Panch means five, and that is exactly what this is — five aromatic herbs drawn off one at a time in a copper still, then married into a single clear distillate. It is the bottle Punjabi households keep on the shelf for the evening after a wedding dinner: fennel, ajwain, cardamom, rose and mint, carrying nothing but their own fragrant waters.
What it is traditionally used for
- Taken after meals to aid digestion and settle a heavy stomach
- Long used to expel trapped wind and relieve the bloating that follows rich food
- Sipped in nausea and to calm the urge to vomit
- Traditionally taken for stomach ache and griping discomfort
- Regarded in Unani practice as strengthening to both the stomach and the liver
- Taken as part of a careful routine by those working off excess body fat
How it is made
Each herb is steam-distilled on its own, at low pressure, so that its aromatic water carries a true single-herb character before the five are blended to the house ratio. The seed and flower come from single-origin growers in southern Punjab. Nothing artificial goes in — no essence, no preservative, no sweetener, no colour. What you pour is distilled water and volatile oil, and nothing else.
How to take it
Take 30–60 ml about half an hour after a meal, plain or topped up with a little water. Many prefer it chilled in summer and at room temperature in winter. On a night of especially rich food, a second dose before bed is customary. Shake the bottle gently before pouring.
Good to know
- Generous 800 ml family bottle — enough for a household for several weeks
- DRAP registered under product number 0803812114
- Unsweetened and 100% natural; contains no added sugar, essence or preservative
- Equally suitable for men and women; refrigerate once opened
Hafsa Pervaiz (verified owner) –
Good product, works for bloating within about half an hour. My only issue was that the glass bottle is heavy and delivery to Faisalabad took six days. The arq itself I have no complaint with.
Furqan Dar (verified owner) –
Karachi summers ruin my appetite. A chilled glass of this before dinner and I actually eat properly. The 800 ml bottle lasts our family about three weeks, which is good value compared to what chemists charge.
Yusra Sattar (verified owner) –
In our Lahore house this now comes out after every big dinner instead of the fizzy drinks. My husband used to complain of gas all evening and that has genuinely stopped. Tastes clean, faintly of saunf.