In China, there are some dishes with weird names.
For example, 'Couple' dish has nothing to do with couples.
'Wife Cake' is obviously not made of wife.
Just like this, 'Apricot seed tea' is not made with tea leaves.
Typical apricot seed tea is made of apricot seed and glutinous rice.
There is nothing like having a bowl of apricot seed tea in winter. It's a pure joy.
Chinese have enjoyed apricot seed for quite a while.
So apricot seed tea naturally has a long history itself.
It was once called 'apricot dish' in the past.
It was really famous during the Dang dynasty.
It was also served cold at that time.
Like the dish I introduced last time,
Apricot seed tea is a seasonal dish for holiday like 'Hansik' when no fire is allowed.
The recipe for apricot dish is even described in the famous agriculture book with details.
Ancient Chinese people added rice & barley with apricot seed.
Soak rice & barley in water over a night.
Drain and put it in the pot.
Boil it with fresh water.
Boil it until water and rice are almost same.
Until the grains are swollen.
80% of hard seed
and 20% of bitter seed is about right ratio.
Since the bitter seed is richly flavored,
we can add more flavor with bitter seed.
Grind it in the blender with water until it becomes the seed milk.
Filter through cotton tissue once and boil it in the pot.
According to the ancient recipe, it reiterates that you boil it until there is a thin layer.
In other words, the seed milk must be thick enough to reach that point.
Add water-soaked rice & barley.
Boil it once again.
It must be very thick by now.
Like thick whipped cream
Put it in the bowl and leave it in the fridge for a while.
Color of apricot seed porridge is snow white.
Color of rice & barley in it is light sapphirine.
The ancient record mentions about the starch syrup that goes so well with the porridge.
Sweet starch syrup
softens the smell of apricot seed.
Apricot seed in Dang dynasty was
not only a popular dessert but also a commonly used ingredient.
When added to pork, it neutralizes greasiness.
Like Dang dynasty kings granted to the retainers,
apricot seed porridge was served with cherries.
With a glass of 'Domi flower' liquor,
it is also excellent.