How to Make Your Own Mouth Fresheners or Mukhawas at Home

In  several parts of India, after a round of desserts there is a common tradition of ending a meal with paan (betel leaf) and mukhwas. Mukhwas

is an after-meal snack or digestive aid widely used as a mouth freshener. Unlike the common idea of mouth freshener which is associated with mint or mint sprays, mukhwas generally contain various seeds

and nuts, like fennel seeds, anise seeds and sesame seeds to name a few. Indian meals are divided in multiple courses and is heavy is nature, therefore mukhwas/mouth fresheners become an essential part of the meal, as it acts both as a digestive aid after a heavy meal and breath freshener. Several Indian restaurants too serve mukhwas after the meal.

You can make these mouth fresheners at home too. They are easy to make, inexpensive and all it takes is just 15 minutes. Here are some ideas -

1. Fennel Seeds: One of the most common ingredients used in these mouth fresheners are roasted fennel seeds. These seeds make sure you end your meal on an aromatic and flavourful note. Apart from that the seeds contain anethole, an antibacterial compound that kills and destroys, bacteria, fungi and yeast buildup in the mouth. The best part of making these mouth fresheners at home is the room to experiment. You can pick from a variety of other ingredients like cinnamon, cardamom, clove, roasted sesame seeds, coconut shreds.