Jigarthanda (meaning “cool heart” in Hindi) is a Tamil beverage specifically to Madurai region. It is very commonly served by roadside shops as chilling refreshment during summer season. The traditional recipe uses jelly made out of agar-agar (also known as china grass) in cold syrup prepared out of milk, rose water, sugar. It is typically served with a scoop of ice cream on top. In this recipe here, I used strawberry juice as an alternative to rose water.

For 2 Servings

Ingredients

1. Milk : 3 cups
2. Sugar  : 3 Tbl sp

For jelly

3. Agar agar (China Grass) stick :  5 gm
4. Sugar : 3 Tbl sp.
5. Water  :  1 ¼ cup
6. Vanilla essence  : ¼ T sp.

For juice

7. Strawberry  : 15
8. Sugar  :  2Tbl sp.

Method

Start with making the jelly as it takes longer (~ 90 min)

• In a bowl soak the agar agar with the 1 ¼ cup of water and leave for about half hour.
• Then add the sugar and boil the mix until it dissolved completely
• Add the vanilla essence and mix it.
• Switch off the stove, pour the mix in a bowl/mold and allow it to cool completely and then keep it in the fridge for setting the jelly (~ 90 min).

• In a blender/ mixie add the strawberry and sugar, grind it into a smooth paste (without water) and keep it into the fridge ( I got 1.5 cup juice).

• Once the jelly is set, cut it into small pieces.
• Mix the sugar and milk together.
• In a glass add the jelly pieces and pour ¼ cup of strawberry juice followed by  ½  cup of milk, repeat this until your glass fill completely.
• Finally add a scoop of ice cream with your choice.

Tips:-

• Quantity of sugar can be increased according to taste ( I kept it as minimum).
• If you are not getting agar-agar, can use jelly packet and prepare it with the instructions of the packet.