Sukku Coffee or ginger tea is a popular herbal drink in Tamil Nadu (a state in southern India next to Sri Lanka). Although the drink is labeled as coffee, Sukku coffee isn’t actually a coffee at all. It is a delicious and best alternative for your everyday tea and coffee intake.

Sukku Coffee comes with all of the health advantages one can have from cardamom, pepper, coriander, and Ginger.  For ages, this coffee has been used in Tamil houses as a home remedy for anything from digestive difficulties to the common cold. its rich scent opens nasal obstructions and provides relief from fever and throat infections as well.

Not only Sukku Coffee provides relief from infections but it also promotes digestion, increases immunity, lowers cholesterol, boosts blood circulation, increases detoxification, lowers blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Sukku coffee is frequently taken throughout the winter season. The dry ginger is the primary component in Sukku coffee. Dry ginger is a kind of fresh ginger that needs to be dried. It is mostly used in south Indian cuisine. It is also known as Sukku, Sonti, and Saunth in India’s regional languages.

Keep reading to learn about how to make Sukku coffee and its health benefits.

Health Benefits Of Sukku Coffee

1.    Relieves Digestive Discomfort

Let it be stomach upset, indigestion, diarrhea, cold or sore throat dry ginger can provide you instant relief. A nutritious and healthy drink containing natural herbs and spices including ginger and coriander is beneficial for gut health. According to the research Coriander, is as an antispasmodic helps in relaxing the tightened digestive muscles that contribute to the discomforts associated with irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders(1). Ginger helps you in minimizing the severity of abdominal pain discomfort. Additionally, research has shown that is highly effective in reducing the bloated stomach(2).

Furthermore, Sukku coffee is one of the most effective cures for nausea. If you are experiencing nausea, try drinking a cup of this; you will quickly feel better.

2.     Healthy Menstruation

Did you know that coriander seeds can help you have a healthy menstrual cycle? It improves menstrual flow by controlling endocrine gland activity and promoting hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle(3). For years, coriander is being used in Ayurvedic medicine and Siddha to balance menstruation, and it can also aid with discomfort, bloating, pain and cramps during the monthly cycle(1). Furthermore, Ginger has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties which help in relieving menstrual pain.

3.    Reduces Blood Pressure

Numerous individuals suffer from hypertension, which puts your health at risk.  However, when you consume a spice-loaded drink, it can help in lowering blood pressure(4). It reduces the incidence of fatal conditions such as the development of blood clots and strokes.

4.    Helps In Treating Urinary Tract Infections

Do you have a urinary tract infection? If that is the case, here is a natural remedy. A cup of healthy coffee can help alleviate the symptoms of a urinary tract infection. It also helps in relieving pain and discomfort as a result of infection and as well as boosts up the recovery process(5).

5.    Best For Anemia

If you offer young children traditional drinks like these, they will not develop anemia since these drinks are prepared with iron-rich palm jaggery which reduces the risk of anemia.  In addition, they will also develop a taste for traditional drinks rather than dangerous cola drinks.

6.    Treat Arthritis

Osteoarthritis is the most frequently occurring condition. As the main ingredient in the preparation of Sukku coffee is ginger, it has the ability to cure Arthritis. The exact mechanism by which it cures arthritis is unknown. However, research has shown that for people who used ginger to cure OA significant reduction was noted in both disability and pain(6).

7.    Reduces Cholesterol

The things you eat can have a significant impact on your cholesterol levels.

Dry ginger powder combined with warm water in the morning for 45 days has been shown to help decrease bad cholesterol (for example lipoproteins) and triglyceride levels. High levels of Lipoproteins are associated with an increased risk of heart disease(7).

Furthermore, in 2018 research of 60 participants with hyperlipidemia, 30 received 5 grams of ginger-pasted powder daily and noticed a 17.4 percent reduction in their bad(lipoproteins) cholesterol levels over a three-month period(8).

However, the effects of Sukku coffee on cholesterol levels have not been studied but from the above discussion, it is safe to assume that Sukku coffee will have the ability to reduce cholesterol levels due to the presence of the main ingredient ginger.

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

How To Make Sukku Coffee

You can prepare Sukku coffee powder at home or can purchase pre-made Sukku coffee powder.

Ingredients To Make Sukku Powder

  • Cumin seeds – 1/2 tsp
  • Dry Ginger – 2-inch stick
  • Whole Black Peppercorns – 1/2 tsp
  • Coriander Seeds – 1 Tbsp
  • Cardamom – 1

These ingredients are for making 4 spoons of Sukku powder.

Ingredients To Make Sukku Coffee

  • Water – Two cups
  • Dry Ginger powder – 1 tablespoon (adjust according to your age and requirement)
  • Palm jaggery/Jaggery/Palm Sugar – 1.25 tablespoon or just to taste

Preparation

For Sukku Powder

  • Roast 1 tbsp coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp whole black peppercorns 1 cardamom, 1/2 tsp cumin seeds until aroma comes. The color does not have to be altered. It may get burnt quickly. Therefore, take care while roasting. Turn off the heat and let the ingredients cool down.
  • Prepare 2-inch Sukku (dry ginger) by crushing it.
  • In a mixer, grind cumin seeds, dried ginger, cardamom, coriander seeds, and black peppercorns to a fine powder.
  • You can store it for an extended period in an airtight container.

For Sukku Coffee

  • To prepare Sukku coffee, add 1 tbsp Sukku coffee powder with 2 cups of water in a pan.  
  • Boil it until the water content is reduced to half of what it was before.
  • You can adjust the amount of Sukku coffee powder to your taste.
  • 1 tbsp is sufficient for making 1 cup of Sukku coffee.
  • Filter it and serve it hot.
  • No other drink can provide the same level of comfort when you have a sore throat.

References

1.            Rajeshwari U, Andallu BJSD. Medicinal benefits of coriander (Coriandrum sativum L). 2011;1(1):51-8.

2.            Piran P, Tayari N, Boroojeni RB, Imani E, Khademi ZJAJoP. A review of complementary medicine in irritable bowel syndrome. 2015;5.

3.            Ozgoli G, Goli M, Moattar F. Comparison of effects of ginger, mefenamic acid, and ibuprofen on pain in women with primary dysmenorrhea. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, NY). 2009;15(2):129-32.

4.            Azimi P, Ghiasvand R, Feizi A, Hosseinzadeh J, Bahreynian M, Hariri M, et al. Effect of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron and ginger consumption on blood pressure and a marker of endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled clinical trial. 2016;25(3):133-40.

5.            Hamasalih R, Abdulrahman ZJAE, Research E. Antibiofilm Potency of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and Quercetin against Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Urinary Tract Catheterized Patients. 2019;18(1):219-36.

6.            Bartels EM, Folmer VN, Bliddal H, Altman RD, Juhl C, Tarp S, et al. Efficacy and safety of ginger in osteoarthritis patients: a meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 2015;23(1):13-21.

7.            Schaefer EJJTAjocn. Lipoproteins, nutrition, and heart disease. 2002;75(2):191-212.

8.            Murad S, Niaz K, Aslam HJCMB. Effects of Ginger on LDL-C, Total Cholesterol and Body Weight. 2018;4:140-2.