Vetiveria Zizanioides, also known as khus-khus or khus grass is native to India. Khus is an ideal coolant to beat the summer heat. Owing to its effective cooling properties and fragrance, khus-khus is used to create a tonic bath, which is the reason why it is often used in quality soaps. It also combats lice as well.
The fragrant essential oil obtained from the plant root is quite famous throughout the world and is used in high-end perfumes, for its fixative properties. Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties provides relief from inflammations in the circulatory and nervous system, while the oil obtained from khus also has a sedative effect and aids in the treatment of emotional outbursts, such as anger, anxiety, epileptic and hysteric attacks, restlessness, nervousness etc.
Known for increasing the energy levels and fortified with various minerals like manganese, zinc, copper, magnesium and iodine, it is a boon for individuals suffering from rheumatism, arthritis, gout, muscular aches, dryness and cracking of skin etc. The oil obtained from khus-khus is known to be safe, non-toxic, non-irritant and non-sensitizing. The mats made from khus-khus plant are hung in the house to cool rooms during summers. Moreover, they even add a pleasant aroma in the house when sprinkled with water occasionally. The herb is tied in a muslin cloth and added to the earthern pots filled with water, to lend its distinctive flavour and aroma to it. Khus seeds (poppy seeds) are widely used to make khus sharbat/syrups which are largely consumed by people in summers.
Following is the recipe for Khus Sharbat:
INGREDIENTS
250 grams vetiver grass
1 liter water
1 kg sugar
METHOD TO MAKE KHUS SHARBAT
- Chop vetiver grass in small pieces with the help of scissor and soak in water for minimum 3-4 days
- After that add sugar to it and let it come to a boiling point
- Strain properly and let it cool at room temperature
- Store in a bottle and at the time of serving add one part of syrup with 2 parts of chilled water and one part of crushed ice. Mix well
- Serve chilled khus sherbet from ready khus syrup
