How to Make Kadha in 6 Simple Steps

Changing weather, unbalanced diet (aahar), and unhealthy lifestyle (vihaar) are common causes of a weakened immune system. In this blog, we will explore how to make kadha, its health benefits, and why you should integrate drinking kadha into your lifestyle. 

Winters bring with it a desire for a pleasant, warm drink to revitalize our bodies. This is why drinking chai and coffee are ingrained in our daily lives. But what if we told you that there is a drink out there that’s tastier than tea and coffee while providing even more health benefits? It’s also great for diabetics and calorie-conscious people 

Well, the tasty drink we are discussing is Ayurvedic kadha!

But before we jump into how to make kadha at home, let's quickly note down what makes a kadha so special. 

What is kadha?

Kadha is an easy-to-make Ayurvedic drink that is traditionally used as a home remedy for cold, cough, and seasonal flu. It’s made with a blend of herbs and spices that are boiled in water to extract their essence. 

Kadha is often consumed by people as a chai or tea and is a great way to build immunity against infections and illnesses. It is known to be the go-to cure for fever, according to mothers and grandmothers around the country. In fact, kadha has been used in India since ancient times. But nowadays, it's gaining popularity in the Western world because of its immense immunity-boosting benefits. 

Benefits of Kadha

Before exploring making kadha, let’s go over the benefits of this wonderful drink.

Here is a list of Benefits of Kadha:

• Helps in boosting long-term immunity

Kadha is packed with vitamins and antioxidants that help in improving immunity. Antioxidants are known to protect against infections by fighting free radicals. 

• Helps in detoxifying the body

Since we know that kadha consists of antioxidants, this makes it excellent for detoxifying the body. Ginger, black pepper and turmeric act as antioxidants to clean the body and keep it healthy.

• Helps with respiratory problems

Kadhas are great for cold and cough. Lemongrass and Tulsi work well towards relieving respiratory ailments like asthma symptoms.

• Helps improve digestion

A cup of kadha after meals helps to improve indigestion, vomiting, nausea, etc. It supports metabolism and supports healthy digestion.

• Helps in weight loss

Kadha contains ingredients that help boost your metabolism to promote fat burn and natural weight loss. 

• Helps with anti-ageing

The antioxidants that are present in the kadha help in slowing down the process of ageing. It also contributes to giving your skin a healthy glow. Drinking kadha can also improve hair health.

• Helps in lowering blood pressure

Kadhas with Hibiscus can help in lowering blood pressure. This solution is completely natural and effective with no side effects. 

• Helps in reducing inflammation

Kadha is great for pain that arises due to arthritis. Kadhas with Eucalyptus, Turmeric and Ginger are great for treating joint and muscle pain.

Kadha Ingredients That Make It Effective

Before you start it, you need to first prepare a list of ingredients for your homemade kadha. 

Here is a list of ingredients that work well in kadha recipes:

1. Tulsi

Rich in vitamin C and zinc, Tulsi is also known as Indian basil. Tulsi is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal that helps in protecting you from infections and keeps your body healthy.

2. Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an Indian spice and it is commonly known as Dalchini. It consists of antioxidant properties that boost immunity and combat infections. It also lowers the risk of chronic diseases.

3. Black pepper

Black pepper has anti-inflammatory properties and works towards relieving inflammation-causing infections. It helps in reducing the risk of diseases like cancer, diabetes and arthritis.

4. Cloves

Cloves are rich in antioxidants and are great for boosting immunity.

5. Turmeric

Turmeric is a well-known Indian spice. It contains Curcumin that has anti-inflammatory properties known to reduce swelling, infection and helps in maintaining overall health.

6. Ginger

Ginger is a tasty and healthy ingredient that’s well known in Indian households for making ginger tea. Fresh ginger is great for fighting infections.

7. Honey or jaggery

This one is optional. You can use honey or jaggery to balance the flavour and bring sweetness to your kadha. You can use refined or brown sugar as well but we recommend honey as it is the more natural and healthy option. 

8. Lemongrass

Lemongrass is rich in antioxidants and is very useful for treating cold, cough and fever. It can also help with regulating blood pressure levels. 

How to Make Kadha at Home?

It is pretty easy to make your own kadha!

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make kadha:

1. Fill a saucepan with 3 cups of water
2. Bring the water to a boil. At the same time, crush ginger, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon using a mortar and pestle, into a paste
3. When the water starts boiling, add these ingredients to the water along with some Tulsi leaves
4. Cook this mixture on medium heat for about 20 minutes or till the water levels has reduced to half
5. Strain the mixture and pour it into a cup. You can add some honey or jaggery for added flavour
6. Enjoy a hot sip of your homemade kadha!

If you chop and crush the kadha ingredients while the water is coming to a boil, the total time it takes to make Kadha at home is 20-25  minutes. Starting with 3 cups of water can give you plenty of kadha for two to enjoy. 

Easy to Make Kadha Sips

In today’s times, we are surrounded by infections and viruses waiting to harm our immunity. This is why strengthening your immunity and protecting yourself from infections is vital. 

Now that you have learned about how to make kadha, you can start making it at home now. However, you may not always have time to prepare a fresh batch of kadha every day. After all, the process, while easy, is a little more complex than making tea or coffee. 

In such cases, you can consider using prepared Kadha Sips satchels, a simple and easy way to drink ayurvedic kadha at home. 

With Kadha Sips, you get a sugar-free kadha that is packed with many of the herbs you read about in this blog. Using the individually packaged single-use sachets is also perfect for when you actually fall sick. There is also Kadha Fizz that’s provided in effervescent tablets that can give you a tasty and refreshing sugar-free kadha drink in minutes. 

These products are great for treating respiratory infections like cold, cough, sore throat, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and seasonal infections without going through the hassle of storing the necessary ingredients at home, crushing the ingredients, and making your kadha at home. 

While it’s important to know how to make kadha at home, we recommend keeping a box of Kadha Sips at home for when you want to make a healthy and convenient kadha drink at home or on the go. 

FAQ

What is the best time to drink kadha?

The best time to drink kadha is in the morning on an empty stomach. The evening is also a good time to have kadha. If you are suffering from a cold and cough, you can consume kadha twice a day to feel better.

Which kadha is best for sore throat?

For sore throat, be sure to include black pepper and cloves when you make your kadha. Clove and black pepper are known to loosen mucus and warm water soothes the sore throat and helps in killing germs. Adding honey can provide additional anti-inflammatory benefits while balancing the flavour.

Can kadha for cold also work for sore throat?

Yes, kadha is full of antioxidants and is a great solution to curing cold, sore throat, and cough.

Can we store kadha in the fridge?

Kadha can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. However, you need to strain the Kadha drink in a sterilised and airtight glass bottle and remember to close the lid well. Warm it before consuming. 

What’s the best kadha for cough?

Use ginger in your kadha as it has anti-viral properties to make kadha for cough and cold. Use Tulsi since it is known to heal and increase immunity and reduce the production of mucus. Use black pepper for its anti-microbial properties that help in treating cold and cough.