Pear, Jujube, and Balloon Flower Root Ginger Drink
A Healthy Homemade Drink for Colds and Overall Wellness
Moving beyond simply simmering and drinking the water, this recipe extracts the full goodness from pears, jujubes, and balloon flower roots that would otherwise be discarded. It’s highly recommended for those prone to colds or feeling cold, especially if you work in a field like the frozen food industry. Embrace a warm and healthy winter with this revitalizing drink!
Main Ingredients
- 2 large Pears
- 2 large bowls of Dried Jujubes
- 95g Balloon Flower Root
- 550g Ginger
Sweetener
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1 tsp Honey
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Prepare 2 large pears. Since we’ll be using the skin, wash them thoroughly using baking soda or coarse salt to ensure they are perfectly clean. (These were purchased at about 2,000 KRW per large pear.)
Step 2
Prepare 95g of balloon flower root. As the skin will be used, wash it carefully under running water. Trim just a little off the hard root end. (This was purchased as one bag for 5,000 KRW.)
Step 3
Use a generous amount of dried jujubes, about 2 large bowls’ worth. Soak them in water with a splash of vinegar for about 10 minutes, then rinse them thoroughly under running water to clean them well. (Washing the pears and balloon flower root in a similar vinegar-water solution is also beneficial.)
Step 4
Prepare 550g of ginger. Scrub the skin clean using the back of a spoon or a brush to remove any dirt or impurities. Ensure it’s thoroughly cleaned.
Step 5
Core the cleaned pears and cut them into quarters or eighths. Place them into a pot.
Step 6
Add the cut pears, prepared balloon flower root, jujubes, and ginger to the pot. Pour in enough water to fully submerge the ingredients.
Step 7
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then reduce to medium-low heat and simmer gently until all the ingredients are very soft. Simmering for about 1 hour and 30 minutes is recommended.
Step 8
Turn off the heat and let it cool slightly. Remove the jujubes. Put on a pair of disposable gloves followed by rubber gloves, then mash the jujubes to separate the seeds and skins as much as possible. You can add a little water during this process to help separate them cleanly.
Step 9
Mash the pears and balloon flower root as well. Continue mashing while adding a little water intermittently, until the skins are separated. (In this recipe, all ingredients except the ginger were mashed and used. Ginger is tough and is usually processed separately, like in a juicer or by grinding.)
Step 10
Observe the beautifully simmered broth. A rich, healthy color has emerged from the jujubes, balloon flower root, and pears. It’s truly concentrated!
Step 11
Place the removed jujube skins and seeds into a cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve, forming a pouch to easily strain the liquid.
Step 12
Place the ginger into a similar pouch. Now, return the jujube/seed pouch and the ginger pouch to the pot and bring to a rolling boil. Skim off any foam that rises to the surface as it boils.
Step 13
This is the color of the drink after boiling. It might look a bit murky, like muddy water, but it’s the natural color of the healthy ingredients.
Step 14
Notice how thick the drink has become. When tasted, it’s delicious with a strong pear flavor and sweetness. You might notice a slightly slippery texture, which is characteristic of balloon flower root. However, adding 1 teaspoon of honey eliminates this slipperiness, making it much smoother and incredibly tasty! It’s absolutely delicious!
