Sleep & stress10 min
Homemade Khus Sharbat for a Calm Summer Evening
A light homemade drink of khus-infused water, lemon and a little mishri, sipped on hot evenings to cool down and unwind.
Why khus is used this way
Khus (vetiver) is a grass with fragrant roots that cool the air when woven into summer screens. The roots are soaked in drinking water or sharbat as a traditional summer coolant.
Bright green bottled khus syrup is mostly sugar and colour. Soaking real vetiver roots gives a gentle, earthy, cooling drink that suits Indian summer evenings.
Ingredients
- 10 g khus roots, rinsed
- 1 litre water
- Juice of ½ lemon
- 1 tbsp mishri or to taste
How to prepare
- Soak khus roots in water in a clay pot for four to six hours.
- Strain; stir in lemon juice and mishri.
How to use
- Sip a glass in the evening on hot days.
- Make fresh daily.
Helpful habits
- Rinse roots well; dry them in the sun between uses.
Precautions
- People with diabetes should skip the mishri.
- Ready khus syrup is mostly sugar and colour; use roots where possible.
- If you take regular medicines or have a long-term condition, check with your doctor first.
Frequently asked questions
Why is shop khus syrup green?
- Added colour; real khus water is pale.
Can I add sabja seeds?
- Yes, soaked sabja seeds are a classic summer addition.
Is khus the same as khus-khus?
- No, khus-khus is poppy seed; khus is vetiver root.
