Kitchen Recipe Collection
Sweet Almond Tea (Xing Ren Cha)
Not to be confused with Western almond milk. This is a traditional, thick, hot, intensely aromatic dessert beverage made from ground South and North apricot kernels and rice.
- Prep
- 480 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 500 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- Chinese
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- 1/2 cup South Apricot Kernels (Sweet Almonds - Nan Xing Ren)
- 1 tbsp North Apricot Kernels (Bitter Almonds - Bei Xing Ren)
- 1/4 cup white rice (for thickening)
- 4 cups water
- Rock sugar to taste (about 1/4 cup)
Equipment
- Blender
- Fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag
- Saucepan
Instructions
- 1
Soak Ingredients
Rinse both types of apricot kernels and the white rice. Soak them together in cold water overnight (or at least 8 hours).
- 2
Drain
Drain and discard the soaking water.
- 3
Blend
Place the soaked kernels and rice in a high-speed blender with 4 cups of fresh water. Blend on the highest setting for 2-3 minutes until smooth.
- 4
Strain
Pour the mixture through a nut milk bag or fine cloth into a saucepan. Squeeze aggressively to extract all the 'milk'. Discard the pulp.
- 5
Cook
Place the saucepan on the stove over medium-low heat. Stir constantly, scraping the bottom, as the starch from the rice will cause it to thicken and stick.
- 6
Boil and Thicken
Bring it to a gentle boil. Let it simmer for 5 minutes. It will thicken into a rich, creamy consistency resembling a thin soup.
- 7
Sweeten
Stir in the rock sugar until completely dissolved.
- 8
Serve
Serve steaming hot in small bowls.
Cooking Tips
- The 'North' (bitter) kernels are essential for that distinct, potent 'Chinese almond' aroma, but they contain trace amounts of cyanide and MUST be used sparingly (no more than a 10:1 sweet to bitter ratio) and cooked thoroughly.
- The raw white rice is the traditional thickener, giving the beverage its silky, satisfying body.
Variations
- Egg White Almond Tea: While the tea is boiling hot, slowly drizzle in a whisked egg white while stirring gently to create beautiful ribbons.
Nutrition Estimate
150 calories · 4g protein · 20g carbs · 8g fat · 2g fiber per serving
