🌱 Indian Sarsaparilla (Anantmool)

🌱 Indian Sarsaparilla (Anantmool) – The Cooling Root of Ayurveda

🌿✨A Root of Many Names

Known across India as Anantmool (literally “endless root”), this slender, woody vine belongs to the milkweed family. Its twisted root has long been treasured in Ayurveda and folk medicine. It is often confused with the Mexican sarsaparilla. However, it is distinctly Indian in character.

💚An Ancient Healer

For centuries, the root has been dried, powdered, or infused in water to prepare tonics that soothe the body. Ayurveda celebrates Anantmool as a natural blood purifier. It is considered a remedy for skin conditions. It also acts as a cooling agent against the fiery heat of summer.

🌍A Taste Both Sweet and Earthy

When steeped, the root releases a gentle, sweetly woody flavour, carrying notes of vanilla and damp earth. It’s less harsh than Western sarsaparilla. It was once a refreshing base for sherbets. It was also used for homemade summer drinks in Indian households.

✨From Folk Tradition to Forgotten Drink

In rural kitchens, a pinch of powdered root might be stirred into milk or curd. It can also be brewed into cooling drinks during festivals. Today, it is more likely found in Ayurvedic pharmacies. It’s less common on dining tables, though wellness seekers are rediscovering its soothing powers. (https://kookssecrets.com/2024/03/28/vanilla/).

🍴✨A Root Worth Remembering

More than just a tonic, Anantmool embodies India’s age-old tradition of blending food and medicine. In the right hands, it’s both nourishment and healing—a reminder that flavour and health have always grown side by side.

✨  Did you know? In Ayurveda, Anantmool is called a “Rasayana”—a rejuvenating herb believed to restore balance, vitality, and longevity.(https://www.herbies.com.au/shop/herbs-and-spices/spices/tonka-beans-10g).