Spring being a tough act to follow, God created Summer. Yup, it’s Summertime, and one of the best thirst quenchers when the weather is hot, is a glass of Sugarcane Juice.
There is something magical about Sugarcane Juice aka Ganne Ka Ras. It brings back childhood memories of those fun summer days. Of Campa Cola, Gold Spot, Rasna, and fresh Sugarcane Juice. Of a time, when we would stop and drink the sugarcane juice fresh from the street vendors’ carts, without any fear of sanitization. The fact that the juice was extracted in an unhygienic manner didn’t concern us. For us, it was the most refreshing drink under the scorching summer sun. Oh, what fun times those were!
Sugarcane is also intrinsically linked with our childhood winter holiday memories wherein it was a ritual to sit around our farm porch and peel the raw cane stalks with our teeth and chew the sap like we were cows. We sure did have strong teeth and gums!
During Winter, once the crop was harvested, it was ferried from the farms to the sugar mills by trucks that were loaded to the brim with sugarcane. Children would run behind the trucks or tractor lorries in order to steal some sugarcane. One of the best part of road trips in winter was the sweet smell of boiling sugarcane juice being made into fresh jaggery.
Sugarcane is a tall tropical grass quite similar to a Bamboo plant. It is native to Asia and is mainly grown in warm tropical regions. Sugarcane has been cultivated for over 4000 years. It is one of the oldest flavouring. Sometime in 400 B.C, man discovered how to extract sugar from the Sugarcane plant and since then it contributes to over 70% of the world’s sugar. Brazil is the largest producer of Sugarcane, followed closely by India.
Sugarcane Juice is the purest form of Sugarcane and is not only deliciously refreshing but has numerous health benefits as well. It is packed with antioxidants, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. The juice is a natural detox drink. Since it has a high sucrose content, it is ideal as an instant energy booster. It also boosts immunity, prevents tooth decay and bad breath, is good for the bones and teeth, is used to treat sore throat and acidity, and is good for the skin.
Sugarcane Juice is a natural rehydration concoction. Not only does it improve the taste of your cocktail, but it also reduces the negative impact of alcohol in your body. What better way to enjoy your favourite drink than to have a hangover cure mixed in it! That takes the cocktail game to a whole new level!
It is time to break out the rum for simply the most delicious Mojito one has tasted. With the abundance of Sugarcane in Cuba, it makes sense that the locals used Sugarcane juice rather than simple syrup for this refreshing cocktail. So slow down and experience one of Mother Nature’s purest flavours.
INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
Tasting Notes: Rum and Sugarcane Juice are a match made in heaven. In fact, the Sugarcane Juice is the gamechanger for this minty, effervescent, and fresh cocktail. It brings a floral, earthy sweetness to the drink. The rum that you choose matters tremendously since it forms the backbone of the cocktail. The flavours of the rum you choose should complement the mint and lime juice. Fresh Mint and Fresh Lime Juice are the essential lifelines of a Mojito. The Roasted Cumin powder adds an intense aroma and a warm, nutty, and earthy flavour and the Ginger Juice gives a crisp spicy kick to the cocktail.
Food Pairing:
