News Desk |
US consulate Lahore posted a video on its social media account on Friday showing six American citizens trying out a few popular summer drinks of Pakistan.
The video titled, “It’s hot outside, so we tried some popular Pakistani summer drinks to cool off. Which is your favourite? #summerdrinks #delicious #WhyILovePakistan #USPak”, shot six participants who were identified as “Americans” in the beginning of the video, devouring traditional house-hold drinks of the country.
Hamdard Laboratories (waqf) is known for manufacturing traditional herbal medicines and products using updated machinery and techniques.
Rooh Afza by Hamdard Laboratories was the first drink tried by the six participants. Described by one of the members as “Rose Water”, the drink was thoroughly enjoyed by all participants due to its refreshing qualities. “Wow”, was the first reaction of one of the participants after taking the first sip. Others expressed their approval with comments such as “I actually like it” and “that is sweet”.
Another participant described the taste like “flowers” to which his fellow-participant responded “I was just gonna say it tastes like candy but you nailed it”. Overall, Rooh Afza was thoroughly enjoyed by all and got the most positive reviews out of all the other drinks tasted in the video.
https://www.facebook.com/lahore.usconsulate/videos/2314151538826302/
Read more: ‘Mashroob-e-Mashriq, Rooh Afza, raises Pakistan’s flag in North America!
Sherbet-e-Sandal, Sherbet Elaichi and Sherbet Bazoori of Qarshi Laboratories were the next three drinks tried by the participants. All three of them got mixed and average reviews perhaps due to their strong taste. The last three drinks tasted by the six participants were home-made drinks that were enjoyed for their refreshing and cooling qualities.
The home-made drinks included sherbet Thadal, Falsa sherbet and Lassi. Thadal is a cooling and energizing drink, used by the pehlwan (wrestler) of the Sindh province in Pakistan. The drink keep the wrestlers’ liver cool during fights and exercises and is prepared using ground char magaz, dry fruits, pepper and almonds. The refresher is said to be so cooling that it can give you a cold, so a pinch of black pepper is added.
US consulate Lahore posted a video on its social media account showing six American citizens trying out a few popular summer drinks of Pakistan.
Falsa sherbet is made of Grewia Asiatica, a species of Grewia. It is extensively cultivated for its sweet and sour acidic fruit, which is sold in the market during summer months under the name falsa. The sherbet or squash is prepared from the fruit pulp by mixing it with sugar and used as an astringent, stomachic and cooling agent. Lassi is a popular traditional dahi (yogurt)-based drink that originated in the Indian subcontinent, with a blend of yogurt, water, spices and sometimes fruit.
Most popular of all is the sweet lassi, which is flavoured with sugar, rosewater or lemon, strawberry or other fruit juices. Saffron lassis, which are particularly rich, are a speciality of Rajasthan and Gujarat in India and Sindh. Makkhaniya lassi is simply lassi with lumps of butter in it (makkhan is the Gujarati, Urdu, Hindi, Sindhi and Punjabi word for butter). It is usually creamy, like a milkshake.
Read more: Twitter reacts strongly to the shortage of Rooh Afza in India
Pakistan-India Rooh Afza Diplomacy
In May this year India had faced a Rooh Afza crisis during Ramadan, also known as the “peak season” for the drink, and the Pakistani arm of Hamdard Laboratories came to their rescue. Rooh Afza had been unavailable in India for over four months in markets and online stores.
The refresher is said to be so cooling that it can give you a cold, so a pinch of black pepper is added.
It was reported that the manufacturing of Rooh Afza by Hamdard Laboratories in India had been on hold due to lack of raw materials. Other reports cited a legal dispute as the source behind the issue. The demand for the popular drink had been sky-high due to its popularity particularly in the Holy month of Ramadan.
The maker stated that the popular sherbet will only be back in the market in 15-20 days which is quite late considering Ramadan is a 30-day fasting period. Responding to the twitter outcry of Indian Muslims, Pakistani Hamdard stepped in to offer help to Indian Muslims till the crisis feigned out.
Read more: Rooh Afza diplomacy by Pakistan
The former Chief Executive Officer of Hamdard Laboratories Waqf Pakistan, Usama Sharif, offered to supply the summer drink through the Wagah border through a tweet on twitter. Rooh Afza production in Pakistan is run by Hamdard Laboratories Waqf Pakistan.
he former CEO and MD of Hamdard Laboratories Waqf Pakistan added that Pakistan dominates exports of the ‘Laal sherbet’ anyway and hence offered to supply to India as well. A South Asian iftar traditionally consists of pakoras, fruit chaat, dates, and Rooh Afza.
Rooh Afza: A heavenly elixir
Rooh Afza, a rose-flavoured concentrate of herbs, fruits, and flowers, is popular throughout South Asia and is a staple of Ramadan in both Pakistan and India, particularly in summer when it is mixed in cold water or milk and served at sunrise Sehri and sunset Iftar meals.
Read more: In India, Rooh Afza lovers rejoice as the drink returns to shelves in time for Ramadan
Hamdard Laboratories (waqf) is known for manufacturing traditional herbal medicines and products using updated machinery and techniques. The traditional drink Rooh Afza, also referred to as “The Original Red Drink”, is known for its refreshing and thirst-quenching qualities in predominantly South Asian households.
In addition to drinking, it has a plethora of other uses, such as being the vital ingredient in home-made ice creams, sorbets, slush, smoothies, sundaes and many other sweet and savory dishes. Famous for its universal outreach, it was named among the top hundred brands of the world in 2007 by a renowned US magazine, ‘Saveour’, calling Rooh Afza a “heavenly elixir”.