Falsa Fizz | Phalse ka Sharbat | A bright and refreshing summer drink made of falsa/phalsa berries and sparkling water.
WHAT IS FALSA / PHALSE
Falsa / phlasa is a delicious fruit available during a very short season during the summer. Falsa was first found in Varanasi, India, and traveled with Buddhist scholars to other Asian countries and the rest of the world. It’s a popular summer berry in both India and Pakistan. This berry is quite similar to the size of blueberries with sweet and tart notes like pomegranate. It’s definitely a fruit worth trying! Known as Grewia asiatica is rich in minerals and nutrients and a great antioxidant. It’s very cooling for the body and having this fruit regularly during summer is very beneficial to combat the heat problems.
CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
I haven’t come across fresh falsa/phalsa in the US but a brand called Deep Indian Kitchen sells them in the frozen section. When I brought these home and gave them to Suraj, he said it instantly reminded him of his childhood. Street vendors would sell Phalse in their wicker baskets, you’d get a mound of these sweet and sour berries with a generous dusting of kala namak/black salt. The sharp tartness combined with juicy sweetness would almost help to forget you how hot it really was.
HOW TO MAKE FALSA FIZZ / PHALSE KA SHARBAT
False/Phalse have very little flesh compared to their seeds. The best way to make this drink is to extract the maximum juice from the fruit. You can either do this manually, by mixing the berries with sugar and letting it sit until soft. You then mash and strain the liquid. If you don’t have the time or patience (me) you can blend together the berries with sugar and then run it through a sieve to remove any of the gritty seeds.
Mix the concentrate with black salt, top with sparkling water, garnish with fresh mint, and served chilled.
You can easily make the falsa mixture and keep it chilled for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to serve just top up with sparking water and garnish with mint.
Thirsy? Try this Pineapple Coconut Spritzer or this Kokum Cooler.
- 2 cups falsa / phalse, defrosted if frozen
- ¾ cup sugar
- 4 cups water
- 1 teaspoon kala namak
- 2 cup sparkling water
- 5-6 sprigs of mint
- In a blender mix together the falsa, sugar, kala namak, and 4 cups of water. Blend until most of the berries have broken up.
- Using a large sieve, strain the liquid into a jar and discard the pump.
- In a glass fill halfway with the falsa concentrate, and top up with the sparking water. Mix, garnish with mint and enjoy.
For a more earthy sherbet, add ½ teaspoon of roasted jeera to the falsa concentrate.
Enjoy,
