Faluda

Faluda with kulfi, rose syrup, tapioca pearls and basil seeds
Course	Beverage
Place of origin	India
Main ingredients	Milk, rose syrup, vermicelli, psyllium
Media: Faluda

Falooda (Hindi: फ़ालूदा) (also Faluda), is a cold beverage popular in Indian subcontinent. Traditionally it is made from mixing rose syrup, vermicelli, psyllium (ispaghol) or basil (sabza/takmaria) seeds, tapioca pearls and pieces of gelatin with milk or water.^[1]

History

Falooda is a version of Persian dessert known as faloodeh and is believed to have brought to India during the Mughal period. Vermicelli used for preparing faloodeh is made from arrowroot whereas vermicelli used in the Indian version is usually made from wheat.^[2]

The ice was gathered during the winter or carried from the mountain tops and stored in large insulated underground chambers topped by dome structures. This allowed ice to remain available throughout the summer, even in the desert. The best use was made to prepare desserts like faluda. Later on, as techniques improved, rose water and sugar were added with the vermicelli. Today there are many versions of faluda. Some are made without noodles and blended with fruit. One of the Indian versions consists of kulfi, translucent wheat-starch noodles and flavoured syrup. Some faludas are served as milkshakes.

Metaphorical references

In idiomatic Hindustani, faluda is sometimes used as a reference to something that has been shredded, which is an allusion to the vermicelli noodles. For example, someone who falls into disrepute might say that his or her izzat (honour) has been turned to falooda (इज़्ज़त का फ़ालूदा, عزت کا فالودہ, izzat ka falooda), which is roughly equivalent to saying "my reputation is shot."^[3]

Variants

• 

  In Pakistan and North India, Falooda is often served as an ice cream sundae float. It is prepared with Psyllium seeds, boiled vermicelli, rose water and milk. It is mainly consumed after dinner.
• In Bangladesh, a common variant of Falooda in the south coast of the country is made with Ketaki (pandan) extract, pistachios, Shagu pearls, creamed coconut and mango as well as milk, vermicelli and may even include strong black tea to make quite a distinct flavour.
• Faluda is very similar to the Thai drink nam manglak, which is made from different ingredients, such as shredded jelly, tapioca pearls, Job's Tears mixed with sugar, water, and rose water.
• The Iraqi Kurds also have their own version; but made with thicker vermicelli. A similar modern East Asian drink is bubble tea.
• A famous type of Falooda, called "Andrea", involves mixing various rose syrups with creamy milk and premature tapioca pearls.
• Rabri faluda^[4]
• The Mauritian version is called alouda, which is a corruption of the word falooda, and the beverage is almost identical in ingredients and flavour.
• South Africa also has a variant known by the same name,^[5] and is often served as a milkshake to be consumed with or after a meal.