Sukku Coffee: The Traditional and Healthy Alternative to Coffee

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. People drink it in various forms and sometimes several times a day. There are so many variations and versions to cater to different tastes and likes. Coffee gives you energy, flavor, and provides you motivation to start your day. It also helps in waking your brain up and freshening you up. Tea also contains caffeine but it’s not as strong or potent as coffee itself.

Whether you have coffee or tea, it is important to start your day right. Excess caffeine consumption can cause indigestion, poor sleep, and dull skin. You should be limiting yourself to 2 cups of a coffee a day and no coffee after 4 pm. Caffeine takes a lot of time to leave your system and if you drink coffee in the evening, you won’t be able to sleep on time. While there are fancy coffee drinks available, you should be having healthy alternatives that don’t include sugar or milk. You may know about Green tea, black tea, or black coffee but have you heard about Sukku Coffee? This amazing drink is tasty, healthy, and ideal for coffee lovers.

Sukku is the Tamil word for ‘dried ginger.’ It is the main ingredient that makes this coffee healthy and powerful. There are different versions available. You can have Sukku Coffee with milk or with coffee powder. The traditional Sukku Kaapi or Coffee is had without milk. This drink is very popular in Sri Lanka and in parts of South India. You can find it in small cafes or stores.

Dried ginger is what makes this drink stand out from other versions of coffee. Ginger has healing properties that can fight cold, sore throat and cough. Drinking ginger with honey and warm water is a traditional Indian remedy for cold and cough. Ginger is also very beneficial in fighting nausea and indigestion. Dried and crushed ginger makes Sukku Kaapi (Coffee) a popular healthy drink. It can be made at home too. A local version uses coriander seeds, cumin, and crushed pepper in the Sukku powder. Sukku Kaapi/Coffee has anti-inflammatory properties. This makes it perfect to drink during monsoons or cold weather. Many restaurants and cafes in Sri Lanka offer this drink as a post-meal beverage. It can let you digest your meal and clear your throat.

The Sukku Coffee is sweetened with palm jaggery instead of sugar. This gives it a sweet taste without overpowering the ginger. Jaggery is also another useful remedy for cough and cold. It is also healthy and lower in calories which makes it an ideal sweetener. You can buy the Sukku Coffee powder in shops or make your own. It’s really easy to make and can be stored for a month in an airtight container.

Take 2 tablespoons of dry ginger and blend it in powder form. You can roast it for a bit to make it hot and add that extra heat element. Or you can blend it as is. Once blended till a fine powder is formed, your coffee mix is ready. You can add coffee powder to it if you wish. This mixture can be stored for 30 days. Boil 300 ml water and add your ginger/Sukku powder to it. Add 1-2 tablespoons of palm jaggery to the boiling mixture and stir well. Strain and serve hot. You can replace jaggery with sugar or have it without sugar, depending on your taste. Some people have it with honey as well.

Another way of having it is known as the Sukku Malli Coffee. You will need the below ingredients-

• 2 tablespoons dry ginger
• 1 1/2 tablespoons coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon peppercorns
• 1 tablespoon cumin powder
• 1-2 cloves

Dry roast these ingredients and cool them. Once cooled, blend them into a fine powder. Be careful that you don’t roast them too much. They should be hot and spicy not burnt. Add the powder to the same Sukku Coffee mixture with water and jaggery. You can even percolate it like coffee or add a bit of coffee powder for a stronger taste. Milk can be added to the drink for a thicker version of coffee.

Sukku Coffee should be had 1-2 times a day and not more than that. Excess ginger consumption is harmful to your health. Sukku is excellent for curing indigestion, cramps, or upset stomach. The coffee acts wonderfully to clear your stomach and reduce gut bacteria. You can add Tulsi powder or cardamom seeds to give you glowing skin. The version with Tulsi powder also helps in reducing redness or skin irritation. Sukku Coffee can act as a preventative as well as curative drink so you can drink it even during cold weather or monsoons. The rich aroma of Sukku is strong enough to remove the nasal congestion.