Digestion10 min
A small glass of ash gourd juice diluted with cumin
Ash gourd juice is easy to overdo. This version is a small glass, diluted with water, with a pinch of cumin and a leaf of mint. It is a cooling sip, not a tall detox glass.
Petha juice, kept small and mild
Ash gourd, called petha or white pumpkin in many homes, is a watery vegetable with a very mild taste. A splash of its juice, loosened with water, is easier to sip than a concentrated glass. Cumin keeps it from tasting flat, and mint adds a cool smell.
Ayurvedic kitchens use this kind of watery, cooling sip when pitta heat feels high. A small diluted glass may soothe that heat. It is not a substitute for a doctor, and a bitter bottle-gourd mix-up is a different vegetable that must not be used.
Ingredients
- A small wedge of ash gourd
- A pinch of cumin
- Water to dilute the juice
- A leaf or two of mint
How to prepare
- Peel the ash gourd, remove the soft seeds, and blend a small wedge with a little water.
- Strain, dilute until the glass is pale, and stir in cumin and mint.
How to use
- Drink a small glass, about half a tumbler, not a large bottle.
- Have it in the warm part of the day, freshly made.
- Sip slowly. Do not replace meals with juice.
Helpful habits
- Taste the raw wedge first. Ash gourd should be mild. If it tastes bitter, throw it away and do not drink it.
- Roasted cumin powder sits better than a raw spicy pinch.
Precautions
- If the piece tastes bitter, discard it. Do not try to mask bitterness with salt or mint.
- Keep the glass diluted and small. A large amount of any vegetable juice can upset the stomach.
- Supportive sip only, not a substitute for a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
Is ash gourd the same as bottle gourd?
- No. Ash gourd is the waxy white pumpkin also called petha. Do not swap in a bitter bottle gourd.
Can I store the juice?
- Drink it fresh. Cut gourd juice turns quickly and should not sit in the fridge for days.
Do I add sugar?
- No. Cumin, mint and water are enough. Sweetening makes it a different drink.
