I love making my own juices at home. Not only is it waaaaaaaaaaaaaay cheaper, but also, unlike box juice, you get to control the amount of sugar you add and it is also preservative free. I love mango juice. I love the juice combo of mango and passion fruit. I loooove pineapple and mint. I love just passion fruit juice on it’s own. I love orange juice, though it making it freshly squeezed is quite the work out lol! Another one I love and I have come to enjoy making at home is some ukwaju juice! So refreshing! So delicious! And one you too will enjoy having at home!
I made a dope vid to accompany the blog post. Do watch below, and subscribe!
PREP TIME: 24hrs COOK TIME: 1hr MAKES: 1.5 L
Ingredients
200g of peeled ukwaju (tamarind)
1 teaspoon of minced ginger
4 tablespoons of brown sugar
4 clove corns
1.5 L of water
Method
Tamarind is ukwaju in kiswahili. It is very common at the Kenyan coast, but us inland city dwellers are also catching up on it’s goodness and versatility. You can make a ton of dishes with it, but today, lets make a juice.
Place your ukwaju in a container and fill it with some water until just covered. Let it soak for 15 minutes or upto overnight. I chose to have mine soak overnight because that make the separation process seamless, but 15 min to an hour will work.
I bought my ukwaju from Ngara FigTree market. A pack used to cost 50bob but nowadays it is 100 bob, which is still relatively cheap. You can get some at Bus Station too and City Market. Zucchini sells some once in a while too.
Once done, separate the pulp from the seeds and fibres by wiggling and squeezing it off with your hands. Add water bit by bit to facilitate this. I added 750 ml at this point then topped up the other 750 ml later on during the simmering.
The fibers and the seeds shall be discarded. Do not get too caught up on making the extraction too perfect. We will sieve this later on, so if tiny fibers and tiny shell pieces remain, that is fine because we will sieve this abit later down the process.
Once done, place this in your sufuria, then bring to a low simmer for about 15-20 minutes together with more water your ginger, sugar and clove. I used brown sugar for this however normal sugar will work just fine. I do not like excessively sweet things so 4 tablespoons was enough for me. However, you are free to adjust yours upwards until you get to your level of preference.
Ginger is superb for this as it adds a nice warm kick and goes so well with the karafuu (clove). Some people prefer to use green cardamom in place of clove, but I like clove better plus it pairs really well with ginger. A packet of clove costs 70 bob and besides this juice, you can look up other recipes you can use clove in via my blog search tab.
Why do we boil this first yet we are making a juice? As I pointed out in the video, we do that because we need the flavors to come together. The simmer facilitates the melding of flavors but the juice will not be drunk hot.
After about 15 minutes, sieve this mixture then place it in your fridge allow to completely cool before serving. Once ready, pour a tall glass and enjoy.
Ukwaju juice is a powerhouse of vitamins, antioxidants, anti-cancer properties, anti inflamatory, promotes weight loss and blood pressure and purifies blood. This beauty is great for your body and also so delicious and beautifully refreshing!
Do not sleep on it!
I made a glass for you! Come grab it and join me as we watch the comlimentary YouTube video to this blog post!
Have a bomb Wednesday guys!
Get your downloadable recipe here :))
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Hey there! My name is Kaluhi and I love food! Through my blog, I am happy to share with you my self-taught recipes, steeped in nostalgia and the happiest of memories. I hope each recipe you try out is as addictive as the previous one and is shared on a table full of love and hearty laughs!
My favourite juice, i add freshly squeezed lime!
It really is a top juice! Among my favorites too!
Hi I have lots of them will you want them
I sell them at affordable price
No, thank you!
Thanks for the insights on Ukwaju juice is my thing too .I prefer more with honey on the ingredients bit ..plus cardamoms…. For those with cholesterol challenges , weight loss this is your friend. Cheaper easily sourced .We are now on pre lockdown.why can we use the precious time to enjoy this amazing recipes at home and fight that stubborn belly! Keep fit… rejuvenate your liver and improve your health.
One thing I can miss for me and most of my clients is Ukwaju,Baobab Powder,fresh ginger,fresh tumeric,garlic,mint.and carrots. Ukwaju has lots of fibre and cheche Organics wish to applaud Kaluhis kitchen for the effort. we help guyz do safe food sourcing and educate vendors on food handing and also give advice to consumers..food.is fuel…lets pay more attention especially on source…
Thanks
Ezzy
@akwanah
enjoy!
I’ll add some next time
So, I’ve learned that tamarind is called “Ukwaju” today! I love using fresh tamarind in my recipes.
It really lightens up everything! I love it in my fish, chicken, uji (porridge). It is such a gorgeous versatile ingredient!
I love tamarind juice (or, as you say it, ukwaju, which is just way cooler to say ahahaha). My dad makes a killer one, but we never had it with ginger and cloves!! I’m sending him this recipe so he can make me some next time I’m home!!!
Everything really does sound better in Kiswahili lol!!
Happy to know we both enjoy some delish ukwaju juice!
This looks as if it is very soothing. I cannot wait to try.
You will love it!
This looks good and extremely nutritious! I need to drink more juices.
This sounds delicious! I’ve never tried ukwaju, but now I want to!
Cant wait for you to try this one out!
Cheche Organics we recommend for.those who want to shed weight and maintain good health.. Ukwaju is rich in potassium so makes.it perfect for those with diabetic ,high blood pressure too
It’s rich in fiber too ensuring your guy health is sorted.
One.thing I cant miss …. ukwaju with honey plus cardamoms…this is.a.blood thinner …Men pay attention this is Bae!!!
It is nutritious and very healthy too!
This is very helpful.. I was looking up for using honey coz I don’t take sugar… Will definitely try this out with ginger and cloves.
Tamarind is such an underrated fruit! I love the sweet/tartness it gives this juice. I’m going to try to find some next time I’m at the store so that I can make this juice!
So so underrated! I hope more people hop onto it’s goodness!
Tamarind juice is so refreshing and delicious. This is such a great recipe and I love the step-by-step photos! Thanks for sharing!
Truly one of the best juices ever!!
I learned something new today!! I would love to taste this juice!!!
Awesome!
Tamarind is my fave!! I love homemade juices too. Can’t wait to try!
Homemade juices are the bestest!!
Thanks for putting me up on ukwaju!!!! This juice is so healthy and sounds refreshing!
It really is! Hope you give this a shot!
I love tamarind juice and, thanks to you, can now make my own!
You will love it!!
I can only imagine how fruity and flavorful this Ukwaju juice is!!! Can’t wait to try it!
It is one of my favorite juices of all time!! I love it so much!
Great stuff from a creative food lover. I am a complete amateur here but you can see when one has creativity that balances Indian, African, European and Caribbean ideas with such ease! Keep it up and you must do a Maragoli food festival one day.
Glad you enjoy
Beautiful.. not only do you make amazing food and drinks, you enjoooy everything as you explain and direct on where to get what.. Perfect! God bless the works of your hands
Asante sana and god bless you too!!
I have been soaking the ukwaju overnight and take it with lime but now you have given me more ingredients to add .Thanks Kaluhi
Enjoy my love!
Thanks for the recipe.
makosa ulifanya after testing the sugar the remaining mixture in the spoon you returned in the sufuria.
Lol ok. thank god the juice i made was for me so sitakufa. And 2 years later here i am still alive.
xx
Good stuff, super helpful. Can’t wait to taste mine!
Hope you loved it!
Can this ukwaju heal stomach ulcers?
no. kindly go to a doctor for real treatment as sometimes, home remedies cause more harm than good