More than 1000 years old, this ‘divine’ drink helps people beat the heat in Orissa, has a nutrient rarely found in vegetarian food

It looks cloudy, tastes sour. But this is a drink for the ages in Orissa. It is offered to the deity Lord Jagannath, and is a quintessential summer drink that keep people of Orissa beat the sweltering heat in summer. Known as Tonka Torani, this beloved drink is prepared from anna (cooked rice) offered as mahaparasada to Lord Jagannath.

Torani is the mildly acidic liquid obtained after boiled rice is immersed in water and left to rest overnight.

During this period, naturally occurring, non-harmful microorganisms gradually ferment the starchy water, giving it a pleasantly tart taste and a slight effervescence by the following morning.


To prepare Tanka Torani, this fermented rice water is blended with curd, salt, chopped green chillies, roasted cumin powder, and fresh curry leaves. The refreshing mixture is traditionally chilled and served in clay vessels, enhancing both its flavour and cooling properties.

Taking to X, a user named Sann explained that Torani is deeply connected to the pakhala culinary heritage of Odisha, a centuries-old food tradition. Historical accounts suggest that pakhala and its associated preparations may have been included among the sacred offerings presented at the revered Jagannath Temple from as early as the tenth century, reflecting the drink’s longstanding cultural and religious significance.

Apart from tasting delicious, this drink also has several health benefits.

Nutritional Powerhouse

Since the drink is made from fermented water, it can improve the level of B vitamins in our system. It is also rich in vitamin B12, a nutrient rare in plant based food. This nutrient is key in preventing anaemia, promoting brain health. The drink helps our body absorb important minerals such as calcium and magnesium more readily. The process also improves the availability of iron, thereby increasing its nutritional value. In addition, fermented rice water is rich in amino acids, which play a vital role in tissue repair, muscle recovery, and overall physical development.

Improves Gut Health

Several studies have found that torani is rich in gut friendly bacteria that improves metabolism and cleans the gut.

Recipe:

Slurrp.com provided the recipe of this timeless drink

Ingredients

½ cup cooked raw rice
2 cups buttermilk
Rock salt, as required
½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder
Grated or finely chopped mango ginger (or regular ginger)
A few Gondhoraj lemon leaves
Fresh coriander leaves, finely chopped
Green chillies, chopped or slit
Juice and slices of Gondhoraj lemon
½ teaspoon mustard seeds
A few curry leaves

Preparation Method

• Take the cooked rice and mash it thoroughly. Leave it covered overnight so that it ferments naturally.
• The following day, transfer the fermented rice to a blender. Add chopped coriander leaves, Gondhoraj lemon leaves, green chillies, roasted cumin powder, grated ginger, and rock salt.
• Blend the mixture until it forms a smooth, thick puree.
• Pour the puree into a large bowl. Add the buttermilk along with Gondhoraj lemon juice, lemon slices, and a few additional lemon leaves. Stir well to combine all the flavours.
• Heat a small amount of oil in a pan and prepare a tempering with mustard seeds and curry leaves. Once the seeds begin to crackle, remove from the heat.
• Add this aromatic tempering to the rice-and-buttermilk mixture and mix thoroughly.
• Serve chilled for a refreshing and tangy drink. Traditionally, Tanka Torani is enjoyed in an earthen pot, which helps keep it cool and enhances its rustic flavour.