Homemade Immunity Booster Drink Recipes How To Make Indian Kadha Drink

Kadha, or Immunity booster drink, or Kashayam, is a traditional Indian drink loaded with herbs and spices. Kadha or Kashayam is rich in antioxidants, has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, and is considered one of the best ayurvedic homemade remedies against fever, flu, cold, cough, or throat infection.

Common ingredients include ginger, peppercorns, cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom, turmeric, and herbs like basil, tulsi, or pudina (mint). You can follow the steps and make your favorite combo drink. I would recommend using spices in moderation as consuming more than required may cause heartburn.

Earlier, kadha drink was consumed during winter days because changing weather would drop your immunity levels and thus make you prone to cold and cough. But now, with the ongoing pandemic, I see that kadha or kashayam has become an important part of our daily diet. The most preferred and the best time to drink kashaya is on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. But if for some reason, you are not able to drink kadha early morning, you can consume it before a meal or before going to bed at night.

Try to drink kadha or kashaya at least once in a week or 15 days. Like I always say, freshly ground or crushed ingredients make your drink more aromatic. So crush the spices just before you are ready to prepare the drink if possible. For additional and natural flavor, I have used fresh ginger and fresh turmeric root. But if you are not able to find one, feel free to substitute it with powders. Adjust all the spices to your taste.

Immunity Boosting Drink or Kadha or Kashaya I

2 Cinnamon sticks (1 inch) 1 Bay leaf 3 Cloves 1 tablespoon Ginger, chopped 2 tablespoon Mint leaves (Pudina) 2-inch Fresh Turmeric fingers, slices (or ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder) Juice of ½ lemon Honey, as needed 3 cups Water In a pan on medium heat, add 3 cups of water. Add cinnamon sticks, bay leaf, cloves, ginger, mint leaves, and fresh turmeric, bring it to a boil, and simmer for 10 minutes to infuse the flavors. Transfer it to a glass through a tea strainer. Add the juice of lemon and honey as needed, and stir. Drink hot or warm and enjoy.

Immunity Boosting Drink or Kadha or Kashaya II

1 tablespoon Peppercorns 2 Cinnamon sticks ( 1 inch) 6 Green Cardamom pods 4 Cloves 2 tablespoon Ginger, chopped 1 Bay leaf ¼ cup Jaggery 3 cups Water Juice of ½ lemon In a mortar & pestle, add peppercorns, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, and cloves and crush them to form a coarse powder. In a pan on medium heat, add 3 cups of water, crushed spices, ginger, bay leaf, and jaggery, and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 10 minutes so that the flavors are infused. Transfer it to a glass through a tea strainer. Squeeze lemon juice as needed. Serve hot or warm, and enjoy.

You can prepare a large batch of kadha, strain it into an air-tight bottle, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 2 or 3 days. Just warm as much as needed and consume.