Air katira
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 Air katira served in a tall glass | |
| Alternative names | Air katirah[1] |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Malaysia[2] |
| Region or state | Johor[3], also popular in Singapore |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Tragacanth, milk, basil seeds, Scaphium affine , dates, almond, brown sugar and pandan[4] |
Air katira (Jawi: اءير كاتيرا) or simply katira is a beverage from the state of Johor, Malaysia.[5] It is a popular drink sold exclusively[6] during Ramadan.
Origin
The beverage gets its name from the main ingredient, tragacanth, known as "kateera", which is found in the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. In India, goond katera (Devanagari: गोंद कतीरा) is mixed with water to produce a refreshing cooling drink. As the drink arrived in Johor, the usage of pandan adds to the iconic green color of the drink.[8]
Air katira gained popularity after Abu Bakar Mohammed Eusoff Al Pichir started selling it in Johor Bahru in the 1980s. He learned it from Pakistani traders before modifying the recipe to accustom to local taste buds. He then relocated to Masai.[9]
Ingredients
The drink is made by combining banana-flavored cordial with milk, Scaphium affine and basil seeds.[10] Recent variations have include the addition of grass jelly with flavours such as chocolate and air batu campur.[11]