Rose Gulkand: A Summer Tonic
Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2012 2:36 pm
Rose Gulkand: A Summer Tonic
Editor's Note from Chandana Deekshith: Rose Gulkand is incredibly delicious, mouth-watering body coolant. It is an ideal alternative to regular jams as it is credited with many health benefits. Try this!
Rose is the flower of love, fragrance and beauty. Indeed nothing can beat this perfect gift on a valentine's day. Roses have impressed people of all age groups over ages. Though it has amazing medicinal value, it is often prized for its aesthetic value.
Rose Gulkand means rose petal preserve or rose petal jam. Gul means flower in Persian and Urdu and qand means sweet in Arabic. It is one of the most delicious Ayurvedic preparations which has been used for centuries for good health. Rosa centifolia (centi:100 &folia: petals), are the commonly used species for preparing Gulkand. This plant belongs to Rosaceae family. In Ayurveda, it is called as Shatapatri - a flower with 100 petals.
Ingredients for Gulkand:
1. Rose petals
2. Granulated Sugar
(both in equal quantities)
Optional - can add cardomom seeds, mukta pishti (pearl powder) and pravala pishti (coral powder) to make the preparation much more potent.
Note: Do not use cultured roses, as they contain very little essential oils and thus lack flavor. Also please make sure that the rose petals are clean and are without any insects.
Instructions:
* Separate rose petals, wash thoroughly and dry.
* Take a glass jar with wide mouth.
* Arrange layers of rose petals and sugar alternatively in the glass jar.
* Close the lid tight and place the glass jar in sun for 6-7 hours per day for 3-4 weeks.
* Mix the ingredients in the jar every alternate day using wooden spatula.
* It takes less time in summer than winter, as sugar melts very easily.
* After 4 weeks, the mass in the jar looks like jam.
* Flavor of rose can be felt only after 6-8 weeks.
* Gulkand can be stored for years, if kept in cool and dry place. Best way would be to store Gulkand in air tight container and refrigerate.
* Gulkand milk shake: 1 glass of milk+2 tsp of gulkand+2 almonds+sugar (if required) +a pinch of cardomom powder+kesar.
Gulkand can be used daily and is an excellent summer tonic.
Dose:
1tsp-2tsp with milk in the morning.
Properties of Gulkand:
* According to Ayurveda, it is said to pacify excess of pitta in the body, thus keeping body cool
* Promotes health and longevity
* Gulkand is a powerful antioxidant and a good rejuvenator
* Good for memory and eyesight
* Helps to reduce stress and combat fatigue
* Heals gastric and duodenal ulcers
* Cures mouth ulcers, strengthen gums and keeps mouth fresh
* Best remedy for leucorrhoea and dysmenorrhea
* It is a mild laxative
* Removes toxins from the body and purifies blood. So it helps to keep skin clean and clear and also prevents skin diseases like boils, blisters, acne etc.
* Helps to reduce excessive perspiration and foul body odor
* Can be used as an adjuvant in treating Herpes
* Good digestive tonic
* Ayurveda calls it a 'vrishya' - A powerful aphrodisiac
* As per Ayurveda, Sadhaka pitta-a sub category of pitta dosa is said to be present in heart and is responsible for all sorts of emotions. Gulkand helps to balance sadhaka pitta and hence can be used as adjuvant in heart ailments like palpitation, arrhythmia, blood pressure etc. Gulkand also elevates the mood of the person and keeps him positive and happy by pacifying excess sadhaka pitta in the body
Note: People with Diabetes shouldn't use this.
Recipe by Chandana Deekshith, BAMS, MD (AM), FCR (India), ATH Co-Editor of Herbalism, is the Founder and Director of Ayur Healing.
Editor's Note from Chandana Deekshith: Rose Gulkand is incredibly delicious, mouth-watering body coolant. It is an ideal alternative to regular jams as it is credited with many health benefits. Try this!
Rose is the flower of love, fragrance and beauty. Indeed nothing can beat this perfect gift on a valentine's day. Roses have impressed people of all age groups over ages. Though it has amazing medicinal value, it is often prized for its aesthetic value.
Rose Gulkand means rose petal preserve or rose petal jam. Gul means flower in Persian and Urdu and qand means sweet in Arabic. It is one of the most delicious Ayurvedic preparations which has been used for centuries for good health. Rosa centifolia (centi:100 &folia: petals), are the commonly used species for preparing Gulkand. This plant belongs to Rosaceae family. In Ayurveda, it is called as Shatapatri - a flower with 100 petals.
Ingredients for Gulkand:
1. Rose petals
2. Granulated Sugar
(both in equal quantities)
Optional - can add cardomom seeds, mukta pishti (pearl powder) and pravala pishti (coral powder) to make the preparation much more potent.
Note: Do not use cultured roses, as they contain very little essential oils and thus lack flavor. Also please make sure that the rose petals are clean and are without any insects.
Instructions:
* Separate rose petals, wash thoroughly and dry.
* Take a glass jar with wide mouth.
* Arrange layers of rose petals and sugar alternatively in the glass jar.
* Close the lid tight and place the glass jar in sun for 6-7 hours per day for 3-4 weeks.
* Mix the ingredients in the jar every alternate day using wooden spatula.
* It takes less time in summer than winter, as sugar melts very easily.
* After 4 weeks, the mass in the jar looks like jam.
* Flavor of rose can be felt only after 6-8 weeks.
* Gulkand can be stored for years, if kept in cool and dry place. Best way would be to store Gulkand in air tight container and refrigerate.
* Gulkand milk shake: 1 glass of milk+2 tsp of gulkand+2 almonds+sugar (if required) +a pinch of cardomom powder+kesar.
Gulkand can be used daily and is an excellent summer tonic.
Dose:
1tsp-2tsp with milk in the morning.
Properties of Gulkand:
* According to Ayurveda, it is said to pacify excess of pitta in the body, thus keeping body cool
* Promotes health and longevity
* Gulkand is a powerful antioxidant and a good rejuvenator
* Good for memory and eyesight
* Helps to reduce stress and combat fatigue
* Heals gastric and duodenal ulcers
* Cures mouth ulcers, strengthen gums and keeps mouth fresh
* Best remedy for leucorrhoea and dysmenorrhea
* It is a mild laxative
* Removes toxins from the body and purifies blood. So it helps to keep skin clean and clear and also prevents skin diseases like boils, blisters, acne etc.
* Helps to reduce excessive perspiration and foul body odor
* Can be used as an adjuvant in treating Herpes
* Good digestive tonic
* Ayurveda calls it a 'vrishya' - A powerful aphrodisiac
* As per Ayurveda, Sadhaka pitta-a sub category of pitta dosa is said to be present in heart and is responsible for all sorts of emotions. Gulkand helps to balance sadhaka pitta and hence can be used as adjuvant in heart ailments like palpitation, arrhythmia, blood pressure etc. Gulkand also elevates the mood of the person and keeps him positive and happy by pacifying excess sadhaka pitta in the body
Note: People with Diabetes shouldn't use this.
Recipe by Chandana Deekshith, BAMS, MD (AM), FCR (India), ATH Co-Editor of Herbalism, is the Founder and Director of Ayur Healing.