Basil Seed (Sabja) Drink

 Today my recipe is basil seed ( sabja) drink.This is very old recipe my mom used to make it daily in summer to avoid dehydration.This is very refreshing beverage in summer.The visual aspect of the drink is unusual and not very appealing and it is like gummy-textured sugar water but it tastes great to drink. You can use it directly with plain water and with different fruit flavors such as banana, mango juices and etc. It is also taken with green tea.This is very simple to make and When soaked in water, the seeds of several basil varieties become gelatinous, and are used in Asian drinks and some desserts also. They are used for their medicinal properties in Ayurveda, the traditional medicinal system of India and Siddha medicine, a traditional Tamil system of medicine. They are also used as drinks in Southeast Asia. I came to know how it was very healthy after reading health benefits of basil seeds. We drink thrice a week in summer. I am giving some health benefits of basil seeds (from:Google).........

1. Increases movement in stomach/intestines so that you digest faster; more active
2. The basil seeds sucks toxins and fat then increases bowel movement
3. Bowel movement increases toxin/waste removal which promotes healthy, beautiful skin
4. Burns calories
5. Decreases consumption of sugar level and cholesterol
6. After meals, it decreases glucose level and control "blood sugars" from rising
7. If you consume sugar, it will cover the sugar content so your body won't absorb it which lowers sugar levels
8.  It prevents heart attacks, heart strokes and other heart diseases
9. Good for people with diabetes and controls weight
10.  so basically when you eat basil seeds, it's kind of sticky, so it tends to stick to the walls of your digestive system, and when you intake food, it reduces the chance of your digestive system absorbing cholesterol, fat, sugars, etc. because the basil seeds won't let the food touch the walls etc.                                                                                                                                              I hope you  follow my recipe and be healthy............... 

 Ingredients:

Basil seeds ( sabja) -2 tablespoons

Water -500 ml

Jaggery/honey - 2 tablespoons

Cardamom powder - 1/4 teaspoon

Black pepper powder - 1/2 teaspoon

 Method of preparation:

1. Keep in mind that 2 tablespoons of seeds will make at least 500 ml of basil seed spheres. It’s a cheap drink: 
2.  Rinse the seeds under a tap to clean them by using tea strainer.
3.  Soak the seeds in 100ml water for 30 minutes.
4.  With the other 400ml of water, warm it with the jaggery and honey until the jaggery is fully dissolved. Add cardamom powder and black pepper powder and mix well. Remove from heat and leave to cool back to room temperature. 
5. Once the  jaggery water is at room temperature, and the basil seeds have swelled mix them all together well. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate for some time.
6. Now yummy and healthy basil seed drink is ready to drink and think well...........