Chyawanprash- The Vitamin C Rich Immunity Builder I Swear By

When you were growing up we’re sure you must have had Chyawanprash. This was something all Indian parents swore by and most kids fought to avoid taking. As a parent now, what do you think about Chyawanprash and its benefits? Should you be giving it to your child to boost their immunity? Swipe left to know more!

My earliest memories of Chyawanprash are that of staring at a spoon of this gooey brown paste, that my sister and I were forced to have every day; my father would be standing on the side somewhere telling us how he grew up eating it too and extolling the benefits of this superfood.

Frankly, I really disliked the thick odd-smelling immunity booster that we downed every day. I know my mum was trying to protect her children from various diseases and make them strong but we never took it without a fight. I know a lot of you know exactly what I’m talking about!!

What is Chyawanprash?

It’s a herbal tonic widely consumed in India and is known for its healthy and natural ingredients. It is made by using an age-old Ayurvedic formula and comprises of herbs which are said to possess powerful immune-boosting capabilities. When we were growing up there was only one brand in the market – Dabur Chywanprash but now there are a number of other brands of Chyawanprash available – each one with its own unique advantages – but there are a few core ingredients that are common in all variants.

Traditionally, Chywanaprash is made with Indian Gooseberry(amla) which is the main ingredient and it’s cooked with sugar, honey, ghee, sesame oil, herbs and various spices to form a sticky mixture. Amla is super rich in Vitamin C and is a powerhouse of antioxidants. The addition of the herbs and spices to the Chyawwanprash, each play an important role in safeguarding your child from a number of illnesses.

Why You Should Give Your Child Chyawanprash

Boosts immunity to help protect them from cold, cough and other infections
Helps keep the digestive system healthy and clean
Gives them a boost of energy

The Right Age To Start Your Child On Chyawanprash

All the Chyawanprash brands in the market suggest that your child should be at least 3 years old to start on it. Their digestives systems are quite delicate so if you do give it to them before that, they may not be able to digest it properly.

Brands In the Market

When we were growing up there was only one brand that we all knew of – Dabur Chyawanprash. They had one sweet-sour flavoured Chywanprash. Recently, Dabur launched Chyawanprash Junior and has two flavours – Mango and Mixed Fruit. Maybe if we had a choice of flavours we wouldn’t have given our mum such grief.

There are also other popular brands in the market like Himalaya Chyavanprash, Patanjali Chawanprash, Organic India Chyawanprash, Himani Sona Chandi Chyawanprash and Baidyanath Chyawanprash. So you now have a choice.