Homemade Sikhye: Easy Traditional Korean Drink with Malted Barley Tea Bags
Homemade Sikhye: Easy Traditional Korean Drink with Malted Barley Tea Bags
How to Make Sikhye at Home: Perfect for Holidays and a Refreshing Traditional Dessert
Let’s make a simple and delicious Sikhye using convenient malted barley tea bags.
Ingredients- 1 bowl of cooked rice (warm)
- 2.3L water
- 4 Sikhye malted barley tea bags
- 1 cup sugar (adjust to taste)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Hello everyone! Today, we’re going to make a wonderfully simple and delicious Sikhye using malted barley tea bags. With just cooked rice, water, and a few other ingredients, you can easily create this classic Korean beverage right at home.
Step 2
The ingredients for making Sikhye are surprisingly straightforward. You’ll need one bowl of warm cooked rice, 2.3 liters of water, four convenient Sikhye malted barley tea bags, and about 1 cup of sugar to sweeten it. Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar to your personal preference.
Step 3
First, place the cooked rice and 2.3 liters of water into a large pot or rice cooker. Next, add the four Sikhye malted barley tea bags. Let them steep according to the package instructions to infuse the water with the malted barley’s unique flavor and enzymes, which are key to fermenting the rice.
Step 4
Now, set your rice cooker to the ‘keep warm’ setting. Maintaining this gentle warmth will encourage the enzymes from the malted barley to work their magic, naturally sweetening the rice. Let it ferment for about 8 to 10 hours, or until you see rice grains floating to the surface.
Step 5
After the fermentation period, you should see about 20 rice grains floating on top – this is your sign that the Sikhye has fermented nicely! Carefully remove the malted barley tea bags at this point. Taking them out promptly prevents the drink from becoming too strongly flavored or cloudy.
Step 6
Now, add the 1 cup of sugar to the malted rice water. Adjust the sweetness level as you desire. Transfer the mixture to a pot and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat. Avoid boiling vigorously; a gentle simmer is best.
Step 7
As the Sikhye simmers, skim off any foam that rises to the surface. This step helps to create a clearer, cleaner-tasting beverage. Continue simmering for about 5 to 10 minutes, and your homemade Sikhye will be ready to enjoy!
Step 8
This easily made Sikhye isn’t just for special holiday occasions; it’s a delightful and refreshing drink to make and enjoy anytime, especially on a warm day or as a sweet ending to a meal. Give it a try!
