5 Top Health Benefits of Nannari Syrup (Indian Sarsaparilla) + Preparation

In India, during peak summer, you will find street vendors selling natural cooling drinks like kamban kool, spiced buttermilk, jigirthanda, nannari sherbet, etc. All these drinks are very good for the health and have been consumed in India for years. Last summer, I was talking to a street vendor who was very upset that his business was dwindling.

He said the main reason was because people prefer cola drinks over the traditional drinks. Even I felt very sad and upset because these traditional drinks are very healthy and much cheaper than the fancy cola drinks that does nothing but give us empty calories.

It is high time, we introduce our kids to our traditional drinks and explain to them the health benefits of these drinks. I love all the traditional drinks and this nannari sherbet made from nannari root is one of my favorites and I absolutely love the smell of nanari root. We mainly use nannari root for making a syrup /sherbet out of the roots which is very popular in India.

Nannari Root Health Benefits:

1. Body coolant:

Nannari root is a natural body coolant and if had as a sherbet during summer, it keep us from becoming dehydrated. It is so refreshing to drink a cup pf nannari sherbet after a long hot day out in the sun

2. Blood purifier:

Nannari root is an excellent blood purifier and health tonic. Especially, if made with traditional jaggery, it is one of the best natural health tonics available and increases our energy levels

3. Urinary infection:

This nannari sherbet is reported to be an excellent home remedy for urinary infection

4. Constipation:

Consuming a glass of nannari sherbet also is a good and effective home remedy for constipation and it also relieves body pain.

5. For Digestion:

This nannari sherbet is an effective way to treat our stomach disorders without swallowing bitter pills. If you have a mild indigestion or if you are not hungry, take a cup of this nannari sherbet, you will feel better in no time.

How To Make Nannari Syrup?

The nannari syrup you get in the market has added synthetic colors and essence, so always try to make your own nannari sherbet. This sherbet can be either made with palm candy or with jaggery but try not to use white sugar.

METHOD:
1. These are nannari roots. They are brownish colored roots with a whitish middle part.

2. The whitish middle part has to be removed, before using it.

3. First wash the roots well at least 2 to 3 times to remove the dirt.

4. Pound the roots in a mortar and pestle and remove the inner white part separately.

5. Pound the outer brownish skin to make it into small pieces. Boil the measured out water in a pan and pour over the pieces, close with a lid and leave it overnight.

6. The next day, strain the syrup using a cloth, I used my jaggery stainer, which has got two layers of cloth.

7. Add the jaggery to the strained syrup and boil it. Once the jaggery melts, strain to remove impurities and boil again until it reaches one string consistency. Add the lemon juice and switch off.

8. Let the syrup cool and then store it in glass bottles in the refrigerator. To use, take around 2 tbsp of the syrup on a bowl and add the required amount of chilled water and mix, your nannari sherbet is ready!

NOTES:

  • Make sure to check for one string consistency, when boiling the syrup.
  • You can either use palm candy or jaggery.
  • Remove the white part inside completely, before making the syrup.
  • The outer pieces has to pounded really well, as it releases the essence better.
  • Make sure to strain using a double layer mesh or you can fold a muslin cloth and use it as a strainer.


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48 Comments

  1. Ganesan Radhakrishnan
    June 27, 2015 / 1:31 pm

    tHANKS.VERY USEFUL.

  2. Anonymous
    July 6, 2015 / 9:28 am

    How long can this be stored in refrigerator? How long do they last? Can it be consumed daily?

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      July 10, 2015 / 7:36 am

      This nannari syrup will last for up to 6 months if the consistency is right. It can be safely consumed daily once during summer months…

  3. Selva Kumar
    August 21, 2015 / 2:38 pm

    Excellent Ramya:)

  4. Anonymous
    September 30, 2015 / 8:06 am

    can we take it in all seasons or not

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      October 8, 2015 / 8:28 am

      Though you can consume nannari in all the seasons, nannari is a natural body coolant and is best taken during summer months..

    • mani
      May 2, 2016 / 3:07 pm

      Excellent information on Nannari Sherbat. Where the roots are available in Mumbai?

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      June 6, 2016 / 7:40 am

      Here in Tamil Nadu we get nannari roots only in country drug stores, why not try for them in country drug stores in Mumbai?

  5. Subha Bose
    April 1, 2016 / 6:41 pm

    Awesome, I love your blog. You have explained properties of all herbs in detail.

  6. Noor Ahmed
    April 7, 2016 / 4:00 pm

    Is there any problem if I drink nanari sherbet at night daily ?? ..I usually drink it with lassi, and I am drinking it every night (Pls do reply if I am wrong or correct with suggestions as I go gym and I feel a lot of heat in my stomach)

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      May 29, 2016 / 10:49 pm

      Usually hemidesmus Indicus | Ananatmool | nannari has known side effects and so the syrup also has no known side effects. Since it is a body coolant and it is usually taken during hot summer months but to reduce body heat it can be taken daily…

  7. jinngala
    April 29, 2016 / 2:22 pm

    Thanks!

  8. Anonymous
    May 24, 2016 / 12:46 pm

    Ramya, where can we get the nannari roots? Could you please give any online source, or any place near Coimbatore where we get the roots? I checked in naatu marunthu kadai, but they have only powder…

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      June 7, 2016 / 5:12 am

      My husband gets the nannari roots from Kerala as he travels there often. But most of the naatu marundhu kadais (near uppukinar veedhi) always stock it…

    • Anonymous
      June 7, 2016 / 8:20 am

      Thanks…

    • Anonymous
      April 3, 2017 / 9:36 am

      Hi Ramya, In naatu marunthu kadai, they stock 2 different types, one is naattu nannari and the other is malai nannari. The other one looked thinner, looked like twigs. What is the difference? can we use both? And the thinner ones didnt have the middle white part as you have shown.Thanks.

  9. Unknown
    May 27, 2016 / 9:44 am

    why middle white part is removed? is it make any health problem? when i made sarbath i didnt removed that. in kerala not removing that we are adding egg and not lemon

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      June 7, 2016 / 6:16 am

      The inner white part of nannari root is hard to pound and break so the fragrant outer layer is used, as far as I know there is no toxicity in the middle part…..

  10. Dadi Reddy
    August 23, 2016 / 5:20 am

    is it possible to grow this in our lands,or need permission with forest department and also need detail information on this.could any one help me on this, apprciate a quick response

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      September 10, 2016 / 2:46 pm

      We can grow nannari in our land. I haven't heard of any restrictions growing nannari plant at home…

  11. Unknown
    August 29, 2016 / 2:00 pm

    the blog is good but you havent write about the nutrtion value

  12. Unknown
    August 29, 2016 / 2:00 pm

    the blog is good but you havent write about the nutrtion value

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      August 29, 2016 / 2:40 pm

      thanks for the suggestion, I will write the nutritional value for the ingredients from now on….:)

  13. Fun With Puzzles
    September 26, 2016 / 1:01 pm

    Excellent information on Nannari juice. Thanks for it.

  14. Anonymous
    October 7, 2016 / 3:07 pm

    Isn't nannari roots the same as magali kizhangu (which we use in a fresh form to make a delicous pickle)?

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      October 17, 2016 / 3:13 pm

      Nannari roots and magali kizhangu are different….

    • Anonymous
      October 18, 2016 / 5:49 pm

      Hi Ramya, I posted the previous query on magali kizhangu. First off – Thank you for your blog — really like reading it. It's lovely seeing your meticulous documentation — makes it such a handy resource! Secondly – magali kizhnagu and dried nannari roots smell the same to me, so I'm fairly sure they are related. Can you give me the botanical name for magali?

    • Jeeva Nathan
      October 27, 2016 / 5:11 pm

      i ramya all tips is very nice but I have one question nannari roots juice drinking to affect the men sperm counts reduse is possible now? Because some people says this one so that is resion I a

    • Senchu Punyamurthula
      January 20, 2017 / 4:30 pm

      To reply to Anonymous query, Magali roots are also called perunannari, hence the resemblance of aroma.However the Latin name for this plant is Decalpsis hamiltonii. It's also called sariba and swallow root tree.http://m.indianetzone.com

    • Anonymous
      March 1, 2017 / 7:02 am

      Thanks for the botanical info on magali roots!

  15. geethan siva
    October 11, 2016 / 1:27 am

    Can this nanari juice relief constipation

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      November 1, 2016 / 5:09 am

      Yes, Nannari (Hemidesmus Indicus) can give relief from constipation….

  16. Jeeva Nathan
    October 27, 2016 / 5:10 pm

    Hi ramya all tips is very nice but I have one question nannari roots juice drinking to affect the men sperm counts reduse is possible now? Because some people says this one so that is resion I asking.

  17. Kav Shukachandra
    March 11, 2017 / 3:21 pm

    Nice. You have given information with snap shots on making sharbat of Nannari root. Please intimate whether Nannari root can be taken by Asthma patients also as it cools the body?

    • Mallik Reddy
      May 8, 2017 / 9:10 pm

      Doesnt seem to be the case with my asthmatic friend taking it on a daily basis

  18. Hema Mahesh
    April 6, 2017 / 4:35 am

    Nannari syrup can be stored without refrigerator. If so please mention the time period

  19. Hema Mahesh
    April 6, 2017 / 4:36 am

    Nannari syrup can be stored without refrigerator. If so please mention the time period

  20. Asgar Mohammad
    April 12, 2017 / 2:08 am

    Once a day I take two glasses of sugandi sharbat after one hour my urine color change reddish color like blood so after that I stop taken sugandhi sharbat.What happen with me can you explain please

    • Mallik Reddy
      May 8, 2017 / 9:12 pm

      If you are using bottled sherbet, it may be due to excessive use of colouring agents.

  21. 9791469722
    May 2, 2017 / 12:56 am

    Good information during hot weather. Thanks

  22. Anonymous
    May 7, 2017 / 11:16 am

    i have allergy rhinitis, can i stil have this juice everyday?

  23. Mallik Reddy
    May 8, 2017 / 9:20 pm

    can you add a couple of more recipes.1. You could add soda instead of water to make it more interesting,especially to kids used to fizzy drinks2. just boiling it without jaggery is also good for diabetics, we can add zero calories sugar later3. juice from half a lemon will make it even more tastier, (add soda for the drinks cart effect)4. can be used as a flavor with milk. goes very well with cold milk. as a cool refresher during summer

  24. Dv R
    May 24, 2017 / 10:38 am

    The article starts as "In India… ", it should be corrected as "In South India…." as in north Nannari is not known at all.

  25. Unknown
    July 24, 2017 / 3:23 pm

    Where do we get these nannari roots

  26. Gowthaman
    October 24, 2017 / 6:42 am

    Excellent.thanks for a detailed explanation .

  27. Anonymous
    April 20, 2018 / 11:48 pm

    A child is under going chemothedapy. Do you think this can react with chemo medicines given as injection and create problem?Otherwise properties looks good and I feel like suggesting this to his mother.Can you also write alternative sharbat like ayurvedic health drinks for such cases ?

    • Ramya Venkateshwaran
      April 23, 2018 / 4:43 pm

      Actually this drink has anti cancer properties and is good for giving to the child. I also couldn't find any drug interactions, you can find the link to the study here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25753739

  28. September 3, 2018 / 11:55 am

    No wonder Nannari is working miracles with me. I have gastrointestinal and rheumatic problems. The nannari sugar syrup along with hot water works magic. (I had prepared it with lesser sugar and more concentration of nannari. The roots were used thrice)

    Additionally, it is a good galactagogue – helps increase breast milk and helps increase the progesterone hormone i.e. for pregnancy.

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