The other day, my son came back from cricket practice — red-faced, exhausted and clearly drained. I knew what exactly what he needed. So I gave him no energy drinks or electrolyte powders but just a glass of chilled Bael Sharbat with soaked Gond Kateera.

As a nutritionist, I find myself playing this dual role, at home and at work. My family, my clients, everyone turns to me when heatwaves hit and bodies start rebelling. My spontaneous reply is always the same old-school remedy: Gond Kateera.

For me, it’s not just a trend. Gond Kateera has been our childhood go-to. It is like a cooling shield I equip my family with to beat the harsh, dry Gujarat summer.

Agreed, everyone is suddenly talking about Gond Kateera, but thankfully, unlike many internet fads, this one is not a passing phase. It’s amrit potion – a nature-gifted remedy that has stood the test of time.

Since time immemorial it has been used in Indian homes, especially by grandmothers, as an antidote against nosebleeds, heat strokes and extreme dryness. While it has long been a staple in Punjabi, Rajasthani, and South Indian households, in Gujarat, it somehow stayed under the radar. Unlike our usual summer go-tos like aam panna or chaas, Gond Kateera didn’t find the same prominence in our kitchens only until now.

Thankfully, with the internet bridging knowledge gaps, many of us in Gujarat are rediscovering the magic of this ingredient. It aligns beautifully with Ayurvedic wisdom & is classified as Sheetal in nature, Gond Kateera pacifies pitta and supports the body’s natural cooling mechanisms.

Benefits of Gond Kateera

✔️ Balances excess body heat (Pitta dosha)
✔️ Helps with nosebleeds, heat rashes, dehydration
✔️ Soothes acidity, constipation, and general summer fatigue
✔️ Rich in soluble fibre and polysaccharides
✔️ Acts as a mild laxative — gentle on the stomach

✔️ Supports regular bowel movement

✔️ Its gel-like texture helps retain moisture in the body, promotes skin hydration

✔️Traditionally used for joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory, cushioning properties

✔️ Neutral taste makes it easy to pair with many ingredients

✔️ Acts as a mild laxative — gentle on the stomach

 

Here are two of my favourite ways to consume it:

What I love the best about it is that it’s extremely easy to use and blends into anything because of its neutral flavour!

  1. Bael Sharbat

Soak 1 tsp Gond Kateera overnight until it blooms into a jelly-like texture. Separately, scoop and mash the pulp of ripe bael, strain it through a sieve and dilute with cold water. Add a natural sweetener like jaggery or mishri, a pinch of black salt along with roasted jeera powder. Finally, stir in the soaked Gond Kateera. Bael cools the gut and prevents heat strokes, while Gond Kateera hydrates, soothes internal inflammation, and prevents nosebleeds.

  1. Gond Kateera Paan Sharbat

Soak Gond Kateera overnight. In a glass of cold milk or water, mix 1 tbsp of soaked Gond Kateera, 1 tsp paan syrup or finely crushed paan leaves, 1 tsp gulkand, and a pinch of elaichi powder. Stir well to create a fragrant sharbat that works as a powerful coolant, especially for those dealing with heat rash, nosebleeds or acidity. Also, it is very hydrating and supports digestion.

In short, Gond Kateera acts as a natural coolant, gut soother and hydrator. Whether blended into a drink, dessert or breakfast bowl, it brings the kind of slow, steady nourishment that both ancient wisdom and modern science agree to.

While some trends are best scrolled past, this one’s worth soaking in & literally so. Gond Kateera isn’t new, but if you’ve opened a Pandora’s box of an ancient remedy that truly works.