Gulkand popularly famed as rose petal jam, is a traditional delicacy known for its delightful flavour and numerous health benefits. Made from fresh rose petals and sugar, gulkand is a relished delight and a powerful natural healer with a long history of use in traditional medicine. It refreshes the tastebuds owing to its potent cooling action. The Rose plant is a perennial bushy shrub with aromatic flowers, and the sweet preserve of rose petals is known as gulkand. It goes with the scientific name Rosa Damascene and belongs to the Rosaceae family. Rose plants are often cultivated in home gardens and parks and commercially on large farms. Rose petals are mainly used in perfumes, medicinal, therapeutic, and food industries.
Let's explore the nutrition profile, health benefits, how to make gulkand at home, and its various uses and potential side effects.
Nutrition Profile of Gulkand
Gulkand is primarily made from fresh rose petals and sugar, making it rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It contains vitamins A, C, and E and essential minerals like calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The rose petals also provide dietary fibre, which is valuable in optimising gut health and digestive function.
Also Read: 3 Amazing Ways The Goodness Of Rose Makes Your Skin Glow
Medicinal Properties of Rose Petals
- Natural analgesic quality helps to ease pain
- It is beneficial in treating epilepsy patients
- It improves blood circulation and promotes cardiac function
- Potent antimicrobial traits may help combat viral infection
- Anti-inflammatory action may help ease inflammation
Health Benefits of Gulkand
Relieves Pain
Gulkand is a natural soothing agent that helps alleviate pain. Packed with antioxidants like flavonoids, it may ease joint and muscle pain and improve mobility.
Promotes Digestion
Gulkand is known for its cooling properties, which can help soothe the irritated gastrointestinal tract and relieve symptoms of indigestion, bloating, and acidity.
Enhances Skin Health
The richness of antioxidants in gulkand help protect the skin from free radical damage caused by oxidative stress. Thus, regular intake of gulkand may reduce the signs of ageing and promote a supple and healthy complexion.
Stress Relief
Gulkand is believed to have calming properties that can help reduce stress, anxiety, and insomnia when consumed regularly.
Antioxidant Properties
Gulkand's high antioxidant content helps neutralize free radicals in the body and averts oxidative damage. Thereby lowers the risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer.
Hormonal Support
Gulkand is known to help regulate hormonal imbalances in women, making it beneficial for menstrual health and remedy menopausal symptoms.
Also Read: Rose: 5 Absolute Benefits Of Adding This Enticing Flower To Your Diet
Other Healing Benefits
Pacifies pitta dosha
Gulkand pacifies excess pitta dosha in the body, which can cause heat and keep the body cool. It remedies heat-related issues such as lethargy, rashes, aches and pains and offers respite from burning sensations in foot soles and palms.
Improves Memory & Eyesight
The rich nutrient profile of gulkand is valuable in boosting memory power. Further, its potent antioxidant nature helps improve eyesight over time.
Protects From Heat
Take two teaspoonfuls of gulkand before going out in the hot sun. This helps to shield the body from sunstroke and also averts nosebleeds that develop owing to the excess heat in the body.
Also Read: Rose Tea: 5 Spectacular Benefits Of Adding This Floral Infusion To Your Diet - Infographics
How to Make Gulkand At Home?
To make gulkand at home, you will need fresh rose petals, sugar, and a clean, dry glass jar. Here's a simple recipe:
Wash the rose petals thoroughly and allow them to dry completely.
In a clean glass jar, alternate layers of rose petals and sugar, starting and ending with a layer of sugar.
Close the jar tightly and place it in a sunny spot for about 3-4 weeks, gently shaking it daily to mix the ingredients.
After 3-4 weeks, the rose petals will have released their juices, and the gulkand will be ready to use.
Uses of Gulkand
Gulkand can be consumed directly or used as a key ingredient in making various dishes and beverages. It is commonly used in sweets, desserts, and drinks like milkshakes and smoothies. Gulkand can also be added to yogurt or eaten with bread for a delicious and nutritious treat.
Gulkand Recipe
Kaju Gulkand
Ingredients:
1 cup cashews (kaju)
1/2 cup gulkand (rose petal jam)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon ghee (clarified butter)
1/4 teaspoon cardamom powder
Silver leaf (optional, for garnish)
Method
In a blender ground the cashews into a fine powder. Make sure there are no chunks left.
Add the ground cashews, powdered sugar, and cardamom powder in a mixing bowl. Mix well.
Heat the ghee in a small pan over low heat. Once the ghee is melted, pour it over the cashew mixture. Mix everything until it forms a smooth dough-like consistency.
Take a small portion of the cashew dough and flatten it on your palm. Place a teaspoon of gulkand in the centre and wrap the dough around it, shaping it into a ball. Repeat this process with the remaining dough and gulkand.
For garnish, gently press a small piece of silver leaf onto the top of each Kaju Gulkand ball.
Keep the prepared Kaju Gulkand balls in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
Once chilled, serve the Kaju Gulkand balls as a delightful, sweet treat. Enjoy the rich flavours of cashews and rose petal jam.
Keep them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Nutrition:
Rose is a superb source of antioxidants, essential vitamins A, C, and E, and minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium that augment digestive health and skin glow, cool the body, and remedy menstrual symptoms. Cashews are an impressive source of healthy fats, proteins, and minerals vital for memory power, boosting energy and immunity, and fortifying bone health. Ghee is a powerhouse of vitamins A, D, E, and K, besides healthy unsaturated fats, for enhanced cardiac health and immunity.
Advantages and Side Effects of Gulkand
The advantages of gulkand include its natural sweetness, pleasant flavour, and numerous health benefits. However, it is high in sugar, so it should be consumed in moderation, especially people with diabetes or those watching their sugar intake. Some people may also be allergic to rose petals, so it's essential to be cautious if you have a known allergy.
Precautions to Take with Gulkand
A person with severe mucus discharge, build-up, or swelling in the mucous membrane should be cautious before having gulkand.
Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should be cautious. It is best to consult your doctor before taking gulkand. Also, take necessary measures before giving gulkand to the elderly or children. In such cases, give them only if their doctor prescribes it.
Conclusion
Gulkand is not just a tasty treat, but it's also a potent natural remedy with a wide range of health benefits. Whether enjoyed on its own or used as an ingredient in various dishes, gulkand is a delightful addition to any diet. By understanding its nutrition profile, health benefits, and how to make it home, you can incorporate this ancient Ayurvedic preparation into your regimen and enjoy its many advantages.
References
Effect of gulkand on physico-chemical properties of the flavoured milk prepared by using Gulkand
Mhetre Suhas, Andhare Balasaheb and Deshmukh Akshay
https://www.thepharmajournal.com/archives/2021/vol10issue8/PartP/10-7-391-699.pdf
Standardization of recipe for gulkand and evaluation of its physico-chemical characteristics during storage
Prachi Tamrakar, Nikhil Parihar
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355582144_Standardization_of_recipe_for_gulkand_and_evaluation_of_its_physico-chemical_characteristics_during_storage
