Journey of taste: Gond katira dissolves coolness in the body in summer, it has a treasure of qualities, history is interesting

Swad Ka Safarnama: Gond Katira is a special type of diet. It is a natural food which increases immunity in the body. It is full of qualities. Its consumption not only provides coolness to the body, but it also communicates ‘strength’. Apart from India, it is in great demand in the surrounding countries. It is a sap obtained from trees which dries up and turns into gum. Its history is very interesting.

odorless and tasteless

Gond Katira (Tragacanth Gum/Gond Katira) is actually neither a fruit nor a spice or a vegetable. In general speaking, it is a herb and also a dry fruit. Actually, two types of edible gum comes out from certain trees and both have different effects. One of these is gond, from which special types of laddoos etc. are made in winter and it is considered very hot in its properties. If this gum is put in water, it dissolves completely. If gond katira is dissolved in water, it turns into jelly and its effect is cool and it is consumed only in summer, so that the body can be protected from heatstroke, heat stroke etc.

Although it is odorless and tasteless but it has a wealth of properties. In summer, its sherbet is drunk with or without dry fruits. It is also used to make paneer and it is also useful in making pudding. Gond katira also plays its role in preparing the Gulkand which is added to the sweet paan.

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History is like ‘Hari Ananta, Hari Katha Ananta’

The history of Gond Katira is like ‘Hari Anant, Hari Katha Ananta’. Means it is being born in the world for thousands of years. It is the juice extracted by incision on the trunks or thick roots of special types of trees (including acacia and kikar trees in India), which turns into gum after drying. Its maximum yield is in Iraq and Iran. It is also extracted a lot in Afghanistan. It is still being used in Unani medicine for tonic drugs. Its yield in India is more in Rajasthan and India.

According to Virendra Gupta, a businessman of Khari Baoli, a grocery market located in Old Delhi, white to yellowish brown gond katira is also imported from Iran and Afghanistan. According to the quality, its wholesale rate is maximum Rs.400 per kg. Its demand increases a lot in summer, because it is considered cooling. Apart from food, it is used as an ingredient in many industries such as the cosmetics industry, incense sticks and paper manufacturing.

lowers body temperature

Gond Katira is a natural food, so it also has special properties. It increases immunity in the body, not only provides coolness to the body, but also communicates ‘strength’. Talking about nutrients, according to modern botanical science, calories 70, carbohydrate 35 grams, fiber 30 grams, hydrate (liquidity) 5 grams, fat 0 grams, sodium 9 grams and other components are found in 100 grams of gond katira.

Gond Harira also protects against heatstroke and sun stroke. Image-Canva

According to Vaidyaraj Dinanath Upadhyay, former dean of Mumbai University, now there are many types of food and dishes available to protect the body from heat, but there was a time when it used to be hot in summer. Those who know its features, use it even today in summer. Amazing natural substances found in it are very effective in protecting from heat stroke in summer. Its consumption reduces the body temperature and cools the body from inside. Due to this coolness, the body is saved from heatstroke and sun stroke, as well as gets rid of nosebleeds and sweating.

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Keeps the nervous system cool as well

There is sufficient amount of fiber in Gond Katira, due to which the digestive system of the stomach is kept healthy. It also does not allow the intestines to dry, due to which stomach related diseases stay away. It also has immunity power, so there is protection from common diseases like cough, cold and many types of virus infection. Its consumption also removes the toxins present in the body. It also lubricates the joints of the body and helps in developing strong bones. The special thing is that Gond Katira also provides coolness to the nervous system of the brain. There are no side effects of Gond Katira when taken in moderate amounts. But while consuming it, one should drink plenty of water, the reason being that it absorbs a lot of water, if you do not drink water then there may be a problem of constipation. If consumed in excess, it can also block the intestines.

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Tags: food, Lifestyle