Jigarthanda is a cold beverage from the South Indian city of Madurai.[1] It translates to "cool heart" ("jigar" is a metaphor for heart in Persian, literally meaning "liver"; "thanda" means "cold") in English, implying that the drink’s cooling effect will be felt right down to one’s heart. It is generally prepared and served at roadside stalls as a refreshment during the Indian summer. The basic ingredients include milk, almond gum, sarsaparilla root syrup, sugar and ice cream.[2]

Etymology

Jigarthanda literally means "cold heart"[3] and can be interpreted as "cool liver" in Hindi.[4] Another take on the word defines jigar as bravery and thanda as captain or rower of a boat, referring to the customary use of sea algae gelatin in the drink.[4]

Key ingredients

The core preparation uses a blend of milk (full fat and condensed), khoya, sarsaparilla root syrup, and edible almond gum, providing the drink with a unique chewy texture.[3] Badam pisin and Katira gond are alternate names used to refer to the primary gelling agent in the drink, the almond gum.[3] Though the name is identified as Urdu and its nomenclature points to a North Indian origin, the drink is distinct from falooda by its absence of vermicelli and rooh afza.[5]

Cultural significance

Jigarthanda is a popular drink from Madurai, celebrated as the city's own, often marking the completion of the 'Aadi' discount sale ritual.[5] Some Muslim families in the area believe this drink to be aphrodisiac.[5]

The 2014 Tamil-language film Jigarthanda by Karthik Subbaraj is named after this popular drink. The film takes place in Madurai, the origin of the drink.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "In search of Madurai Jigarthanda". The Hindu. 15 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "The legend of Jil Jil Jigarthanda". The Indian Express. 23 April 2016. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 Kohli, Diya (16 March 2021). "Jil jil Jigarthanda: The drink from Madurai that cools the heart and warms the…". Condé Nast Traveller India. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  4. 1 2 "What to drink in your country?". BBC Online. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Kaveri, Megha (7 May 2021). "Madurai's jigarthanda: A confluence of taste and cultures in a glass tumbler". The News Minute. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Ramachandran, Mythily. "'Pizza' fame Karthik Subbaraj is back with 'Jigarthanda'". Gulf News. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jigarthanda_(drink)