Hyderabad: The return of the dark pink and rose flavoured drink Rooh Afza — which has had a distinctive link with the Holy Month of Ramzan for over a Century — has come as a massive sigh of relief to all the Muslims on fast not just in Telangana state but also all across the country.
Hamdard (Wakf) Laboratories’ Rooh Afza sherbet, which had been off the market for almost five months is finally available for purchase at Hamdard stockists, medical shops and hypermarkets.
Although manufacturers cited the lack of availability of certain key ingredients to having caused the shortage in supply, rumours are rife that a rift within the promoter’s family was responsible for the halt in its production and that the issue had been resolved only recently.
The Hamdard Dawak-hana was established by Hakeem Hafiz Abdul Majeed and Ansarullah Tabani in Delhi in 1906.
The company then went on to introduce Rooh Afza as a medicinal drink to effectively combat the hot summers of the subcontinent.
The herbal concentrate comprises ingredients such as purslane, chicory, vetiver, a variety of fruits and vegetables and rose of course, which overrides all the other ingredients with its flavour.
The aforestated ingredients are believed to have cooling properties.
Soon after its launch, Rooh Afza gained mass popularity over an astoundingly short span of time. Its demand has been observed to rise during the month of Ramzan, owing to its cooling effect as well as high sugar content, which provides the much-needed energy boost after a long day of fasting.
Mr Venu Gopal Kasat of RK Stores, Nampally, said, “Although its supply had been put on hold for about four months, Rooh Afza is finally available once again. The squash is being used in locally-prepared drinks as well.”
Nampally’s Mr Syed Shahid explained that Iftaar was unimaginable without Rooh Afza.
