| Mukhwas | |
| Country: | India and other South Asian countries |
| Main Ingredient: | seeds and nuts, essential oils (peppermint) |
Mukhwas is a colorful South Asian Ayurvedic[1] after-meal snack or digestive aid widely used as a breath freshener, especially after meals.[2] As per Agamas, Mukhwaas forms one of the components of sixteen upcharas (offerings) to a deity in a Puja, the Hindu mode of worship or prayer.[3] It can be made of various seeds and nuts, often fennel, anise, coconut, coriander, and sesame. They can be savory or sweet in flavor and are highly aromatic due to added sugar and the addition of various essential oils, including peppermint oil. They are coated in sugar and brightly colored.[4]
The word is an amalgamation of the Sanskrit words (mouth) and (to stay/to keep). Mukhwas forms an essential part of Hindu tradition of Shodash Shringar (sixteen embellishments); the Hindu poet Keshavdas mentions Mukhwas as one of the sixteen embellishments.[5] Mukhwas initially evolved as an ayurvedic remedy which was used for freshening the mouth after a meal. Apart from use as a breath freshener, it also serves as a postprandial digestive aid. Ancient Sanskrit literature and Medieval Hindu literature in Hindi, Rajasthani[6] and Gujarati contain frequent references to Mukhwas.