Jamun/Indian Black berry Juice

The jamun is also called Jambul in India. It's other synonyms are jambolan, and indian black berry. This anti-oxydent fruit has so many health benefits. Indian Black berry or Black plum is always appreciated for the color, flavor and taste of its fruit. When sucked, it changes the color of the tongue to purple due to its coloring properties. 

Besides these properties, its usefulness in treatment of diabetes is also praised by the people and health benefits of the fruit are apprciated by all. Medicinal properties of Black berry:- 

1. The extracts of the bark, seeds and leaves are used for the treatment of diabetes.

2. The leaves have antibacterial properties and used for strengthening teethes and gums. 

3. Oral administration of dried alcoholic extracts of the seeds to diabetic patients was found to reduce the level of blood sugar and glycosuria in trials conducted at CDRI, Lucknow 

4. The bark of black berry tree is astringent, digestive, diuretic, antithetical and is considered useful for throat problems 

5. A decoction of the bark and powdered seeds is believed to be very useful in the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery and dyspepsia 

6. The antibiotic activity of black berry extract has been widely studied and found useful against a number of microbial agents. 

7 Jambolene, the enzyme found in jamun, helps to utilize the glucose in the body thereby inhibiting the unwanted rise in the blood glucose levels. 

         Try and have at least a few of these fruits when they are in season for their medicinal value, if not for their unusual flavour. Jamun is a fruit that is most commonly avoided by many, due to its sharp and tangy taste

Ingredients for the Jamun decoction

• 1/2 kg Jamun
• 1 liter Water
• 1 tsp Ginger,crushed
• 5-6 Mint/pudina leaves

Cooking Directions
How to make the decoction:

1. Wash and drain the fruits.
2. Combine the jamun fruit along with the seeds,crushed ginger, mint leaves and little water in a pan and turn your heat up to the highest it will go and bring this to a boil quickly.Do not allow it to boil long,just get it to the point that it's bubbling.Just as soon as you see it boiling,cover the pot and remove it from the heat.
3. Allow to cool and strain using a metal strainer.
4. chill before serving.

Method 1 of making sweet jamun juice:

1/2 cup sugar

6-7 ice cubes

 Add sugar and ice cubes to the decoction If you desire less sweetness or reduced calories,just reduce the amount of sugar in relation to the water.Mix it well and pour into tall glasses for serving it top of some crushed ice cubes.

  

Method 2 of making jamun juice without sugar:

1tsp chat masala

1/2tsp Jeera powder

Crushed ice cubes

Rock salt to taste

Mix all the ingredients with the jamun decoction and serve.

 tip: Select sweet and ripe jamuns that are soft pulpy, for best results.