Carom Seed Water
Ajwain Ka Pani
Mamta Gupta
This is not really a recipe, just a drink that is used in India a lot as an alternative medicine. People ask me about it, so I decided to write it down.
Ajwain, bishop's weed, English name Carom, Trachyspermum ammi is from the Indian subcontinent. The seeds smell like Thyme, as they also contain thymol.
Ajwain has many culinary uses in India. I personally use it in several doughs, especially for things like Poories, Kachauries and Plain Parathas. I also use it in many vegetable bhaies/ Pakora batter. You can't really make Pakoras batter without it!
It smells like the herb Thyme, because of Thymol. Even a small amount of seeds give a strong flavour to any dish they are added to.
The seeds are widely used in herbal medicine in India. They are supposed to aid in digestion. If you have access to the plants, try making Pakoras with their leaves, they are delicious. My father used to have a couple of pots of Thyme plants on his verandah. My mum always made a few ajwain leaf pakoras, whenever pakoras were made in our house.
In India, you can buy chewable carom seeds that have been soaked in lemon juice and then dried. They are quite tasty. You take about 1 teaspoon after meal and slowly chew them.Thymol is contained in the leaves, as well as seeds/fruits.
Some of the conditions it is supposed to help are;
1. Reduces stomach acidity. This is one of the main reason why I drink it and it seems to work. However, there is no way I can say whether the improvement is scientific or because of its placebo effect. But as it seems to work for me and I liI drink it most days.
2. Ajwain water is said to help sooth cough. Thymol effect? Who knows!
3. Carminative Properties; drinking ajwain seed water reduces flatulence.
4. Digestive aid; perhaps this is the reason why it is added to a lot of fried food in India, like poories, parathas, pakors etc. It is said to help in gastritis, constipation, stomach ache, indigestion, heaviness in stomach and bloating.
5. It is claimed that it helps in weight reduction programmes, but I am not convinced about this and have not tried it. Ajwain or carom seeds water is claimed to enhance metabolism, thus help in weight loss.
6. Chewing Ajwain fruits/seeds is claimed to help with cough, but I have not tried this.
Ingredients
2 tsp. ajwain seeds/fruit
1 litre of boiling water
A jar or jug with lid, heat proof, to take boiling hot water.
Instructions
Place carom seeds in a heat resistant jar or jug
Add boiling hot water, stir, close lid and leave to infuse for 12 hours/overnight. You will find that the seeds will sink to the bottom and the water will become darker in colour.
Simply drink the water from the jar throughout the day.
