Rooh Afza

File:Eine Flasche Rooh Afza.JPG

File:Afza Syrup (Lal sharbat).JPG drink made from Rooh Afza syrup.]]

Rooh Afza was founded by Hamdard's founder Hakim Hafiz Abdul Majeed in Old Delhi, British India. In 1906, he wanted to create a herbal mix that would help Delhi's people stay cool in the summer. He selected herbs and syrups from traditional Unani medicine and created a drink that would help counter heat strokes and prevent water loss in people. An artist, Mirza Noor Ahmad, designed the labels of Rooh Afza in many colours in 1910. Progress in development and refining the original recipe continued all along until the final drink emerged.

After Majeed's death 15 years later, his wife Rabea Begum established a charitable trust in the name of herself and her two sons.{{cite news|title=Across Borders and Divides, One Heavenly Refresher Cools Summer Heat|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/07/business/india-drink-rooh-afza.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=7 July 2021|accessdate=7 July 2021|archive-date=7 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210707090616/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/07/business/india-drink-rooh-afza.html|url-status=live}}

Following the partition of India in 1947, while the elder son, Hakim Abdul Hameed, stayed back in independent India – the younger son, Hakim Mohammad Saeed, migrated to the newly created state of Pakistan on 9 January 1948 and started a separate Hamdard Company from two rooms in the Arambagh (then Ram Bagh) area of Karachi.{{cite news|title=Rooh Afza, the syrup that sweetens the subcontinent's summers|url=https://www.thenational.ae/news/world/south-asia/rooh-afza-the-syrup-that-sweetens-the-subcontinents-summers|newspaper=The National (Abu Dhabi) (newspaper)|date=27 April 2012|accessdate=26 April 2020|archive-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629142249/http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/south-asia/rooh-afza-the-syrup-that-sweetens-the-subcontinents-summers|url-status=live}} Hamdard Pakistan finally became profitable in 1953. Hakim Mohammad Said had opened a branch of Hamdard in the former East Pakistan. According to Hakim Mohammad Said's daughter, Sadia Rashid, chairperson of Hamdard Pakistan in 2019, her father gifted the business to the people of Bangladesh after their independence from Pakistan in 1971.

In 2010, chef Nita Mehta and Indian film actress Juhi Chawla were hired for promotional activities by Hamdard Laboratories to create new mocktail and dessert recipes for Rooh Afza, their all-season summer drink, which was used in a new marketing campaign.{{cite news|title=Hamdard gives century-old Rooh Afza a facelift|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/hamdard-gives-century-old-rooh-afza-a-facelift/story-glWF6VDU3oe14qPHT9zb8J.html|accessdate=26 April 2020|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=28 June 2010|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423154300/https://www.hindustantimes.com/business/hamdard-gives-century-old-rooh-afza-a-facelift/story-glWF6VDU3oe14qPHT9zb8J.html|url-status=live}}

Its original formulation included:{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080921183143/http://www.roohafzabd.com/ Rooh Afzalː The unique composition of Rooh Afza]}}{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200428183053/https://www.roohafzabd.com/ (Archive)]}}

• Herbs:
• Deepak ("khurfa seeds", Portulaca oleracea)
• Chicory
• Wine-grape raisins (Vitis vinifera)
• European white lily (Nymphaea alba)
• Blue star water lily (Nymphaea nouchali)
• Lotus (nelumbo)
• Borage
• coriander
• Rosemary

• Fruits:
• Orange
• Citron
• Pineapple
• Apple
• Berries
• Strawberry
• Raspberry
• Loganberry
• Blackberry
• Cherry
• Concord grapes
• Blackcurrant
• Watermelon

• Vegetables:
• Spinach
• Carrot
• Mint
• Sponge gourd (Luffa aegyptiaca)

• Flowers:
• Rose
• Kewra (Pandanus fascicularis)
• Lemon
• Orange

• Roots:
• Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides)

Rooh Afza syrup is generally served mixed with cold milk or water and ice. Rooh Afza is often prepared as part of Iftar (the evening meal for breaking the fast or roza), during Ramadan.[http://zeenews.india.com/home/roohafza-reigns-supreme-in-pakistan-during-ramzan_400630.html Roohafza reigns supreme in Pakistan during Ramzan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201138/http://zeenews.india.com/home/roohafza-reigns-supreme-in-pakistan-during-ramzan_400630.html |date=16 December 2017 }} ZEE TV News website, Published 12 October 2007, Retrieved 26 April 2020 The concentrate can also be mixed with water, which is a common preparation in the hot South Asian summers. When mixed with water, the final drink is a type of sharbat. Rooh Afza syrup is often mixed with Kulfi ice cream and vermicelli to make a similar version of the popular Iranian dessert Faloodeh.

On the complaint of false information, misleading advertisements and publication of false information on the web site, Safe Food Inspector Kamrul Hassan filed a case against Hamdard Laboratories Bangladesh on May 30, 2018. In the case, he mentions that the information published in the advertisement with 'Rooh Afza made with 35 fruit juice' is not correct.{{cite news|title=The case against Ruh Afza|url=https://www.jagonews24.com/national/news/430939|publisher=Jago News|date=May 31, 2018|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531150014/https://www.jagonews24.com/national/news/430939|url-status=live}} On June 12 of the same year, Pure food court judge AFM Maruf Chowdhury fined the company four lakhs taka for publishing misleading advertisements. If unable to pay the fine, then the Hamdard chairman and managing director would be punished for three months' imprisonment.{{cite news|title='Ruh Afza' fined four lakh taka|url=http://www.banglatribune.com/others/news/333351/%E2%80%98%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B9-%E0%A6%86%E0%A6%AB%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%BE%E2%80%99%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%96-%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A6%9C%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AE%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE|publisher=Bangla Tribune|date=May 31, 2018|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531150011/http://www.banglatribune.com/others/news/333351/%25E2%2580%2598%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A7%2581%25E0%25A6%25B9-%25E0%25A6%2586%25E0%25A6%25AB%25E0%25A6%259C%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E2%2580%2599%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A7%2587-%25E0%25A6%259A%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2596-%25E0%25A6%259F%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A6%25BE-%25E0%25A6%259C%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25AE%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25A8%25E0%25A6%25BE|url-status=live}}

In 2025, Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Foods Limited circulated advertisements allegedly referring to Rooh Afza as "sharbat jihad". Since then, the Delhi High Court ordered that the advertisements be immediately pulled down.

Hamdard Laboratories India has launched two ready to drink variants in India namely RoohAfza Fusion and RoohAfza Milkshake.{{Cite web|title=Hamdard Laboratories India launches 'ready to drink' RoohAfza Fusion and RoohAfza Milkshake|url=https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/brands/news/hamdard-laboratories-india-launches-ready-to-drink-roohafza-fusion-and-roohafza-milkshake/articleshow/76400705.cms|access-date=2020-06-17|website=Business Insider|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617080932/https://www.businessinsider.in/advertising/brands/news/hamdard-laboratories-india-launches-ready-to-drink-roohafza-fusion-and-roohafza-milkshake/articleshow/76400705.cms|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=June 17, 2020|title=Hamdard Laboratories India forays into 'ready-to-drink' segment with RoohAfza Fusion and RoohAfza Milkshake|url=https://bestmediainfo.com/2020/06/hamdard-laboratories-india-forays-into-ready-to-drink-segment-with-roohafza-fusion-and-roohafza-milkshake/|access-date=2020-06-17|website=www.bestmediaifo.com|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617112835/https://bestmediainfo.com/2020/06/hamdard-laboratories-india-forays-into-ready-to-drink-segment-with-roohafza-fusion-and-roohafza-milkshake/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=FNB News - Hamdard forays into 'ready to drink' with RoohAfza Fusion and Milkshake {{!}} FNB News|url=http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/hamdard-forays-into-ready-to-drink-with-roohafza-fusion-and-milkshake-59166|access-date=2020-06-17|website=www.fnbnews.com|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617115352/http://www.fnbnews.com/Top-News/hamdard-forays-into-ready-to-drink-with-roohafza-fusion-and-milkshake-59166|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=RoohAfza Fusion: Hamdard Laboratories India enters ready-to-drink segment|url=https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/roohafza-fusion-hamdard-laboratories-india-enters-ready-to-drink-segment/76403366|access-date=2020-06-17|website=ETRetail.com|language=en|archive-date=18 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618084706/https://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/food-entertainment/personal-care-pet-supplies-liquor/roohafza-fusion-hamdard-laboratories-india-enters-ready-to-drink-segment/76403366|url-status=live}}

In Pakistan, one of the ready-to-drink variants, called the Rooh Afza Go, {{Cite web|title=Rooh Afza Go|url=https://pk.hamdardglobal.com/rooh-afza-go-250-ml.html|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107083624/https://pk.hamdardglobal.com/rooh-afza-go-250-ml.html|url-status=live}} is available in a can form. In addition a drink commonly prepared by parents for kids in Pakistan, is now available as a product from Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan, called the Doodh (milk) Rooh Afza.{{Cite web|title=Doodh Rooh Afza|url=https://pk.hamdardglobal.com/doodh-rooh-afza-225-ml.html|access-date=7 January 2024|archive-date=7 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107083625/https://pk.hamdardglobal.com/doodh-rooh-afza-225-ml.html|url-status=live}} It is essentially Rooh Afza flavored milk, packaged in a 225ml milk carton.

{{reflist}}

{{commons}}

• {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20200428183053/https://www.roohafzabd.com/ Official Website of Hamdard Laboratories (WAQF), Bangladesh (Archive)]}}
• [http://www.hamdard.com/ Official Website of Hamdard Laboratories, India]
• [https://www.hamdard.com.pk/ Official Website of Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf) Pakistan]

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Category:Non-alcoholic drinks

Category:Indian drink brands

Category:Pakistani drinks

Category:Bangladeshi drinks

Category:Pakistani drink brands

Category:Products introduced in 1906

Category:Iftar foods