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10 Secret arrowroot powder benefits for skin

arrowroot powder

Arrowroot powder is one such ingredient that has never failed to amaze the person looking after the kitchen. It is a magical ingredient that you can use for cookies, gravy, halwa, and what not. Apart from discussing the health benefits of arrowroot powder, we have tried to compile a detailed article about arrowroot powder benefits for the skin.

Arrowroot or scientifically called Maranta arundinacea is a starch that is obtained from the rhizome or rootstock of a tropical plant. This starch is readily available in the form of powder and is highly nutritious for health, skin, and hair.

arrowroot powder

Here, we will be discussing arrowroot powder benefits for skin that not many of us are unaware of.

  • Make homemade deodorant

Many times your usual deodorant causes irritation to your skin and it’s always safe to adopt an organic hack with the help of arrowroot powder. Mix 1 tsp. of arrowroot powder with baking soda, along with few drops of coconut oil and other essential oils of your choice.

Use a little bit of this paste as a cream after the shower and apply on the areas like underarms, groin, and neck. This will prevent your body odor and it can be stored for a month.    

  • Natural baby talc

Arrowroot powder is purely a natural option to be used as talcum powder for babies. Mix 1 cup of arrowroot powder with 1 tsp. chamomile and the talc for your baby is ready. Use it regularly as talc for the dry, soft, and rash-free skin of your baby. It absorbs the moisture and keeps it safe from minor skin infections as well.

arrowroot powder benefits
  • Make your own compact

How many times have you hesitated to use compacts while you are out for an event or function? Now, just a few ingredients and you will have the safest compact to rescue you.

Mix 1 tsp of arrowroot powder with cocoa powder. Add a pinch of cinnamon to it, and this can be your instant compact. You can also add the powder of dried beetroot or hibiscus flower for a pink tone.  

Your compact kit can now be replaced with these naturally made shades.  

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  • No more oily skin

If you have always wanted a chemical-free hack to get rid of oily skin, then this is for you. Mix 1 tsp. of arrowroot powder and 1 tsp of tea tree oil/honey/apple cider vinegar/ aloe vera juice.

You can choose the ingredient that suits you the most. Apply it like a face mask and wash gently after it dries. This will clear the oil on your skin and exfoliate it naturally.

*Note: Examine your skin and select the other ingredient accordingly.*

  • Get rid of skin allergies

If you have sensitive skin, then mix arrowroot powder with lavender oil or aloe vera juice. Maintain thin but stable consistency of the paste so that it remains firm on your skin after application.

Wash it after 20 minutes and it will soothe your skin by fighting the bacteria that cause itching, rashes, and allergies. As mentioned in previous point, the removal of oil from skin will go hand-in-hand which in turn reduces allergy.  

arrowroot powder for skin
  • Toner for acne-prone skin

Skin toner never goes out of fashion and it is definitely one of the most irreplaceable cosmetic product. All you have to do is mix 1 tsp. of arrowroot powder with ½ tsp. apple cider vinegar, chamomile tea, aloe vera juice, or honey.

Apply it on acne-prone area like a topical solution. It will reduce the eruption and cure it when used regularly.

*Note: Acne-prone skin is vulnerable to infection, so prepare the solution with suitable ingredients.*  

  • No more blackheads or rough skin

We all wish to have a healthy skin with no scope of any unwanted growth or bump. In order to naturally achieve that, mix 2 tsp. of arrowroot powder with oatmeal powder, and 1 tbsp. yogurt with a pinch of turmeric.

Apply it all over the face and let it dry. Rinse it with water and move hands in a circular motion to scrub your face. It will improve the texture of your skin.  

  • All-in-one face mask

Now, that masks are permanent part of our lives, why don’t we come up with creative ones. Mix 1 tsp. yogurt, 5 black grapes juice, 1tsp. lemon, and 2 tsp. arrowroot powder. Apply it all over the face and rinse after 15 minutes with lukewarm water.

Oil, impurity, and bacteria will be absorbed by this mask. It also gives a fresh and bright look to your skin.

benefits of arrowroot powder
  • Heals chickenpox marks

The spots left by chickenpox are not only tough, but also risky to be treated. You have to be very careful about treating them, so here is a natural hack for the same. Mix the arrowroot powder with anti-bacterial ingredients like honey or neem oil or pure coconut oil to make a thick paste.

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Apply it over the affected area and wash it after it dries. You will experience the changes in the pox mark within a few days of application.

*Bonus Tip: You can use any of the above-mentioned face mask for healing burns, blemishes, and tanning on skin as well*

We hope you will love these benefits of arrowroot powder as they are extremely easy to try and requires only natural ingredients. Tell us which of these hacks from arrowroot powder you have tried or you are going to try. We would love to know more such hacks from you as well!

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The History of Kozhikodan Halwa

The Kozhikoddan Halwa is one of the most famous delicacies of Kerala. The striking feature is that they are made from Coconut Oil. Elsewhere in India, the Halwas are made using pure Ghee. This gives it a characteristic taste and makes it more healthy to eat. The other base ingredients of the Halwa include starch (flour), eggs, sugar (or jaggery) and nuts. It takes about an average of two hours to prepare a good batch of Halwa. This makes it last for many months without refrigeration.

It was said to be developed by Arab residents who landed in Kerala for the spice trade. They gifted this delicacy to Zamorin of Kozhikode, which then became an integral part of Kerala’s food history. The name Halwa comes from the Arab word called ‘Hulw‘ which means sweet. It was loved by the Britishers and the Portuguese who arrived at Kerala years later. You can find many shops with multiple stalls of coloured Halwa stacked in the famous ‘Mittaiteruvu’ (Sweet Street) of Kozhikode to this day.

If you ever get a chance to visit this street, make sure to try out the samples of the infinite varieties of Halwas that are on display. This street is also known as SM Street (Sweet Meat Street). The prices of the various varieties of Halwa ranges from Rs. 80 to Rs. 180. The Halwa has gained prominence and fans all over neighbouring states with tourist and pilgrims buying from these stalls and distributing to their friends, families and neighbours. And this means hundreds of kilograms of Halwa are being sold every day.

The Halwas from Kozhikode also stands out with the various varieties on offer. The shopkeepers have experimented with various ingredients and colours to make them a visual treat as it is to consume them. They even have exotic varieties such as passion fruit, tapioca and even chilli halwa. Next, we will explore some of the details of the Halwas available in the South Indian Store!

Some of the popular Kozhikodan Halwas are as follows:

Banana Halwa

Banana Halwa

It is prepared from selected ripe bananas which are slowly stirred over three hours in coconut oil and ghee.

An authentic sweet which is the speciality of North Malabar region is Banana Halwa. It is prepared from a specific variety of banana called Nendran. Finally mashed and intricately mixed with ghee and cardamom. It is cooked with utmost care and patience to bring out the traditional taste and increase the shelf life of Kozhikodan Banana Halwa.

It is loved not only in Kerala but also the coastal regions of Karnataka. The Malabar region is famous for the fruity Halwa with a taste like never before but banana halwa is the most unique and tasty of all.

Dates Halwa

Dates Halwa

This Halwa is one of the most loved ones from the Kozhikode Halwa inventory. This recipe is adopted by Muslims during their Iftaar parties during the Ramzan season. It is loved by everyone and the flavour is worth the money or time you spend on it!

The selected dates are carefully mashed and cooked in hot ghee until all the water content is evaporated. Jaggery is then added sufficiently to balance the quantities and to maintain the flavour alongside the sweetness. No extra preservative or artificial colour is added to Kozhikodan dates halwa.

Orange Halwa

orange halwa
Orange Halwa

This Halwa is an authentic Kerala sweet and is one of the most favourite versions of halwa you will ever come across. The flavour of cardamom takes the experience to another level. It is prepared with utmost dedication and you will love every bit of it. It is made from the purest forms of ghee and coconut oil.

Jaggery Halwa

black halwa
Jaggery Halwa

Black halwa is famous across the Indian subcontinent for its overwhelming flavour and sweetness. Be it a marriage ceremony or spiritual occasion, this black halwa is served everywhere. The traces of coconut and richness of coconut oil makes it worth giving a try. Earlier it used to be simple jelly-like halwa which was loaded with sugar. But, South India has seen improvised versions and recreations of this marvel with time.

Also Read: 5 Ingredients that make black halwa healthy and tasty

We have now covered most of the Halwas that are growing increasingly popular from South Indian Malabar side. If you would like to taste these wonderful delicacies sitting right at your home, make sure to check out the links, which would direct you to the product page where you can purchase them!

Read more: Sweet and Chocolates on the South Indian Store

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Why Are Millennials Demanding More from Coffee!

It is an undeniable fact that coffee has been the world’s most popular beverage for many decades. However, over the last fifteen years, there has been a sudden surge in the demand and consumption of coffee. Every year we see more and more coffee shops coming up and each of them seems to be doing well. Wondering why? Wondering who consumes all this coffee? Research carried out by various organizations states that the millennials are responsible for close to 50% of the coffee consumption in the United States alone. Based on a number of variables, studies have concluded that millennials are indeed demanding more from their cup of Joe! Let’s go over some of those reasons.

Millennials have a very different take on their breakfast, as compared to the previous demographic groups. Since they have more to-dos than they have time, sitting down with the family for breakfast on workdays and on school days, is all too time-consuming. Millennials seek the ease of portability. This is why the preference for options such as coffee that can be had on-the-go is on the rise. Many restaurant owners and cafe chains said that with the newly evolving trends, for the millennials, coffee is their breakfast.

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Having control over their choices is one of the typical characteristics of millennials. Baristas at coffee shops say that they see the same patrons (in most cases, the age group of millennials) multiple times on the same day. In the morning, the customer will want a regular coffee so that they are fresh for work. Around mid-morning, the same customer asks for espresso as they need a stronger caffeine kick to get on with their day. During the afternoon or early evening, they want something more relaxed like a latte or a cappuccino.

A millennial considers coffee more than just a product. They look at it as an experience which they connect to in such a way as if the coffee has more value than the beverage itself. In comparison to various demographic groups, millennials are more culinary conscious and informed about the ingredients they consume. Like any other food, they want their coffee to be sustainably produced and ethically sourced. They are keen to find out what is the origin of the beans i.e. if it is organic or if it has been acquired through fair trade etc. Millennials place great importance on experience and quality as well. In order to respond to these shifting trends, many coffee brands have ensured their packaging evolves to mirror the preference of the consumers.

The coffee culture offers everything a millennial seeks – experience, status, and personalization. Millennials are one of the most social demographic. They prefer to catch up with their friends and social circles at coffee shops. The better / high end the coffee shop, the more socially validated they feel about their lifestyle. If you think steep prices of coffee at expensive cafes can be a potential deterrent, you are mistaken. Millennials look at it as a subtle display of their social status.

In the age of social media, our lives revolve around those perfect captures to post on Instagram for more likes and followers. Baristas around the world are tirelessly creating new latte art and innovative presentation styles to satiate the validation seeking millennial. For the millennial who demands more from their coffee, so many cafes have introduced a variety to choose from. Cafes offer espresso, Americano, iced coffee, coffee slushies, bulletproof coffee, matcha lattes, etc. Since millennials are open to experimenting with their coffee, the trend that has caught on in recent times is to brew their coffee differently. It comes as no surprise that cold brews and nitrogen-infused coffee are gaining exponential popularity. Besides baristas, even mixologists have upped their game. They are keeping up with the popularity of coffee among millennials by creating caffeine-based alcoholic beverages.

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Yet another coffee that has been impressing the millennial coffee connoisseur is gourmet coffee. What is this gourmet coffee you ask? Well, allow us to break it down for you. Origin of the bean determines the non-gourmet or gourmet status of the coffee. In simple words, the coffee beans are classified into two main divisions. One is Robusta – this is more commonly available. The other is Arabica – this one isn’t grown as commonly as Robusta, making it rarer. Another defining feature of gourmet coffee is the depth of the taste. Beans that are pre-maturely harvested are likely to have a bitter taste. Coffee connoisseurs say that the taste of the coffee beans tends to be less bitter when they are hand-picked. Hand-picking the coffee beans make the process of harvesting more labor-intensive, which in turn adds to the price of the coffee. However, it is important to bear in mind that price does not give gourmet status to the coffee.

A new segment has been added to the gourmet coffee category by the NCA (National Coffee Association). This segment is called non-espresso based beverages. This naturally means the millennial who wants more from their coffee can look forward to more experimentation as mocha, cappuccinos, lattes, Café Au Lait and Americano will be left behind. Besides traditional hot brews, you can also expect the gourmet coffees to include cold brews, frozen blended as well as nitro coffee.

The millennials are a generation of woke people. They are aware of what coffee they are drinking. They know exactly what they want when they want it and how they want it. The ever so curious millennials have educated themselves about how their daily doses of caffeine mixes are made. Their taste is very refined. They are aware of the consequences of their intake and also conscious of their health. With more spending power than ever, millennials are willing to pay more for their coffee as long as it does not compromise on the quality and the experience they derive out of it.