Do you crave for a refreshing summer drink on hot summer days? We drink Sharbat-e Khakshir Nabat – Persian Summer Drink in Iran when it’s hot. A healthy and delicious Persian refreshment drink made from Sophia herb seeds, fresh spring water, rose water, lemon juice (optional), ice cubes, and saffron candied sticks. This drink cools you from the inside, is quick to prepare, tastes delicious, and will quench your thirst.

The seeds are heavy, and sink to the bottom of the glass and should be stirred just before drinking. The stirring makes them dance their way to the top. If you travel to Iran, you should try Sharbat-e Khakshir Nabat – Persian Summer Drink in a Ab Miveh Forooshi (juice bar), you can get this cool refreshing drink at every corner. Find here some more Sharbat recipes on my blog.

WHAT IS KHAKSHIR AND WHERE TO BUY IT?

Khakshir, also called Khak-e Shir, are seeds of the Sophia rocket, Sophia weed, broom weed, flixweed or scientifically Descurainia sophia. The plant grows in the foothills of the Elburz Mountains and is annual. People drink cold khaki in the warm summer months, and only few people know it as a warm drink for health issues. The health benefits are outstanding, so I have listed them below.

You can also order Khakshir from my Persian grocer Prime Bazar* on phone. Just call this phone number 061 51 – 501 19 94 (Germany). You can find Khakshir in Persian grocery stores in all big cities in Europe. In Iran, you can find them at Attar, these are stores where you can buy only medicinal herbs and spices.

HOW TO CLEAN KHAKSHIR SEEDS

Khakshir seeds should be rinsed thoroughly before consumption, as they often contain a lot of sand. To do this, pour the khakshir into a bowl with some cold water and leave it to stand for 5 minutes. As with panning for gold, rotate in a light, even motion or swing back and forth. This way, you separate the sand from the seeds, now carefully pour the water and the seeds into another bowl. As you can see, some sand is at the bottom of the first bowl, so rinse it off thoroughly. Refill the bowl with water and repeat the process until you see no more sand. Depending on the sand contained, you can repeat 2 to 5 times.

SEVEN HEALTH BENEFITS OF KHAKSHIR

In Iran, khakshir is not only drunk when people are ill but also regularly as a preventive measure against different ailments. According to Teb-e Sonati, a Persian Medicine (or ITM – Iranian Traditional Medicine), Khakshir has the following properties:

1. KHAKSHIR COOLS FROM THE INSIDE

Khakshir has cooling properties; it lowers the body temperature and cools from within. Hot and feverish people benefit from it, and I recommend to drink it in high heat. That’s why it’s a popular drink on hot summer days, as the cooling properties are unique. In case of overheating or heat stroke, it provides an immediate improvement and has a thirst-quenching property. It helps against fatigue and dizziness, nausea, and loss of appetite when the body is overheated. Menopausal women with hot flashes also benefit from Khakshir’s cooling properties.

2. KHAKSHIR IMPROVES SKIN APPEARANCE

The little seeds have an astringent effect and help with acne, pimples, and blemished skin. It also helps against pigmentation spots, both internally and externally. A glass of khakshir should be drunk daily for up to 3 weeks to improve the appearance of the skin. External use improves the skin color and cleanses the skin thoroughly. Make a mask out of the crushed seeds. Apply to the face 2 – 3 times a week.

3. KHAKSHIR HAS A WOUND-HEALING EFFECT

Although you cannot prevent scars with Khakshir, you can positively influence scar formation. The wound-healing effect accelerates the wound healing and scars after injuries and operations.

4. KHAKSHIR HELPS WITH WEIGHT GAIN

For anorexic girls or boys, it helps with weight gain. For this, khakshir should be stirred in a glass of fresh whole milk on an empty stomach and drunk in the morning.

5. KHAKSHIR HAS DETOXIFICATION PROPERTIES

Khakshir has a detoxifying property on the liver and cleanses the body from within.

6. KHAKSHIR IS GOOD FOR THE DIGESTION

Khakshir is also effective in the gastrointestinal area, for example, in case of hiccups, colic, or diarrhea. It also has a digestive effect on constipation, so khakshir should be stirred into warm water and drunk. Some tend to have diarrhea, especially in the summer month, so roast the seeds briefly in a pan without oil and drink them with honey and warm water. They can do more, as they work against parasites and are worm-infecting.

7. KHAKSHIR HELPS KIDNEY DISEASES

The kidney health benefits are also worth mentioning, as the seeds are diuretic and work against kidney stones and inflammation.

INGREDIENTS FOR SHARBAT-E KHAKSHIR NABAT

Per glass for 1 person

4 tsp khakshir – flixweeds*

250 ml spring water

1 teaspoon rose water*

1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 candy sticks with saffron*

2-3 ice cubes

PREPARATION OF SHARBAT-E KHAKSHIR NABAT

Place the cleaned khakshir seeds (see above) in a glass, and fill with pure spring water.

Add one teaspoon of rose water and lemon juice, and place one saffron cane sugar and the ice cubes in the glass.

This delicious Persian refreshing drink is ready.

Stir well before drinking.

BEFARMAYID!

Susan

The items marked with * are affiliate links, referral links. If you buy through this link, I get a small commission. The price stays the same for you and you can easily support my efforts. A big thank you ♥

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