For some people, changing seasons is exciting. But for certain blessed ones like me, it means a barricade of problems.
Flowers bloom: I love them, but pollen in the air chokes my respiratory system like no other. Time for winter; the changes work up with my sinuses.
I have a drawer full of nasal sprays, cough drops, antihistamine, and joshanda sachets on my nightstand.
I say special prayers for the peeps who formulated the joshanda at Qarshi (a Pakistani brand dealing in medicines and wellbeing products) during my stuffy and runny nose days.
While it is a product that I cannot find in the UK very easily. No matter how many boxes I drag in my luggage from Pakistan trip, I always seem to run out.
Hence, I perfected a recipe to make Qarshi Johar Joshanda like Kahva at home.
What is Johar Joshanda?
Johar Joshanda, which translates to “essence of boiled stuff”, is an effective cold and flu cure. This South Asian version of Benadryl is loaded with ephedra, poppy seed extract, and the magic of infused herbs.
This herbal drink is intended to ease coughs, runny noses, and sore throats. For the typical cold sufferer, Benadryl or Advil don't do much more than provide brief relief from stuffy sinuses or wet cough.
Thus, many – like me – sometimes depend on Qarshi Johar Joshanda to ease our sufferings!
Let’s dive deep into the unknown world of Johar Joshanda and why you should stock up on it like me and other Johar Joshanda fanatics do!
The World of Johar Joshanda: The Benefits
This ancient herbal medicine is infused with the magic of Liquorice, Hyssopus, Poppy seeds, Kapla, Eucalyptus, and so on. After all, their tagline – “It’s better to sip than sniff” – is self-explanatory in explaining the perks!
Benefits of Johar Joshanda
- Any age group can consume it for the treatment of colds and coughs. It also serves as a relief for phlegm and other respiratory tract illnesses.
- It treats influenza and the flu while clearing the nasal passages.
- Through its anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-allergy qualities, it fights against germs, bacteria, and allergies.
- Little ones with colds and coughing can take one spoonful of Joshanda twice or three times a day.
- Aids in quick recovery from fever and flu.
- Seasonal variations are not a problem as Johar Joshanda tea is the cure-all for fevers, coughs, and colds.
Letting the Cat Out of the Bag: What Does It Taste Like?
I still remember when my mother made me try it for the first time. Looks can be deceiving as I had scrunched my nose up and was denying to drink it.
Of course, moms and their love of self-curing won against me, too, and I took my first sip.
Even though I wasn't overly fond of it when I first tasted it, I had to drink every last drop, and I did!
But the immediate relief I felt within minutes was magical. Needless to say, I was officially a part of the Johar Joshanda cult.
With time, I actually began to enjoy the flavour and aroma of it; it was a simple therapeutic brew made with love. It’s free of additives, none of that freeze-dry concoction stuff, or those ready-to-drink sachets.
Brewed with Love: How to Make It?
Following are two recipes to make Johar Joshanda like kahva. A simplified version by the book, easily prepared in 5 minutes, and a fancy version for when you have time and ingredients on your hands.
The Simple Version
Ingredients required:
- Loose tea or coffee ¼ tsp
- Water – 2 cups
- Sugar or honey 1 tbsp
- Black pepper (one pinch)
- Black Cardamom powder (one pinch)
- Cinnamon powder (one pinch)
- Ginger juice ¼ teaspoon
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients except tea and honey in the water.
- I prefer to make the kahva in a pot that has a lid. Keep the pot covered and let the contents cook until water has reduced to a cup.
- Now add tea or coffee to the concoction and let it get another two boils.
- In a cup, add honey and strain the kahva.
- Stir to mix honey and drink it hot.
Big Guns
This one is my kahva for days when I have ignored the early signs of allergies and let all the problems build up.
Ingredients required
- Coffee grounds ½ tsp
- Water – 2 cups
- Black cardamon – 2
- Cloves, whole – 2
- Green cardamom, whole – 1
- Ginger, sliced – 1 tbsp
- Dried dill seeds – 1 tbsp
- Honey – 1 tsp
- Lemon juice – 1 tsp
Instructions:
- First, take black cardamom and toast them in a fry pan. Toast until the colour changes.
- Boil Water in a pot along with the whole spices and ginger.
- Add coffee grounds and bring it to a boil twice to infuse all the flavours.
- Using a tea strainer, pour the Kahva into a teacup.
- Add lemon and honey as per preference.
Joshanda Love in Our Homes
The taste isn’t as great as Qarshi Johar Joshanda, but then, my child has developed the habit to drink it so it cannot be that bad.
I make a big batch because it requires a lot of work, and no one in the practical world would make them twice in a day.
In fact, I make it for the next day as well. It’s highly likely you wake up very zonked out from strained sleep, and this golden concoction will be like the warm hug you wake up craving, even before morning coffee.
Try these at home and fix the runny nose in no time.
