Chinese Recipes
Sour Plum Drink
This traditional sour plum drink is simmered with dried smoked plums, hawthorn berries, black jujubes, licorice root, dried mulberries, rosebuds, and aged tangerine peel. The result is a refreshing sweet-tart drink with layered herbal and fruity notes. Serve it chilled as a cooling summer beverage or enjoy it warm for a comforting homemade drink.
- Total
- Several Hours
Quick Recipe Summary
- Cuisine
- Chinese
- Category
- Chinese Recipes
- Method
- Braising or simmering
- Total Time
- Several Hours
- Difficulty
- Average
- Main Ingredient
- Dried Smoked Plums
About This Recipe
This traditional sour plum drink is simmered with dried smoked plums, hawthorn berries, black jujubes, licorice root, dried mulberries, rosebuds, and aged tangerine peel. The result is a refreshing sweet-tart drink with layered herbal and fruity notes. Serve it chilled as a cooling summer beverage or enjoy it warm for a comforting homemade drink.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Written with clear home-cooking steps so the process is easier to follow from start to finish.
- Breaks the method into manageable steps instead of assuming you already know the technique.
- Gives the dish a clear sour and sweet flavor profile without making the method feel complicated.
- Useful as a reference recipe because the steps explain both what to do and what to watch for.
Ingredients
- 25 grams Dried Smoked Plums
- 25 grams Black Jujubes
- 40 grams Dried Hawthorn Berries
- 3 grams Licorice Root
- 1.5 grams Red Cardamom
- 15 grams Dried Mulberries
- A few flowers Pingyin Rosebuds
- 1 piece Aged Tangerine Peel
- To taste Rock Sugar
- A little Brown Sugar
- A little Dried Osmanthus Flowers
Ingredient Notes
These notes explain the role of the main ingredients so the recipe is easier to adjust.
Dried Smoked Plums
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Black Jujubes
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Dried Hawthorn Berries
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Licorice Root
This ingredient helps define the flavor, texture, or structure of the dish.
Ingredients & Techniques Used in This Recipe
These guides explain the key sauces, ingredients, and cooking techniques used in this recipe, so you can understand the dish instead of only following steps.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Gather the dried smoked plums, hawthorn berries, aged tangerine peel, black jujubes, red cardamom, licorice root, dried mulberries, rosebuds, rock sugar, and brown sugar.
Step 2
Place all the dried ingredients in a clay pot or saucepan and rinse briefly with clean water.
Step 3
Add about 1.5 liters of water to the pot.
Step 4
Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 40 minutes.
Step 5
Strain the sour plum drink through a filter bag or fine mesh strainer and reserve the liquid.
Step 6
Add about 1 liter of water to the same ingredients and simmer again for about 30 minutes. Strain the second batch, combine both liquids, then add rock sugar and brown sugar. Heat until dissolved and finish with dried osmanthus flowers for aroma.
Step 7
For a concentrated version, continue simmering the strained liquid with rock sugar, brown sugar, or honey until thickened. Dilute with water when serving.
Cooking Tips
- Adjust the sweetness to taste after combining the two batches of liquid. For a clearer drink, strain through a fine mesh filter before chilling. Serve cold for a refreshing summer drink, or warm for a more soothing version.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve it with steamed rice when you want a simple Chinese home-cooked meal.
- Pair it with one vegetable dish and one soup or tofu dish for a balanced Chinese meal.
- Use the recipe card below when you want a quick cooking reference after reading the full notes.
Recipe Card
This traditional sour plum drink is simmered with dried smoked plums, hawthorn berries, black jujubes, licorice root, dried mulberries, rosebuds, and aged tangerine peel. The result is a refreshing sweet-tart drink with layered herbal and fruity notes. Serve it chilled as a cooling summer beverage or enjoy it warm for a comforting homemade drink.
Ingredients
- 25 grams Dried Smoked Plums
- 25 grams Black Jujubes
- 40 grams Dried Hawthorn Berries
- 3 grams Licorice Root
- 1.5 grams Red Cardamom
- 15 grams Dried Mulberries
- A few flowers Pingyin Rosebuds
- 1 piece Aged Tangerine Peel
- To taste Rock Sugar
- A little Brown Sugar
- A little Dried Osmanthus Flowers
Method
- Gather the dried smoked plums, hawthorn berries, aged tangerine peel, black jujubes, red cardamom, licorice root, dried mulberries, rosebuds, rock sugar, and brown sugar.
- Place all the dried ingredients in a clay pot or saucepan and rinse briefly with clean water.
- Add about 1.5 liters of water to the pot.
- Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for about 40 minutes.
- Strain the sour plum drink through a filter bag or fine mesh strainer and reserve the liquid.
- Add about 1 liter of water to the same ingredients and simmer again for about 30 minutes. Strain the second batch, combine both liquids, then add rock sugar and brown sugar. Heat until dissolved and finish with dried osmanthus flowers for aroma.
- For a concentrated version, continue simmering the strained liquid with rock sugar, brown sugar, or honey until thickened. Dilute with water when serving.
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