties, nutritional and health benefits

ISLAMABAD: With rising temperatures in the country, the sale of homemade drinks is on the rise elsewhere in the country including Islamabad. In this realm, many vendors are attracting their customers, carrying traditional ‘Imli and Aaloo Bukhara drink’ to beat the heat with summer specialty. The consumption of Imli and Aaloo Bukhara drink is considered perfect to alleviate heat effects and a much healthier alternative to carbonated drinks.

‘Imli’ (Tamarind) contains many volatile phytochemicals such as limonene, geraniol, safrole, cinnamic acid, methyl salicylate, pyrazine and alkylthiazoles. Together, these compounds account for the medicinal properties of tamarind.

Further, ‘Aaloo Bukhara’ (Plum) is a good source of Vitamin B1, B2, B3, B6 and Vitamin E. The minerals present in plums include potassium, fluoride, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, calcium and zinc.  Plums also supply dietary fiber and offer very low calories without any harmful fat.

The blend made of nutritional fruits provides a lot of essential nutrients, provides relief in scorching weather and boosts declining energy in the human body which is wasted through excessive sweating.

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Health experts said that there were countless health benefits of the blend. He added that the blended juice helped reduce inflammation throughout the body. It also helped improve eye health, boost respiratory health, heal skin conditions, improve the digestive system, relieve pain, increase the strength of the immune system, reduce fever, lower cholesterol to improve cardiovascular health, treat piles, prevent cancer, and even protect children against parasites and worms.

This juice is sold on various roadside stalls on Garden Road, Service Road Seventh Avenue, Karachi Company, Kashmir Highway, Madina Market, Golra Mor, Rawal dam Chowk, Chak Shahzad, Tramiri and Khanna Pull and it is famous amongst the citizens. A small glass is sold for Rs20 while a large glass is sold for Rs30.

An “Imli and Aaloo Bukhara” drink stall holder, Arsalan maintained that the juice was better than any other packaged juices and free from any kinds of chemicals.

He said that the tamarind and plum were left soaked in water overnight and then unseeded.

In the next step, both pulps were grinded and then strained in a separate container to separate any remaining skin residual of both fruits. He said that the blended pulp was mixed with water to make it ready for drinking, while little addition of sugar improved its taste.

Arsalan said that the drink was refreshing and was beneficial for the human body.

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A citizen, Kashif, said that packed juices and drinks contained chemicals which were harmful for health. He added that plum and tamarind blend was not only cheaply and abundantly available but it had numerous health benefits too

Furthermore, Dr Naveed Ahmed told The Express Tribune that they usually did not consume packed juices at home. He said that fresh juices could not be adulterated, while packed juices contained elements that caused blood pressure problems and cardiac diseases.

He recommended that citizens consume more juices during the summer season to overcome salt deficiency which typically arises due to excessive sweating.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 7^th, 2019.