flipHoney Lemon Water for Breaking a Fast
Honey Lemon Water for Breaking a Fast
Why this dish? Gandhi practiced long fasts, both spiritual and political. He classically broke them with diluted orange or citrus juice and a little honey, sweetness easily assimilated by a weakened body. This drink embodies his discipline of the body as well as his health.
A large glass of warm water with lemon juice and a spoonful of honey dissolved in it. Tangy, barely sweet, it is the gesture that gently reopens the stomach after a fast — and a morning tonic.
After many days without food, one does not leap upon a meal: that would offend the body. I broke my fasts with a little warm water into which one has squeezed a lemon and melted a spoonful of honey — nothing more, and drunk in small sips. Fasting purifies the soul, but one must return to the world with the same gentleness with which one left it.
- •Lime or lemon (nimbu) — one, squeezed (acidity, vitamin)
- •Honey — a spoonful (assimilable sugar)
- •Warm water — a large cup (gentle vehicle)
Honey Lemon Water for Breaking a Fast
A large glass of warm water with lemon juice and a spoonful of honey dissolved in it. Tangy, barely sweet, it is the gesture that gently reopens the stomach after a fast — and a morning tonic.
Why this dish? Gandhi practiced long fasts, both spiritual and political. He classically broke them with diluted orange or citrus juice and a little honey, sweetness easily assimilated by a weakened body. This drink embodies his discipline of the body as well as his health.
After many days without food, one does not leap upon a meal: that would offend the body. I broke my fasts with a little warm water into which one has squeezed a lemon and melted a spoonful of honey — nothing more, and drunk in small sips. Fasting purifies the soul, but one must return to the world with the same gentleness with which one left it.
Ingredients (period version)
- Lime or lemon (nimbu) — one, squeezed (acidity, vitamin)
- Honey — a spoonful (assimilable sugar)
- Warm water — a large cup (gentle vehicle)
Ingredients
- Lemon — 1 (juice) (acidity, vitamin)
- Honey — 1 tsp (assimilable sugar)
- Warm water (not boiling) — 250 ml (gentle vehicle)
Method
- Warm the water without boiling (body temperature).
- Squeeze the lemon into the water.
- Stir in the honey until fully dissolved.
- Drink slowly, in small sips; after a real fast, wait before eating any solid food.
How it was made : Without refrigeration, lemon and honey were precious pantry staples, always available. Unheated honey provided immediate sugar without assaulting an empty stomach, as Indian folk wisdom (and Ayurveda) had long recommended.
The contemporary twist : Add a fine ribbon of zest and serve warm in a clear glass: a "morning shot" opposite to sugary energy drinks.
Gandhi · Charactorium
