Ananda Munakka or Rockets

Happiness @ One Rupee

It looked like an ordinary pack of gutka or paan masala. But "Ananda Munakka" was different. A Dutch tourist handed a packet to me with the words: "You have one of these in the morning and you are happy the whole day." She wanted to know what it contained. I told her that "ananda" meant "happiness".

The contents of the packet were listed in Hindi, which she could not read. Nor could I, for the lettering was too small. She got me a huge magnifying glass.

As I scanned the list of ingredients, I found the words "Shudh Bhang – 15%". Trust a Dutch woman to find it! I told her it contained 15 percent pure cannabis. She was overjoyed. I read out the other ingredients:

Munakka – 40% (crushed dates)
Mishri – 40% (natural sugar crystals)
Jeera – 1% (cumin seeds)
Dalchini – 1% (cinnamon)
Lavang – 1% (cloves)
Kali Mirch – 1% (black pepper)
Heeng – 1% (asafoetida)
And, of course:
Bhang (shudh) – 15%

When I first heard about this candy (thanks Fat Freddy) I wanted to try it out. But since I don't have the cash to go overseas and get the real thing I figured I'd try my hand at making it.

Munakka is usually translated as  'Sultanas or large raisins' so I'm using that in the recipe. You can still use the dates, it will be sweeter.

This is what I came up with;


Rockets

7 oz. Sultanas or large raisins   
7 oz. natural sugar crystals
2 1/2 oz. cannabis   
1 tsp.cumin seeds    
1 tsp. cinnamon       
1 tsp. cloves       
1 tsp. black pepper   
1 tsp. asafoetida  *     

Place cannabis in a 300 deg. F oven for 15 minutes. Let cool.

Add all ingredients to a food processor and pulse until blended.

Roll into 5 gram balls.

Mix it in milk and get Thandai (literally - coolness), the enhanced version of a popular Indian drink.

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* asafoetida

It has recently come to my attention that asafoetida should not be used by the following people;
Children, pregnant or breast-feeding women, people with bleeding disorders,
epileptics or those with a history of convulsions, those with stomach and intestinal (gastrointestinal, GI) problems, and people with high blood pressure (hypertension) or low blood pressure (hypotension).

As with any herbal preparation consult your physician before use.