Hawthorn, Apple and Dried Tangerine Peel Drink

Why people make this drink

After a holiday spent enjoying mooncakes and a spread of rich food, your stomach sometimes sends you a clear message: it needs a break. This simple three-ingredient drink has been made in Cantonese homes for generations to ease that post-feast heaviness. The sweet-sour balance is genuinely pleasant, and the whole family — children included — can enjoy a cup.

Method

1. Soak the dried hawthorn berries and the tangerine peel separately for a few minutes, then rinse well.
2. Scrub the apples with a little salt and warm water. Slice them with the skin on and remove the cores.
3. Place all ingredients into a pot with 1.5 L of water.
4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes until the liquid reduces to roughly 900 ml.
5. Serve warm. The drink is pleasantly tart-sweet and needs no added sugar.

Nourilo’s Tips

This drink has a natural sweet-sour flavour that most people enjoy without sweetener. If making it for young children who prefer a milder taste, you can add a small piece of rock sugar during the last few minutes of cooking. Anyone with excess stomach acid or who is pregnant should give this one a miss.