LEH BERRY PIYO, 100 SAAL JIYO??. Review on Leh Berry Juice

Just a few days back on my mundane monthly visit to the neighbourhood departmental store, while cantering through the corridors of customary provisions and canned juices with a creaking cart in tow, my eyes fell on a neatly arranged row of colourful tetrapacks by the name of Leh Berry. Leh Berry? Halle Berry I had heard of, seen and savoured (I mean on screen only), but this new kind of berry juice was unknown to me. Looking for a 2 litre bottle of Frooti (which is universally liked by everyone in the family) , I was about to give Ms Berry a miss when I caught a glimpse of the tag…Rs. 75 for 1 litre pack – ek par ek free! (one pack free with each pack purchased). With my tongue perpetually hanging out for such tempting offers, this seemed irresistible. So, sudipto33’s greedy soul did a little chuk de phatte kind of bhangra and four tetra packs of the nectar promptly found themselves tossed into the cart. Ten steps down the corridor, I paused to contemplate the consequences of my apparently colossal indiscretion….I would be reprimanded for wasting 150 bucks….admonished in the severest words for forsaking a delightful drink such as Frooti for an unknown berry or sherry whatever…..and, in veiled references, accused of being prone to be taken in by a temptress in seductive garb, showing thereby the true nature of my wavering character……bah! Okay…jo hoga dekha jayega! Jo biwi se dar gaya….samjho mar gaya!(Thanks Gabbar….you have given us an inspiring dialogue to bank upon in such situations!). Needless to say, upon returning home, I promptly hid the packs in the lowermost shelves of the refrigerator, behind the cabbages and the tomatoes. There wasn’t much time before my felony would be discovered….I had to make my case watertight. And the internet was the only saviour in sight!

Leh Berry Sea buckthorn Nectar is a reservoir of energy, each 100 ml of Sea buckthorn juice contains 55 Kcal of Energy, 14.3 gm of Carbohydrates, and 1 gm of proteins. This nutritious drink has been shown to have a potent antioxidant activity, mainly attributed to its flavinoids and vitamin C content The range of Leh Berry Nectars comes in eight flavors - Pineapple Apple, Apple Peach, Mixed fruit, Sea buckthorn, Orange, Blackcurrant, Mango and Guava. All the flavours are based on Sea buckthorn which is enriched with the goodness of 100 natural nutrients including 8 vitamins, 24 minerals and 18 amino acids.

The Sea buckthorn fruit is a reservoir of good health – a general tonic and energizer that keeps the entire body metabolism in good order and fights common cold. This fruit nectar is the best for all age groups as it contains zero cholesterol. It is perhaps the only fruit juice that claims to be anti-ageing, with additional useful properties such as enhancing body endurance and improving memory. It improves body immunity especially against diseases like cancer and reduces the risk of coronary heart disease on account of the presence of many bio-active agents like carotenoids and anti oxidants in it. Sea buckthorn juice strengthens memory, helps in proper functioning of the liver, is good for the nervous system, lowers the level of cholesterol, controls blood pressure, improves micro-circulation of blood capillaries and nourishes skin and hair. Fruits of Sea buckthorn are a rich source of vitamins – Vitamin C (300-1600mg/100g); Vitamin E (162-255mg/100g); Vitamin A (11mg/100g); Vitamin B1 (0.04 mg/100g); Vitamin B2 (0.56 mg/100g); Vitamin E (203 mg/100g), beta-carotenoid (249mg/100g) and Vitamin K. It also contains lysine and microelements such as iron, cobalt, selenium, molybdenum, etc. Oil content in Sea buckthorn seeds varies from 10-20% while the fruit pulp contains 2-4%. Oil of Seabuckthorn contains several bioactive substances like omega 3 and 6 in a unique 1:1 ratio, lutein and zeaxanthin. (Source – Internet)

Yeah…..Round 1 to Ms Berry. Perfect. I mean with such credentials, no way can anyone pass an adverse judgement. But I still had a tussle on my hands! So, back to the net…..

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), Field Research Laboratory (FRL), Leh undertook serious research studies on Sea buckthorn to harness its vast potential. The aim of the research was to find Sea buckthorn preparations for improving physical and mental performance under hypoxic(low oxygen) environment, prevention and treatment of cold injuries, and as an immunity improving agent. The research led to the development of an herbal beverage whose trials were successfully concluded in high altitude areas including Siachin under varying environmental conditions. These trials revealed that the fruit extract did not freeze even at temperatures as low as minus 15 degrees Celsius and had extremely beneficial effect on its users. (Source – Internet)

Oh my God! Its DRDO again! All DRDO baiters on MS are sure to label this drink as appalling and yucky! But…it seems Sea buckthorn really is a Miracle Fruit!!

Legend has it that ancient Greeks used sea buckthorn as a diet for race horses. After having discovered that gravely wounded and deserted war horses not only survived miraculously after wandering in Sea buckthorn jungles, they even became stronger with glittering fur. Hence the fruit has the botanical nameHippophae rhamnoides or shiny horse. Genghis Khan, the Mongol emperor discovered Sea buckthorn to be an invigorating supplement and ordered his armies to eat it to improve stamina. Recently, the Russians cosmonauts used a cream made from Sea buckthorn on the spaceship Mir to protect themselves from cosmic radiation. (Source – Internet)

Wifey was not back yet. I could no longer suppress the irresistible urge to take a swig of Leh Berry. Out came a pack from its camouflage. Hmmm….. Sea buckthorn with pineapple apple flavour. No preservatives added – told the label. Quite convenient packaging. A sip….and a glug. Tastes really good. It’s the pineapple actually giving the flavour. Very refreshing. No strange aftertaste (unlike Real). Great. The glass was emptied in no time.

Harvesting is difficult due to the densely thorny nature of the shrubs..…the branches are cut, deep frozen to -32°C….slightly defrosted ….the worker then crushes the berries….this causes the berries to melt slightly from the surface as the work takes place at ambient temperature ………there is a sea of info on Sea buckthorn on the net!

The doorbell rings, breaking my reverie. Wifey is back. “Did you bring Frooti for Guddi?”

“No”. I was armed to the teeth now with info on Leh Berry, and ready to defend my choice.

“No?” Wifey seemed unusually calm. She had failed to smell the defiance in my voice. “Doesn’t matter. This time we will try out something new…..heard of Leh Berry? I bought these from the store…I've heard that it is very nutritious and increases longivity... ”.

So, Guddi, her parents and her Dada-Dadi are happily bobbling up and down in sea of Sea buckthorn nectar….and no one’s complaining!

Thanks as always for reading my stuff. Comments welcome.

© Sudipto Chakravarty 2006