Ancestral practice of natural homemade medicines are becoming popular now as they don’t have any side-effects and do not react with doctor prescribed medicines.
This coconut tonic is one such medicine for cold and associated chest congestion. After recovering from common cold, sometimes we might encounter continuous cough followed by spitting out sputum. In such scenarios, our grannies suggest to take this kashaayam for 3 nights after food and before going to sleep. No food or water after drinking this. My MIL makes this for Nilaa if her cold and cough persist longer. She believes this will melt out the phlegm accumulated in the chest(Nenju Chali).
Pregnant ladies too can have this tonic. Dry ginger generates heat and so it is advised to avoid it in the first trimester. Taking very small amounts of it to cope up with nausea is still a normal practice. Dry ginger and sesame seeds are not enemies of pregnancy. It is actually a medicine, when had in moderation. Consuming often or/and overdose would cause side-effects.
Coconut Milk Tonic Recipe – Ingredients
Coconut – half
Palm Jaggery(Panang Karupatti) – 1/4 cup
Cloves(Krambu) – 2
Dry ginger(Sukku thool) – 1/4 tsp
Cardamom powder(Aelakkai thool) – 1/8 tsp
Preparation
1.Grate karupati and keep ready. Slice out coconut pieces from its shell.
2.Grind coconut pieces in a mixie. Add water and grind again.
3.Take a wide mouthed container and tie a thin cotton cloth around its mouth. Pour the ground coconut over the cloth. Untie the cloth and hold all the corners in one hand and squeeze out the coconut milk(Thick or First milk) using the other hand.
4.After squeezing out the milk, separately gather the coconut mass held up inside the cloth. Repeat this process until all done. Pour some hot water into the gathered mass and let it soak for 5-10 mins. Again squeeze out the milk(Thin or Second milk) from it.
5.To a pan, add grated palm jaggery, 2 cloves and dry ginger(Sukku) powder
6.Add cardamom powder and water. Allow it to boil.
7.Once nicely bubbles up, switch off and filter to the extracted coconut milk.
8.Heat the coconut milk in medium flame. Heat until it nicely bubbles up as shown below.
Serve warm !!
Tips/Tricks
- If you are using sukku karupati, then reduce the addition of sukku.
- Do not boil coconut milk too long as it will start expelling coconut oil.
- This sweetness is correct for me. You shall increase more karupatti, if desired.
- Once prepared, consume as soon as possible.
Nutritional Benefits
Coconut – Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Vitamins B&C, Fiber & good fats
Palm Jaggery/Karupatti – Calcium, Iron, Zinc, Selenium, Magnesium, Potassium, Phosphorus, anti-oxidants, Vitamins B&C
hi shymala…dis s vry useful tonic fr babies/kids.. my kidoo totaly rejects dis tonic, is there ny othr way to include dis in his food??
@Dhivya, try making it more sweeter by adding more palm jaggery. If your kid still refuses, try mixing with dinner. Best combos are idiyappam(String hoppers),idli,dosa,paniyaram.