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Tsestalulu (sea-buckthorn juice)
ཚེ་སྟ་ལུ་ལུ: tart orange sea-buckthorn berry juice, sweetened and served chilled in Leh
Sea buckthorn grows wild along the river beds of Ladakh, and in Leh the bright orange berries are pressed into tsestalulu, a sharp, tropical-tasting juice sold in summer cafés and made at home after the autumn harvest. It is drunk chilled, sweetened with sugar or honey and thinned with cold water. The berries are very sour and slightly oily, so the juice is always diluted. The common mistake is boiling the pulp, which dulls both the colour and the fresh taste; just blend and strain. Chef's tip: frozen sea-buckthorn berries or plain unsweetened purée from health shops work very well; strain twice through a fine sieve for a silky drink.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
For the juice
- 3 cups cold water
- 5 tbsp sugar
- 1 pinch black salt or salt (optional)
- 8 ice cubes (optional)
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Method
0/4 doneStep 1: Blend 9 oz sea-buckthorn berries, fresh or frozen (or 150 ml unsweetened purée) with 250 ml of the 3 cups cold water for 30 seconds until smooth and bright orange.
2 minStep 2: Press through a fine sieve with the back of a spoon, discarding the seeds and skins. Strain again for a smoother juice.
5 minStep 3: Stir in the rest of the 3 cups cold water and 5 tbsp sugar until dissolved. Taste: it should be tart but pleasant; add more sugar or water if needed, and 1 pinch black salt or salt if you like.
3 minStep 4: Chill and serve over 8 ice cubes the same day; stir before pouring, as the pulp settles.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 90 kcal
- Protein
- 1 g
- Carbs
- 20 g
- Fat
- 1 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tsestalulu (sea-buckthorn juice) take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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