In search of the ‘real’ chyawanprash

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Editor's note: If you, like me, were raised on a breakfast of milk and chyawanprash, you’d have noticed something odd about it: No two brands of the product are alike.  There are significant differences in texture (smooth or grainy), colour (jet black or matte brown), taste (a mix of sweet, sour, bitter, pungent and astringent) and aftertaste (which makes you smack your lips or wrinkle your nose). There are mango, chocolate and mixed-fruit flavours for those easily bored. There’s even a sugar-free variant.  Chyawanprash is among the highest-selling ayurvedic products. Across India—especially in the northern and central parts—it is widely used as a health supplement to combat stress, fatigue, seasonal flu and improve sexual performance. Its estimated Rs 700 crore market is crowded with hundreds of manufacturers. The Ayush ministry recommended it as an immunity booster within weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak in India. (Ayush is an acronym for ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy.) Its sales between April and June 2020 shot up by 283%.   Is chyawanprash all that it’s made out to be? Maybe, maybe not. There’s not …