Winter melon punch

Winter melon punch, also called winter melon tea in east Asia, (Chinese: 冬瓜茶; pinyin: dōngguā chá) is a sweetened fruit drink with a very distinctive taste.[1] It can be found at many stores and street vendors in Taiwan.[2] The preparation process itself is very simple and inexpensive, making this folk beverage extremely popular in homes as well as on the streets. In China, winter melon tea is believed to help people deal with hot temperatures. It is also called "slim tea", as it is thought to help one lose weight.[3]

A cup of winter melon punch in front of a winter melon at a Taiwanese street vendor's stall

Ingredients

The winter melon is peeled, sliced, and its seeds are removed. Melon slices are stirred and cooked in boiling water with brown sugar and caramel for many hours. This mixture is filtered by net or gauze, ridding it of the dregs and impurities. Once the clean, brown liquid cools completely, it is then refrigerated, canned and sold as concentrated winter melon punch. It can also be dehydrated and cut into solid cubes, sold as winter melon punch cubes.

A sugar-free version of the winter melon punch is made for patients suffering from nephropathy and diabetes. In this variation, the cooking process is the same except that only the melon slices and water are boiled to make the mixture.

Some soak the winter melon slices in lime or calcium hydroxide to preserve the melon's original flavor by hardening the flesh before boiling them with sugar, caramel and water.

Variations

Different flavors of winter melon punch appear throughout Taiwan. People may add lemon juice, oolong tea or many other drinks to it, according to their preferences, to make mixed drinks or even cocktails. To transfer this popular beverage into a snack food, many street vendors add tapioca balls, nata de coco, or tangyuan to winter melon punch and sell it in bowls.

See also

References
  1. Matson, Tiana (2019-02-03). "Winter Melon Tea - Simple But Juicy". Yum Of China. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
  2. Guides, Rough (2017-09-07). The Rough Guide to Cambodia (Travel Guide eBook). Rough Guides UK. ISBN 978-0-241-32612-1.
  3. "Winter Melon Tea | China Sichuan Food". www.chinasichuanfood.com. Retrieved 2020-02-06.
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