Description
Taiwanese people's sweet daily tea, made by dissolving 'Donggua Tang'—large winter melon flesh boiled down with brown sugar into a gooey paste—in hot water and chilling it.
Restaurants serving Winter Melon Tea
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Winter melon
- Brown sugar(or Red sugar)
- Water
- Ice
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- [Homemade Donggua Tang] Peel, deseed, and finely chop or process a large winter melon into a paste.
- Put the paste and an equal amount of 'brown sugar (or red sugar)' in a pot. Without adding water, simmer slowly on low for hours until moisture evaporates into a pitch-black, gooey candy (this is cooled into blocks called 'Donggua Cha Zhuan' sold in markets).
- Dissolve this winter melon sugar block completely in hot water to make tea (syrup liquid).
- Chill ice-cold in the fridge or serve with massive ice. Called 'tea', but uses no tea leaves; characterized by a unique 'barley tea or caramel-like savoriness' from scorched winter melon starch and brown sugar.
- Arrangements with boba or lemon juice (Donggua Ningmeng) are also hugely popular.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Savory brown sugar and caramel aroma
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Store-bought Winter Melon Tea block (Taiwanese supermarkets)
Pairing
All Taiwanese food(Especially spicy or greasy)
Trivia
[For Everyone] Taiwan's summer can't be discussed without 'Winter Melon Tea'. Said to 'lower heat (Tui Huo)', mothers historically made it to prevent kids' summer fatigue. Often provided as 'free all-you-can-drink soup replacement' in bento shops and eateries.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] After eating greasy stall food, gulp down the cold winter melon tea—diluted slightly by melting ice—all at once to quench your thirst!
Allergen
None