One of my long-standing wishes came true on our recent trip to Trichy, for Madame Bubboo’s mundan – to taste jigarthanda. I have been intrigued by it and wanting to try it, ever since I read about it a few years ago. Sucker for experimenting and trying different, unique-sounding things, that’s me, yes! The OH has, thankfully, been bitten by the same bug too, lately. 🙂
When the OH and I spotted shops in Trichy selling jigarthanda, we couldn’t resist but halt at one and order a glass. I know Trichy isn’t the best place to have a jigarthanda – Madurai is – but I don’t know when we will be going to Madurai, if at all we go. Plus the Trichy version looked good enough, and we only wanted to sample the stuff. We were in for a pleasant surprise! It tasted lovely!
For the uninitiated, jigirthanda is a Madurai-special cool drink, made out of milk, edible almond-tree gum and Nannari (sarsarilla) syrup. It is somewhat similar to falooda in appearance, with bits of the resin floating around in the milk. Most commonly, a scoop of ice cream is added to the glass. Thick and chilled, it is supposed to soothe parched throats in the hot summer months, and is easily available at street-side stalls in Madurai, also found to lesser extents in some other South Indian towns.
Apparently, jigarthanda is made with all-natural ingredients, with no artificial substances added to it. It is popularly known in South India as jil jil jigirthanda which, as the name suggests, is a cool cool (jil jil) drink that is supposed to cool (thanda) one’s heart (jigar), providing a number of health benefits in the process.
The jigarthanda did cool down my heart (and throat) in the stifling Trichy heat. but I am still not going to cross it off my bucket list. That is a task I will undertake after I get my hands on the, supposedly, authentic version of the drink in Madurai! Some day…
The Girl Next Door 
I was passing some crowded bylanes of Madiwala and saw “jigarthanda” being sold in a shop and thought of you, had first read about it at your blog. Unfortunately could not try it.
LikeLike
@Chattywren
Ooh, jigarthanda in Madiwala, is it? Remember where you saw it? I would love to try it out!
BTW, the Madurai Idli outlets in Bangalore have a kiosk that sells Madurai-style jigarthanda, among other cool drinks and ice creams.
LikeLike
hi TGND, Madiwala is this long stretch of road… only thing we all seemed to notice is that around the very unassuming tucked away juice shop selling jigarthanda, most of the shops were for innerwear…my kids nicknamed it as chaddiwala street…sorry, can’t be more precise in my directions.
LikeLike
@Chattywren
He he, not a problem. I am equally bad with directions. 🙂
I will keep an eye out for this stall, for sure!
LikeLike
I saw this on TV about jigarthanda hope can get to taste it as well i it available in chennai as well?
LikeLike
@Jennifer
I am not very familiar with Chennai but, as far as I know, jigirthanda is available there. No idea where, though!
LikeLike
Hmmm hope I can explore it there…
LikeLike
You can try it at the Murugan idli shop in T Nagar. I think the Besant Nagar one sells this too.
LikeLike
@Sadhanac
Thanks for the info! 🙂
LikeLike
oh thats a good news indeed will try fro sure thankew sooooo much 🙂
LikeLike
And just read your bucket list too, I must say its very interesting and am tempted to have one for me too 🙂
LikeLike
@Freakyveggie
Thank you!
Why don’t you make one for yourself too? A list that includes all those little dreams you always had, but never really got around to fulfilling?
LikeLike
Yes, I should. Have been thinking about it since last couple of hours, will start penning down.
LikeLike
@Freakyveggie
🙂
LikeLike
Both the name and pic look tempting, will give it a try when I encounter it 🙂
LikeLike
@Freakyveggie
Hope you like it too! 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, Madurai is the right place for it but Trichy does the trick too when you have a craving. I am a native of Trichy and I am glad you visited the place 🙂
LikeLike
@Bogglehead
Good to know! 🙂
LikeLike
i heard about it only after seeing kadal movie..by the way how is it.. my husband told me that he didnt like it..
LikeLike
@Ashreyamom
Both of us liked it, as I have mentioned in the post. I would like to try the supposedly authentic version at Madurai too.
LikeLike
I love Jigarthanda too 🙂
LikeLike
@Greenboochi
🙂
LikeLike
All Madurai Idli branches in Bangalore have started selling it too.
LikeLike
@GM
Oh, I didn’t know that! Thanks for the info. 🙂
LikeLike
You are welcome. And if you haven’t, Jigarthanda, the movie is a much watch too 🙂
LikeLike
@GM
I watch very few movies these days.. Tamil ones, none at all. 😦 Will give Jigarthanda a watch.
LikeLike
Well when you try Jigirthandaa in Madurai, you will find the difference. Try the ‘kari dosai’ too ( assuming you eat non-veg)
LikeLike
@Dinesh Babu K N
Having never seen or tasted jigarthanda before, I wanted to get my hands on a glass when I saw it for the first ever time in Trichy. When I do visit Madurai, I’m sure I’ll try out the supposedly authentic version. 🙂
I don’t eat non-veg.
LikeLike