JAU KA SATTU – जौ का सत्तू (Sweet Barley Water)

Ever wonder how we are so easily lured and taken in by the glamorous ads and our favourite celebs selling us that aerated / ‘energy’ drink just because it seemingly has that ‘cool’ factor attached to it? It is cool only while you are holding the bottle of your favourite drink, sipping it and enjoying its taste. The moment it enters your bodies, all you have is empty calories with zero health benefits.

Attaching emotions to a product makes it even easier to sell goods in India. It is sad to see how we are not investing these emotions at the right place. We are drifting away from our desi (indigenous) drinks that are not only delicious but also packed with immense health benefits. The ingredients used and the spices added, are specific to season and take care of our body’s needs. Shun those ’empty’, sugary, wasteful and harmful calorie filled aerated drinks and swap them for healthy and natural coolers. Aam Panna is one delicious option and instead of using sugar to sweeten it, you can swap it with a natural sweetener of your choice, probably jaggery powder. Another option is Jal Jeera (Sweet & Sour Cumin Water) which is an appetizer and a digestive. I sweeten mine with fresh pineapple juice and it also makes its taste go several notches up. Or you can add probiotic goodness by enjoying a chilled glass of this Neer Mor (Spiced Buttermilk) And if you want to go fancy then I suggest you try the alcohol free Hibiscus Kinnow Sangria.

I remember my mother making jau ka sattu during peak summers all through my growing up years and up until I left for university. There, it was usually a bottle of Lemonade Concentrate that I kept with me during summers to help me through the season. It was easy to store and I simply had to add chilled water to it. However, if you can get your hands of jau ka sattu, making this drink is just as simple. You just need to add a few teaspoons of barley powder and some jaggery powder and mix it well with water. Top it with some ice and serve immediately. Some people like adding a little bit of ginger juice and lime juice to it but I like mine simply with some jaggery powder. So good and so healthy.

The amount of ingredients that I am sharing below are only indicative of a rough estimate that you would need to make two glasses of barley water. You can adjust the amount of powder and jaggery to suit your taste.

400 ml Water

2 tbsp Jau ka Sattu (Barley Powder)

2 tbsp plus 2 tsp Jaggery Powder

Cubes of Ice

Mix the powder and jaggery in water and stir it well or till the jaggery is completely dissolved in water.

Taste and adjust ingredients.

Top with ice and serve.

Note – If the drink is kept undisturbed for sometime, you will notice the powder and water separating, which is just fine. Stir before consuming. (I have deliberately left one glass undisturbed while clicking pictures to show this)

Note – You can enhance the taste of this drink by adding a little bit of ginger juice and some lime juice to it.

Note – The colour of the drink will depend on the colour of jaggery that you use.

Serves – Two

Thanks for your visit. See you soon again with another exciting recipe!