Shaken, not Stirred !

“Shaken, not stirred”, he said. “Three measures of Gordon's; one of vodka; half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it over ice, and add a thin slice of lemon peel”.

Sitting in a café across the highway, I was drooling over this sequence from Casino Royale, daydreaming in truth ! The Vesper Martini is legendary. A look over to the menu card at the café, though, brought me back to reality. The Martini may be legendary. But it isn't every man’s drink ! And so I looked over the menu card, hoping to find a drink, worthy of my thirst ! This drive in the scorching sun had truly sucked the wind out of my body. Suddenly my eyes popped out as I read one of the names in the menu (trying to adjust my accent)- ‘ummm kulaki.. Eh kulluki.. Oh it's ‘kulukki sarbath’. The name rings a bell, doesn't it?

I called up the boy taking the orders and asked him about the drink. He said it's a drink made of lime, poppy seeds, ginger, chilly and sugar and is shaken vigorously before serving. I suddenly had a shiver run through my body. A common man’s Martini? Or at least I wanted to believe so ! I asked him if I could see the preparation and he agreed to take me to the kitchen.

Kulukki sarbath is a drink which was predominantly found in the streets of Kerala, especially in the northern parts of the state. The drink has found its place in the state’s folklore and is now available across every nook and corner. I entered the kitchen to see the drink being prepared. A primary ingredient used in the preparation is the poppy seeds or basil seeds alternatively. Poppy seeds or basil seeds are a very popular condiment used in multiple cuisines across the country and the world. It's used in various forms such as powder, paste or whole seeds. These seeds are rich in antioxidants, which help in maintaining the oxidative balance in the body. They also contain vegetative fats such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, which helps maintain the cholesterol levels in the body. The seeds are also a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Apart from the nutritional benefits, the seeds also provide a cooling effect to the body.

As the drink was being made, I noticed that the basil seeds were already swelled by keeping them in water for some time. These seeds were then mixed with lemon juice, sugar syrup, chopped ginger and chilly, giving the drink a varying range of flavors and taste. Lastly, a thin slice of lemon was added along with a few ice cubes and the complete mixture was shaken vigorously in a closed bottle before being served.

I sat down with my glass of the ‘Kulukki Sarbath’, gulping the drink with a sense of rejuvenation. As I finished the drink, eating up every last bit of the poppy seeds, I heard Bond saying to me-

“I don't stop when I am tired, I stop when I am done.”

And I ordered another one !