Chinese Almond Dessert Soup 杏仁糊
This delicious and soothing sweet concoction is know as Chinese Almond Dessert Soup 杏仁糊, or also sometimes as Chinese Almond Tea 杏仁茶. Rather ironically it's not made of almonds at all, rather it's made from the kernels of apricots, apricot seeds, also known as xingren or 杏仁.
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 25 min
- Yield
- 6 servings
- Difficulty
- EASY
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 1 cup skinless sweet apricot seeds 南杏
- 15 skinless bitter apricot seeds 北杏
- 3 tbsp uncooked rice
- 1/3 cup rock sugar, or to taste
- 6 1/2 cups water
Instructions
- 1
Soak sweet apricot seeds, bitter almond seeds and rice in cool water to cover overnight. Strain away soaking water. Rinse the seeds under running water.
- 2
Puree seeds and rice in food processor. Add 1 1/2 cup water in 1/4 cup at a time as you puree until the kernels are finely puréed into a thin watery paste.
- 3
Add 5 cups water to a pot. Heat until boiling. Add in purée. Simmer for at least 20 mins. If you don't want the seed grounds in the soup, remove from heat and let cool enough so that you can strain grounds out with cheesecloth. Return the strained liquid to the pot.
- 4
Add rock sugar, stirring until melted and sweetened to your liking. If making Almond Dessert Soup continue simmering until it reaches the consistency of slightly thickened soup. If making Almond Tea simmer until it reaches a drinkable consistency like hot chocolate. If it becomes too thick at any time just add water.
- 5
Serve Almond Dessert Soup in bowls. Serve Almond Tea in tea cups. Enjoy!