With onset of winter, it is time to welcome all the warming foods the season has to offer. 
Sugarcane and its by products like gur(Jaggery) definitely tops the list.

Sugarcane juice centers would open up all over the city starting from October till February. Excited to taste the refreshing glass of freshly squeezed sugar cane juice with a twist of lemon and ginger, all of us in the family would head there. It is a ritual of sorts during winter months. Anytime someone would ask, where shall we meet? The obvious answer for the season was, ‘At sugarcane center in your area’.

The naturally green colored sugarcane juice is not just sweet and relishing, but also extremely nourishing. If you have been suffering from digestive distress, you should consider including sugarcane juice in your diet for a healthier life.
It is a good way to neutralize acidity in the stomach as it is alkaline in nature. Potassium present in sugarcane juice helps balance the pH levels of the stomach and facilitates the secretion of digestive juices

The yummy sugarcane juice is regarded as one of the best treatments for liver-related sicknesses like jaundice. Jaundice occurs due to poor functioning of the liver as well as clogged bile ducts. Sugarcane maintains the glucose levels in the body and ensures speedy recovery. Also, being alkaline in nature, sugarcane juice helps maintain electrolyte balance in the body, and thus stops the liver from going into overdrive.

If you are experiencing dehydration, sugarcane juice is one the best sources of instant energy. It is capable of lifting up our spirits and mood within no time leaving us all refreshed and charged.

Are you worried about the untimely wrinkles that are making you look much older than your age? No worries! You can delay the signs of ageing by consuming sugarcane juice regularly. The presence of antioxidants, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds makes sugarcane juice a good option to achieve glowing, soft, and moisturized skin. The presence of flavonoids in sugarcane inhibits the multiplication of cancerous cells in the mammary glands, thus reducing risks of breast cancer

Sugarcane juice minimizes ovulating problems in women, thereby increasing chances of conception. 

Sugarcane contains a host of minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus, which help build your teeth enamel. Calcium in it makes it one of the best ingredients that contribute to a child’s growth. 

While travelling from my city to my nani’s place, sweet-smelling mist from boiling sugarcane juice engulfs the area where gur(jaggery-gaud) is made. The fudgy gur has lingering complexity of taste. Not only we savored it with rotis but it was used to make traditional sweets, redolent of its characteristic rich brown hue and heady aroma like sukhadi(gur papdi), shiro, churma ladoo, chikki, til ladoo…My favourite memory is, all the kids gorging on these snacks in winters while flying kite on terrace in chilly wind to keep our body warm. This winter you should experience this combo - fun, food & fight (specially when you hear ‘kaipo che’, on the makar sankranti day)

The process of gur making is visually captivating. Layers of gold and white foam on top of an undercurrent of juice create interesting swirls and patterns that move with the stirring done with long spatula and exhibit a sense of art in life. Raw sugarcane juice is heated to 200° C and simmered in pans to evaporate excess water, after which it is clarified using specific natural vegetable extracts or a pinch, sodium bicarbonate. It is then cooled by decanting from one pan to another till it hardens and is set in moulds. 

Jaggery is a healthier alternative to white sugar because of a superior nutritional profile. It is an excellent digestive, is known for being a rich source of iron and vitamin C and also helps improve blood circulation. It flavours tea, sweetens the meals and is given pride of place on our tables in the winters with its partner ghee! 

We should start a seasonal gur fest, just like the National Panela Pageant in Colombia. A sugarcane fest at home can be the first healthier step and then go big at community, city and country level!