Jigarthanda (drink)
Beverage in Tamil Nadu, South India
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jigarthanda is a cold beverage from the South Indian city of Madurai.[1] It translates to "cool heart" ("jigar" is a metaphor for heart in Persian, literally meaning "liver"; "thanda" means "cold") in English, implying that the drink’s cooling effect will be felt right down to one’s heart. It is generally prepared and served at roadside stalls as a refreshment during the Indian summer. The basic ingredients include milk, almond gum, sarsaparilla root syrup, sugar and ice cream.[2]
Etymology
Key ingredients
The core preparation uses a blend of milk (full fat and condensed), khoya, sarsaparilla root syrup, and edible almond gum, providing the drink with a unique chewy texture.[3] Badam pisin and Katira gond are alternate names used to refer to the primary gelling agent in the drink, the almond gum.[3] Though the name is identified as Urdu and its nomenclature points to a North Indian origin, the drink is distinct from falooda by its absence of vermicelli and rooh afza.[5]
Cultural significance
Popular culture
The 2014 Tamil-language film Jigarthanda by Karthik Subbaraj is named after this popular drink. The film takes place in Madurai, the origin of the drink.[6]