Kasai is a health drink that is staple in every Goan household. It is believed to fight off the cold. Every household has its own recipe of making Kasai. However, the base ingredients like herbs and spices remain the same. Based on the ayurvedic knowledge of spices, this drink is an amalgamation of the goodness and health benefits of all its ingredients combined in one place. Growing up having kasai was nothing more than a punishment. However, now, I prefer a cup of warm kasai drizzled with some honey on any day compared to a cup of tea or coffee.
What you will need:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Black pepper corns | 1 teaspoon |
| Cinnamon stick | 5 inches |
| Cloves | 5 |
| Coriander seeds | 1 teaspoon |
| Fennel seeds | 1 teaspoon |
| Fenugreek seeds | 1 teaspoon |
| Ginger | 3 inches |
| Honey | 3 tablespoons |
| Lemongrass leaves | 1/4 cup |
| Onion | 1 large crushed |
| Tulsi/ Holy Basil | 1/4 cup |
| Turmeric | 1 teaspoon (optional) |
| Water | 3 cups |
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Serving: 3
How to make it:
- Crush the ginger and onion using a mortar and pestle.
- In a pot, add the water, crushed ginger and onion, herbs and spices.
- Mix well and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Strain in a cup, add honey and stir.
- Serve warm.
- Note: It is difficult to find fresh herbs all year round where I live due to change in seasons. So I usually dry tulsi and lemon grass leaves and store them so that I can use them all year round.