Rooh Afza facts for kids
Rooh Afza logo
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| Type | Concentrated herbal, Squash (drink) |
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| Inventor | Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed |
| Inception | 1906 |
| Manufacturer | Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 168: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Available | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Middle East |
| Website | Lua error in Module:WikidataIB at line 168: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Rooh Afza (Urdu: روح افزا; Hindi: रूह अफ़ज़ा; Bengali: রূহ আফজা) is a popular sweet drink concentrate. Its name means "Soul Refresher." It was first made in 1906 in British India.
A person named Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed created this special drink. Today, different companies started by him and his sons make Rooh Afza. These companies are called Hamdard Laboratories. They make the drink in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Rooh Afza is made using an old type of medicine called Unani medicine. It has many ingredients that are thought to help you feel cool. For example, it contains rose, which can help against hot summer winds. People often drink Rooh Afza during Ramadan, especially when they break their fast. You can use it to flavor cold milk, ice cream, or other desserts.
Contents
History of Rooh Afza
Rooh Afza was created by Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed, who founded Hamdard. In 1906, he wanted to make a herbal drink. This drink would help people in Delhi stay cool during the hot summer.
He chose herbs and syrups from traditional Unani medicine. He made a drink to help prevent heatstroke and water loss. An artist named Mirza Noor Ahmad designed the colorful labels for Rooh Afza in 1910. The recipe was improved over time until the final drink was perfect.
After Majeed passed away, his wife Rabea Begum set up a charity. This charity was named after her and their two sons.
In 1947, India was divided into two countries. One of Majeed's sons, Hakim Abdul Hameed, stayed in India. The other son, Hakim Mohammad Said, moved to Pakistan in 1948. He started a new Hamdard Company there.
Later, Hakim Mohammad Said also opened a Hamdard branch in what is now Bangladesh. His daughter, Sadia Rashid, said that her father gave this business to the people of Bangladesh. This happened after Bangladesh became independent in 1971.
In 2010, famous chef Nita Mehta and actress Juhi Chawla helped promote Rooh Afza. They created new recipes for drinks and desserts using it. This was part of a new marketing plan for the popular summer drink.
What's in Rooh Afza?
The original recipe for Rooh Afza includes many different things. These ingredients are often thought to have cooling effects.
- Herbs:
- Fruits:
- Orange
- Citron
- Pineapple
- Apple
- Berries
- Strawberry
- Raspberry
- Loganberry
- Blackberry
- Cherry
- Concord grapes
- Blackcurrant
- Watermelon
- Vegetables:
- Spinach
- Carrot
- Mint
- Sponge gourd
- Flowers:
- Rose
- Kewra
- Lemon
- Orange
- Roots:
- Vetiver
How to Prepare Rooh Afza
Rooh Afza syrup is usually mixed with cold milk and ice. It tastes a bit like strawberry milk. Many people drink Rooh Afza during Iftar. This is the evening meal when Muslims break their fast during Ramadan.
You can also mix the concentrate with water. This is a common way to drink it in hot places like Pakistan. When mixed with water, it becomes a type of sweet drink called sharbat.
Sometimes, Rooh Afza syrup is added to Kulfi ice cream. It can also be mixed with vermicelli noodles. This makes a dessert similar to the popular Iranian dish called Faloodeh.
New Rooh Afza Drinks
Hamdard Laboratories India has made some new ready-to-drink versions. These are called RoohAfza Fusion and RoohAfza Milkshake. You can buy them already mixed and ready to drink.
Images for kids
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A bottle of Rooh Afza.
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A sharbat drink made from Rooh Afza syrup.
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See also
In Spanish: Rooh afza para niños
