A mineral-rich drink made from ‘maredugaddalu’ root, which, for millennia, has been used by the Chenchus of the Nallamala forests to beat the summer heat has now been launched in a sherbet form by the Girijan Cooperative Corporation.
The health drink — Nannari Sherbet — is a body coolant in summer and prevents dehydration.
It is rich in potassium and sodium and has a number of therapeutic properties. It purifies blood, helps in bowel movement, improves digestion, and prevents formation of stones, apart from curing urinary tract infections.
‘Maredugadda’ is a root of a plant that is commonly available in the Nallamala and Seshachala forest ranges. The Chenchus in Nallamala and Yanadis of Seshachala forests had been collecting these roots and using it for their traditional summer drinks, Tribal Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu said after launching the product at a function here on Friday.
The city-headquartered Girijan Cooperative Corporation, which procures the root from the tribal people, has taken up marketing of the sherbet as a value-added product. It is presently being processed at its new unit in Chittoor. The corporation procures 200 quintals from the tribal people and sells it in bulk. From next year, it plans to use the entire procurement to make the sherbet and market it. The sherbet comes in a 750 ml bottle that can be mixed with four litres of water to serve. There is no need to add sugar to the drink.
The Chenchus of Nallamala and Yanadis of Seshachala forests have been collecting the root and using it for their traditional summer drink
R. Kishore Babu
Minister
Girijan Cooperative Corporation launches ‘Nannari Sherbet’, a tribal preparation from ‘maredugadda’ root, which is a body coolant and has therapeutic uses too
