Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda

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4.75 from 8 votes

About Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda

Jigarthanda, a beloved summer cooler from Madurai in Tamil Nadu, is a true South Indian refreshment with a fascinating name—'Jigar' meaning 'heart' and 'Thanda' meaning 'cold' in Hindi. This unique beverage lives up to its name by offering a deliciously cool relief for both body and spirit, especially on hot, tiring days.
Crafted from a blend of natural coolers like badam (almonds), sweet syrup, sugar, and topped with creamy ice cream, Jigarthanda is more than just a drink—it's an experience that melts away stress, heat, and fatigue. For an authentic taste and helpful tips, don't forget to check the Notes and Tips section before preparing this revitalizing treat!
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Recipe Time & More

Prep Time12 hours
Total Time12 hours
Served AsBeverages
Recipe TasteSweet
Calories 194 kcal
Servings 2

Ingredients
 

  • 4 tbsp Almond (prepared pisin see notes)
  • 4 tbsp Syrup (nannari see notes)
  • 1/2 ltr Sugar (or milk, or milk milk reduced half or and added and chilled milk)
  • 1/2 ltr Sugar (or milk, or milk milk boiled and added and chilled milk)
  • 4 tbsp Ice Cream (homemade see notes)
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Instructions
 

  • Put 2 tbsp Badam Pisin per glass.
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Pour Milk 1 to fill 1/4 of the glass.
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Over that pour Milk 2 to fill 3/4 of the glass.
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Add 2 scoops of Ice Cream per glass.
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Pour over 2 tbsp of the Nannari Syrup for each glass and serve immediately.
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • The Badam Pisin after soaking!
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • The final Jigarthanda serving!
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers
  • Raw Badam Pisin (before soaking)
    Jigarthanda / Jill Jill Jigarthanda - Plattershare - Recipes, food stories and food lovers

Recipe Notes

So lets see what ingredients Jigarthanda has and how do they keep us cool!
1.Badam Pisin – This is a hard gum got from the bark of Almond Trees.However when soaked in water for 8 – 10 hours or overnight,they become a soft and non sticky jelly consistency which can be easily had with any drink or milk.The gum is a natural cooler and relieves a person of summer heat especially heat related fever,watery red eyes or simple body heat.They also relieve tummy issues and are natural ulcer cures.
 
2.Nannari Syrup – Nannari is a herb,the official name for which is ‘Sarasaparilla’ which is known for its cooling properties and speciality to cure summer ailments!Just as we pour Chocolate,Maple,Caramel or Toffee sauces over our normal ice creams,I have poured this over this fusion ice cream and it tastes so good!You can get Nannari Syrup online from Amazon or eBay stores.Those in the South Indian regions will have it available at any supermarket or store and so can get it easily.Its an orangish,amber,wonderfully sweet,cooling and refreshing syrup which is used with water or soda to make a drink or used with milk based preparations as well.Used with plain ice cream,it was fabulous.
 
3.Homemade Ice Cream – I have posted the recipe of my eggless homemade fusion Ice Cream in a previous entry.It is delicious with a Vanilla flavour and homemade Khoya for thickening the consistency!Check out the link here :
https://www.plattershare.com/recipe/fusion-ice-cream
4.Plain and thickened chilled milk – As instructed in the recipe!
 

Additional Tips

  • For an authentic jigarthanda experience, use nannari (Indian sarsaparilla) syrup as your sweet syrup base—this imparts a unique earthy flavor and cooling property distinct to the traditional Madurai version.
  • If you can't find jigarthanda-flavored ice cream, use rich vanilla or kulfi, and add a sprinkle of finely chopped soaked badam for enhanced texture and nutty flavor.
  • Chill your serving glasses ahead of time to keep the beverage cooler for longer, and layer the ingredients (badam milk, syrup, and ice cream) just before serving for a beautiful, café-style presentation.
  • For a vegan version, substitute dairy milk with almond or cashew milk and use a vegan vanilla ice cream; ensure your syrup is plant-based as well.
Tried this recipe?Mention @plattershare or tag #plattershare!
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Please appreciate the author by voting!

4.75 from 8 votes

Recipe Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Sugar: 50g

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Amrita Iyer
Amrita Iyer

I am a passionate foodie who loves to cook, serve and love to see people relishing my creations. Since the time I was small I used to wonder about the 'how' of things in the kitchen.

Then when I finally ventured as an unprofessional kitchen helper for my late grand-mother (a par excellent cook in her own generation) I was fascinated by the amount of stuff you could do to a simple milk and rice to form a most yummy pudding.

Here I am sharing my recipes with a will to learn from some and educate others as well!

Articles: 68

8 Comments

  1. Geeta Biswas – Thanks so much mam!Yes Badam Pisin is the gum extracted from the Almond Tree..:)…After soaking in water for 5 – 6 hours it becomes jelly like and is excellent for the summers as a body cooler!5 stars

  2. Sweta Biswal – Thanks so much dear..:)..the “jil jil” expression is used to connote the refreshing feel of the drink Tamil style..:)…the way the Nannari Syrup goes into the system and brings on a tingling sensation of refreshing coolness is denoted by “jil jil”..:)5 stars

4.75 from 8 votes

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