Drink up that jamun!

It’s that time of the year when a visit to the fruit market is incomplete without buying those sweet and tangy delights  — jamun or the black plum. Not only is the fruit delicious, it has a number of health benefits as well. While you can enjoy it on its own with a little salt sprinkled on it, you can also muddle it or extract its juice and add it to a mocktail or cocktail and it turns into a refreshing drink for this season. 

Chef Saransh Goila, who visited the famous Blue Lassi Wala in Benaras two years ago, learnt to incorporate fruits in lassis from there and looks forward to this season just so he can make a refreshing Jamun Lassi. “Jamun being in season, can be used well for shakes, ice creams and lassis. It’s fleshy and has a unique sour astringent flavour profile. Also, the unique colour makes it an instant eye catcher and it’s healthy too!” he says. Bartenders across the city are looking to incorporate the tart fruit in their creations. Here’s a look at some options for you to try:

Jamun Martini

Bringing an Indian twist to a martini, is the Jamun Martini which has gin, and tons of jamun with a dash of lime. The idea behind using jamun as an ingredient in their cocktails, was to retain the rawness of Indian flavours as well as use some local ingredients available in the market. 
Where: Hoppipola
Price: Rs 325

Kala Jamun Bunta (alcoholic)

Says Aman Dua, Head Mixologist, Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd, “Cocktails at Farzi Café are renowned for their unique flavour combinations and presentations and we have applied the same philosophy to our Kala Jamun bunta. To create this beverage, we have paired the juice of dried kala jamun, with vodka, along with homemade spices to add a balance of sweet and spicy flavours. It is then put into the Bunta for instant carbonation, creating a mix of exciting flavours that our guests enjoy.” 
Where: Farzi Cafe 
Price: Rs 345++

The Indian Black Plum & Coconut LIIT

Jamun and coconut water is blended and poured in a bongtail. The drink is made using five white spirits and is smoked from top. Rest assured, this is definitely not one of your regular cocktails! 
Where: Raasta
Price: Rs 500 for 350 ml and Rs 700 for 650 ml

Junkie Jamun

The sweet and sour taste of the jamun goes perfectly well with cocktails, feels Rohit Kumar Bhardwaj, General Manager, Junkyard Cafe. “Also, people are always something innovative and healthy when it comes to cocktails,” he says. While they do use fresh jamun muddled in some drinks, for the Junkie Jamun, they make an inhouse jamun decoction which they mix with vodka and lime juice.  
Where: Junkyard Cafe
Price: Rs 295 plus taxes

Diabetic Blend

This juice made of Indian gooseberry, Jamun, Tree Berry and Bitter Gourd may be a great health drink for diabetics, but anyone can enjoy this delicious drink. 
Where: Fable
Price: Rs 225++

Gin Jamun Tonic

Says Chandrakant Apte, the Head Bartender at Dishkiyaoon, “Gin and tonic is a classic cocktail, but we have given it an Indian twist by adding jamun to it. Gin goes well with something sour, so jamun is perfect. Also, we don’t add any lime juice or sugar syrup to it as jamun juice has everything,” he says. His funda, he says is to go seasonal. “We did a couple of mango cocktails before this, and now it’s jamun jamun,” he adds. 
Where: Dishkiyaaon
Price: Rs 450

Cool Jamun Slush

The Cool Jamun Slush combines the flavour of jamun with a zing of secret seasoning. The drink is served in the form of a slush with loads of crushed ice and is perfect to sip on a hot summer day. 
Where: Café Coffee Day outlets
Price: Rs 135

Recipe

Saransh Goila's Jamun Lassi

• Ingredients • 1 cup Jamun
• 4-5 tbsp sugar • 1 cup yoghurt
• A big pinch cinnamon • ¼ cup water

Method

Remove the seeds from the fruit and put it in a mixer jar and grind till smooth.
Add the yoghurt, sugar and cinnamon and blend again.
Add water according to the consistency you want and give it a mix.
Remove in a tall glass and enjoy on a hot summer day.

Note — Sugar is to be added according to the sweetness of one’s preference. It can be replaced by honey or low fat sugar.