Juicy Summer!!!

Published in Young Nation on Saturday, 27 August 2011.

Juicy Summer!

Juicy Summer!!

It’s summer time! Once again the sun is gradually coming over our heads. The temperature has fallen to 45 degree Celsius. Every one is taking bath under the rain to enjoy rain weather. Having fork in one hand and knife in other, summer has tucked up its sleeves to eat us. The scorching heat of sun making the throat dry and wild thirsty, water is not enough to put out the fire of the extreme thirst. Therefore, most of the people like to drink chilled juices as an alternative. Seasonal fruit juice is another way to fulfil water need and it’s also good for health and skin with the increase in temperature number of pimple increase on face at this time fruit juice work as a home remedy for glowing and fresh skin. We are blessed with a number of seasonal juicy fruits whose nectar gives us ease in extreme summer season. Water melon, sugar cane, mangoes, grewia (falsa) etc these are some fruits that are served chilled in summers. Their icy juice is mostly available in all the big or small markets. Apart from markets their pulpy nectar is present on every near by cart which is not hygienic from health point of view but people love to drink.

Fruit juices are excellent refreshment and anyone that enjoys them will likely also enjoy fruit gifts. You can send friends and family a fruit gift basket and they can be perfect as gifts or even as Holiday gift baskets. Fruit juices and fruit are playing an important role in one’s diet and are great gift that promotes good health.

Water melon juice:

Heavy in weight, ball like in shape, green from out side, red from inside with a number of little brown seeds, a watermelon is perfect combo of colors and taste which has its own history watermelon is believed to have originated from the Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa, where the great explorer David Livingstone described it as being abundant. Watermelons were first cultivated in Egypt, and hieroglyphics depicting watermelon have been found in tombs. Japanese farmers invented the idea of forcing their watermelons to grow into a square shape by inserting them into glass boxes while still growing. The square shape makes it easier to pack and transport watermelon. There are number of watermelon fields in Pakistan. A large amount of watermelons are export outside the country to earn foreign exchange.          However, two types of watermelons are available in Pakistan.

Watermelon is a very good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene and lycopene. Its is a good source of vitamins B1 and B6, pantothenic acid, biotin, magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber.

Grewia (falsa) juice:

Grewia traditionally called falsa in India and Pakistan, the botanical name for this tiny berry is Grewia Asiatica. It is grown in Southern Asia, east of Cambodia and other tropical countries. Generally grow in May and June. Being highly perishable, they are difficult to transport and need to be handled with care which may be one reason why people are not aware of this wonderful tangy fruit.  

Basically, grewia is summer fruit that reduces sun burn affects in the body. It is largely used by making its juice that really tastes good and is helpful in banishing hot weather affects. Grewia also plays role in curing some fatal diseases such as liver diseases, constipation, heat rashes and Malaria. Fully ripen Grewia is reddish maroon in color and its beautiful color is really a plus point in increasing appetite. Grewia’s extracts are also supposed to be helpful in curing from Hepatitis and other such diseases.

Mango juice:

Mango is considered as king of fruits. People wait whole year to eat mangoes. It is favorite fruit of many people.  Mango is a native to Southeast Asia, India and Pakistan. It is the most widely consumed fresh fruit in the world, with worldwide production exceeding 17 million metric tons a year. Mexico is the largest exporter of mangoes in the world. 

The English word mango comes from the Latin word Mangifera indica meaning mango-bearing plant from India. It is also known as manga, mangga, mangot, mangou, and mangue in other parts of the world. The mango comes in over 50 varieties, ranging in color from greenish, yellowish, to reddish, often tinged with purple, pink, orange-yellow, or red.

Mangoes are cultivated on large area in Pakistan. Hence, they are available in different varieties i.e. chusa, sindhri, langra etc and they are also export out of the country to earn foreign exchange.

Mango is main ingredient of every dish. It can turn into mango chutney, mango pickle, mango juice and mango shakes etc.  Now it’s up to you in which form you want to eat it.  A glass of freshly squeezed mango juice can provide you with a half of your daily dose of vitamin C. It means that mango juice benefits include improving your immune system function, protecting you from common cold, flu and other related respiratory diseases, and so on.

Sugarcane juice:

Sugarcane is the sweetest fruit on earth. Its syrup has the power to sweeten every bitter heart and its sweetness can turn every hard tongue sweet. Sugar cane originated in New Guinea where it has been known for thousands of years. Sugar cane plants spread through human migration to Asia and then in subcontinent. The word 'sugar' is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word Sharkara. In Pakistan sugarcane is the most cultivated fruit that’s why a large amount of sugar and sugarcane export out of the country to earn foreign exchange. Sugarcane grows on large amount in Sindh and Punjab.

However, Sugarcane juice is the most common and easily available in Pakistan. It is available in almost every near by markets, juice shops and on carts also. Sugarcane is considered as the king of fruits in juice shops. It helps in digestion and it’s also good for stomach and cures a number of stomach diseases because it’s cool in nature. In summer its coolness chilled the internal system and protects us from the harsh rays and affects of sunlight.