From: [s w tlig h t] at [snowcrest.net] (HOLY SMOKE)
Newsgroups: rec.drugs.cannabis
Subject: Marijuana and Milk by Dr. Dick
Date: Fri, 19 Apr 1996 15:45:42 -0800

SOMA: Milk & Marijuana for patients who cannot smoke
A Divine Drink from Southern India
by Dr. Dick, Botanical Physician

I know this drink called "garam masala". It's from Southern India, and was
made for me by the South Indian wife of a foreign physician I recruited to
work in a rural farm-worker clinic some 20+ years back. She said this was
a special occasion drink for weddings and other ceremonies. I certainly
had a delightful time making bhang with Mrs. V., the South Indian lady.

Resinous buds (fresh picked) are soaked in milk that has been warmed up a
bit. Then you store the whole thing overnight in a cool spot or the
refigerator. Next day you squeeze out the all the juices from the
milk-soaked stuff.

This is the mother liquor, or "bhang." Herbs and spices are ground up
together and added to taste (with as much more milk as you wish) to make
bhang. Warm up to tea temperature and drink.

The importance of the kinds and amounts of individual herbs and spices in
garam masala were stressed. When we made our bhang, she brought the garam
masala to my kitchen already ground up, made from whole herbs, which she
said were mailed to her from her S. Indian mother. In addition to
coriander, cinnamon, and ginger she also added amla and nutmeg. It was,
you can be sure, her own family recipe so there may be some other
ingredients in it I didn't learn about.

Since then, I've tried on several occasions to make my own garam masala
from scratch for use as a spice/seasoning in other Indian recipes. It was
always good, great even, but not exactly the same as Ms V's.

The herbs, in addition to their wonderful taste and aroma, have effects
ondigestion and circulation that necessarily influence what happens to the
food or drink it enhances.

Geez, I'd love some right now!

Soma is a good metaphor 'cause you do get a healing body experience.

***** End of Story *****

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