Also known as kewda or kevda water, kewra water is extracted from pandanus flowers. In other words, it is aromatic water with floral fragrance obtained from distilled pandanus flowers. It is often confused with rose water since both have a pleasant odor.
However, kewra water and rose water are two different substances. They are entirely transparent in color and have a unique feel, which adds to any recipe they are a part of. All the reasons why kewra water is widely used would make a long and detailed list.
For starters, it offers plenty of health benefits. It contains ingredients with anti-inflammatory properties, which when diluted, are pretty effective for treating acne, dry skin, peeling in psoriasis, eczema, and a few other skin problems. It also regulates your body’s temperature by producing sweat.
Kewra water is also beneficial for the heart as it helps regulate the heartbeat. It has a natural purifying property; thus, it can be an excellent cleanser. It’s a staple for many perfumes, soaps, and other cosmetic products.
To top it all off, it has also shown excellent results for people struggling with their mental health. Experts suggest that its sweet aroma has a calming effect on the mind, and it effectively aids mental relaxation.
Kewra water finds many uses in cooking and even some outside of cooking, depending on where you are dwelling. Without an iota of doubt, kewra water is the best of both worlds.
However, one little snag that may offend you is that it’s not readily available in every part of the world. Not everyone can get their hands on it when they need it for a recipe.
So, what’s the option if you don’t find it in your nearby stores? Well, there’s only one thing left to do, i.e., search for suitable alternatives which can be added to your recipe instead. Of all the kewra water substitutes in the market, the most suitable ones are listed below.
Kewra Water Substitutes
You can easily find plenty of kewra water substitutes in the market. Here are a few.
1. Kewra Extract
The first thing we will mention on this list is one of the most obvious replacements for kewra water in a recipe. This refers to kewra extract, which is much like kewra water.
It is very similar in taste since it comes from the same kind of flowers (pandanus flowers). One glaring difference between the two is that the extract is a lot more concentrated than kewra water.
That’s because the higher amount of concentration means that one tablespoon of the extract will be a lot stronger in terms of taste and texture as opposed to that of one tablespoon of the kewra water.
Consider only using a couple of drops of the extract as an alternative for each tsp of kewra water needed in the recipe, or else you may end up ruining your favorite dish.
Kewra extract might be just as rare as its water counterpart, meaning that this might not be such a great option depending on where you live. It’s easily one of the best if you can get your hands on it, though.
Like kewra water, the kewra extract is also quite sought-after, thanks to the incredible benefits it offers. For the sake of brevity, let’s only discuss some of its benefits for the skin.
Kewra extract contains cooling properties that calm sensitive skin. It effectively reduces skin redness and swelling while restoring a great skin texture.
It is also widely used as a toner as it revives your dull skiing and gives it a youthful appearance. It’s also recommended to apply it to your face after washing it as it sweeps away the leftover dust particles.
Kewra extract could be used in several dishes. It is equally popular in Asian cuisine and is often used in South Asian dishes, such as Biryani, Qorma, and many others. Sweets are also soaked in the kewra extract to enhance their flavor.
Make sure to store the kewra extract in a cool and dry place. If kept in an intact bottle, it would be fit to use for one year, more or less. However, ensure that you have closed the bottle’s cap properly before storing it.
2. Pandan Essence
Pandan essence, otherwise referred to as pandan extract by many, is another good option to try out if you can’t find kewra water in your nearby grocery stores. There are no restrictions on how many recipes it can be used, making things even better for those looking to choose this as a substitute.
Pandan essence is usually available in two different types, and both are applicable as alternatives in a way. One of them is mixed with chemicals to create artificial but highly identical flavoring, while the other is just natural pandan extract.
These should be available online and can be found easily in local stores, depending on where users live.
If you are a DIY enthusiast and love doing things on your own, the good news for you is that you can also prepare pandan essence at your home.
To make pandan essence at home, get pandan leaves and wash them thoroughly before starting the procedure. Mature leaves work best for this purpose. They have a bit darker appearance as compared to the young leaves.
Once you have washed the leaves, cut them using a scissor. This is because the pandan leaves happen to be quite fibrous, and experts recommend cutting them before blending.
Now get a blender and half-fill it with water. Put those leaves into the blender and turn it on. Once blended, use a strainer to squeeze the extract out of the crushed pandan leaves.
Now put the extract in a jar and leave it in a fridge overnight. The chlorophyll and water would be segregated by the next morning, and you’d be able to see it at the bottom. You can discard the diluted upper layer, and the rest of the extract is fit to be used now.
3. Rose Water
Rose water is almost exactly what the name of this ingredient sounds like. It is very similar to kewra water for many reasons, including that it is also used for much more than just cooking. This water is clear and is perfect for cooking in some, much like kewra water.
The best part about this specific alternative is that it is easily found. Rose water is available for purchase in most local stores while also being found very easily online regardless of where one lives.
Since it is ubiquitous, you won’t have to go through any trouble to get it and use it as a substitute for kewra water in any recipe.
However, if you want to prepare it at your home, that is quite easy. For this purpose, get fresh organic roses and pull their petals.
Now take a bowl full of water and put the petals into it. Some people skip this step; however, be mindful that rinsing the petals is vital as it takes all the debris and dust particles away.
Once you have rinsed the petals, take them out and put them in another bowl. Now add just enough water that it covers the petals. Make sure that you don’t add too much water, or you may end up over diluting your rose water.
Leave it for some hours till the petals lose their color. This is when you take them out and put them anywhere else. That’s it! The water left is rose water! You can put it into a spray bottle or in a recipe.