「Sour Plum Drink」

Ingredients and amounts

• 适量 water (2 liters)
• 25 g black jujubes
• 25 g smoked plums
• 100 g yellow rock sugar
• 30 g dried hawthorn slices
• 2 g licorice root
• 4 g dried tangerine peel
• 1 g black cardamom
• 3 g dried osmanthus flowers

Step-by-step method

1. 1

   Step 1

   Rinse all ingredients except osmanthus flowers and rock sugar. Soak in 1.5 liters of water at room temperature for at least 2 hours.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce to low heat, and simmer for 40 minutes. This is the first decoction.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Place the rock sugar in a bowl. Pour the hot strained first decoction over it and stir until the sugar dissolves.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Return the used herbs to the pot, add 600 ml of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, cover, reduce to medium heat, and simmer for another 20 minutes. This is the second decoction.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Combine the second decoction with the sweetened first decoction while hot. When the mixture cools to 60-70°C, add the dried osmanthus flowers (do not exceed 80°C). Cover, cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

6. 6

   Step 6

   Strain out the osmanthus flowers before drinking. Sip slowly like tea, chilled.