News : Health, Tourism
Ginger Sarbath-a special 'popular' cold drink is available only at Cherlai Junction at Mattancherry. Even If you go to Ernakulam city and anywhere in Kerala, you won't get such tasty Ginger Sarbath.
THREE SHOPS at Cherlai Junction in Mattancherry compete among themselves daily in the sale of one item. And, mind you, these shops are doing brisk business in this item for the last 12 years! What is that, you may wonder? The star here is Ginger Sarbath – a special ’popular’ cool drink – the unique speciality of Cherlai. Yes, it is a fact. Even If you go to Ernakulam city and anywhere in Kerala, you won’t get such tasty Ginger Sarbath.
Why is it so popular?
The USP of this sarbath – original flavour, good quality and low price (only Rs 5 for one glass) – makes the drink a popular among people even in this modern era of company-brand products. Besides, the Sarbath is good for digestion and gas- trouble. Though the ingredients (Ginger mix, Lemon, Salt and Soda) used in this shops are the same, the taste will be entirely different in each shop.
Ginger Competition…
The main competitors here are Naveen Chandra Shenoy and Pradeep Naik. Their shops are located on the left side of the road (if we go from T.D High School Road to Cherlai Junction). Suresh Kini’s shop placed on the other side of the road also offers Sabbath. While, the first two shops are entirely dedicated to cool drinks, the third has stationery items as well.
As a pioneer in Ginger Sarbath in this area, 65-year-old Shenoy explains the struggles he had faced during the early years. "At that time no cool drinks shops were here. I started my shop in 1982. Initially, the business was not satisfactory, but I didn’t give up. Later, when people realised the importance of Ginger Sarbath, my business and therefore my life clicked."
Difference between Ginger Sarbath and Ginger soda
"As it is a company product Ginger soda is artificial and it won’t have any effect on your body," says 56-year-old Suresh Kini, owner of KS Book stall. "Actually, I was selling books, newspapers and magazines in the beginning. When I found the profit was less, I thought of utilizing half of the shop’s space for cold drinks. It was a good move," he recollected.
Pradeep Naik joined the bandwagon in 1996 by converting his stationery shop. "Though there are company brand products in our shops, most people prefer our Ginger Sarbath as we won’t make any compromise on quality and cleanliness." 54-year-old Pradeep added that apart from Ginger they also make sugar and salt Sarbath. "
As a testimony to his words, 69-year-old Latheef Naha, a local says "We like to drink these people’s sarbath instead of taking branded cold drinks."
Often patients with stomach ailments also throng here have Ginger sarbath. "It’s really a medicine. After a gulp, we can feel the difference," says 78-year-old Gopala Bhatt, a diabetic.
Main aim- public satisfaction
In the rainy season, both Shenoy and Pradeep close their shops as there is no business. When asked how they earn during the rainy season, Pradeep said "We try to earn as much as we can in the months before and after that. But that doesn’t mean that we work hard for money, says Pradeep.
Rather than looking at the monetary benefits, these shops take it as service to the public with pleasure. "We aim at public satisfaction. Their support encourages us to continue," say Naveen, Pradeep and Suresh in one voice.
If you want relief from scorching heat, indigestion and gas- problems, take a Ginger Sarbath from Mattancherry …
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