Can I drink the whole bottle at once?

Sip it through the afternoon. A large glass in one go is not the habit.

Do I eat the soaked seeds?

Strain them out. This remedy is the water, not a spoon of seeds.

Is this the same as coriander chutney?

No. Chutney uses fresh leaves. This is a mild water from soaked coriander seeds and fennel seeds.

Coriander seed cooling water sipped through a hot afternoon

On a burning afternoon the stomach can feel sour and restless. Coriander seeds soaked overnight, strained, and sipped through the day make a mild cooling water. A few fennel seeds in the same bowl keep the smell gentle.

Soaked coriander water in the heat

Coriander seeds are a daily spice, not a rare herb. Left in water overnight they give a pale, fragrant drink that many homes already know as dhania water. Fennel seeds added to the soak make it a little sweeter and easier to sip.

Ayurveda talks of pitta heat when the body and the belly feel hot, irritable and sour. This water may soothe that hot-afternoon feeling. It is supportive only, and not a substitute for a doctor if there is pain, burning that does not settle, or loose stools.

Ingredients

1 teaspoon coriander seeds
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

How to prepare

Rinse the coriander seeds and fennel seeds and soak them overnight in the water.
In the morning, strain the water into a bottle. The seeds can be discarded.

How to use

Sip the water through a hot afternoon, a small glass at a time.
Keep the bottle in the shade or the fridge, and finish it the same day.
Do not boil this batch. The idea is the soaked water, not a strong decoction.

Helpful habits

Crush the coriander seeds lightly before soaking if you want a clearer fragrance.
If the water tastes too perfumed, use fewer seeds next time rather than a bigger glass.

Precautions

Make a fresh soak each night. Do not drink water that has stood for more than a day.
If your stomach already feels cold and loose, a warming cumin sip may suit you better than this cooling water.
This may soothe heat. It is not a substitute for a doctor when pain, blood in the stool or weakness is present.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drink the whole bottle at once?: Sip it through the afternoon. A large glass in one go is not the habit.
Do I eat the soaked seeds?: Strain them out. This remedy is the water, not a spoon of seeds.
Is this the same as coriander chutney?: No. Chutney uses fresh leaves. This is a mild water from soaked coriander seeds and fennel seeds.