World Beverages: Baesuk

Baesuk is a traditional Korean beverage that is perfect almost anytime, but especially when you are feeling unwell.  I made some when I was sick recently and the soothing honey, crisp fruit, and spicy zing of pepper and ginger were just what I needed to get through a tough day.

Ingredients:
4 cups water
2 3' pieces of ginger
1 Asian pear (Bae)
36 whole peppercorns
2 1/2 tablespoons of honey
Pinenuts for garnish

Directions:

Bring 4 cups of water to a boil.

Peel the ginger and cut into medium pieces.

Add the ginger to the boiling water and cook for 10 minutes.

Peel the pear and cut into 12 slices.

Place the pear slices in cold water to reduce browning.

Using a toothpick, make 3 small holes in the outer side of each pear slice.

Add peppercorns to the holes.

Remove the pear slices from the cold water and place in the boiling water.

Reduce to low heat and cook uncovered for 3-5 minutes.

Add honey, stirring gently.

Remove from heat and remove ginger.

Allow to cool.

Serve with a generous portion of liquid, 3-4 pear slices, and 3-4 pinenuts for garnish.

Notes:

• Reduce or increase your ingredients to taste.  I tend to prefer a lighter ginger flavor, so I might prepare this with half the ginger for myself.  
• Baesuk can be served hot or cold.  Try it both ways to decide which version you enjoy most.
• Placement of the peppercorns is optional.  I have seen them placed in different patterns on different surface areas.
• I will try overnight refrigeration for part of the batch next time, to see if the pear slices will become too mushy.

World Beverages: Champurrado

In addition to tea, I am also interested in the preparation and presentation of other beverages from around the world.  In sharing my own experiences, I hope you may also be inspired to experience the world in a cup!

My first recipe attempt was Champurrado (Mexican Hot Chocolate).  A friend was visiting who happened to be quite enthusiastic about the drink and I wanted to treat them to the homemade variety.  The result was a sweet, flavorful, spicy, and perfect to warm up on a cold winter day.

Ingredients:
3 cups water
2 cinnamon sticks
1 whole star anise
1/4 cup masa harina (finely ground corn flour)
2 cups milk
3 ounces piloncillo, finely chopped
1/2 disc Ibarra chocolate, finely chopped

Directions:
Bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
Add cinnamon sticks and star anise to water and remove from heat, steeping for 10 minutes.
Remove cinnamon sticks and star anise from the pot and return to low heat.
Slowly add masa harina to the water, 1/3 cup at a time, stirring until completely dissolved.
Add milk, piloncillo, and Ibarra chocolate, stirring until completely dissolved.
Place a whisk or molinillo (recommended), into the pot and roll the handle between your palms to froth the drink before it is served.

Notes:

• After reading a number of recipes and reviews mentioning a slightly grainy texture, I chose to use Maseca's Instant Masa Harina rather than the standard version.  The results were relatively smooth.  
• I found that leaving the pot on low heat to keep the Champurrado warm while first portions were served produced a thicker, less enjoyable drink, most likely due to the nature of the corn flour.  In future, I will remove it from heat after the first serving.
• A standard metal kitchen whisk works quite well to produce a froth, though I would recommend using one with a smooth, evenly rounded handle.  The traditional molinillo is designed specifically for this purpose and also works well with other recipes where you might want to quickly dissolve ingredients or add froth.
• I highly recommend using a very sharp knife with a wide blade, like a santoku, to cut the piloncillo and Ibarra chocolate.  Both ingredients are rather dense and can be quite frustrating and time consuming if using an inferior knife.
• I have seen a number of reviews recommending a substitution of brown sugar for piloncillo and corn starch for masa harina.  Sometime, I will try both substitutions in a side-by-side comparison with the traditional recipe and share the results.