Refreshing Lemongrass Drink

I made my favourite Lemongrass drink to go with cupcakes last Saturday.

This time, I sliced the lemongrass into small pieces so it's quicker to release its flavour.  I also added mint leaves, juice of 2 calamansi and sugar to sweeten it a little instead of using honey.

Now I can have one more cupcake. ;)

Sour Plum and Calamansi with Sprite

I haven't been well lately, low blood pressure and some other old (wo)man ailment.  Age's catching up.  I have been feeling dizzy and nausea. And this weather is not helping either!

I have been drinking honey with calamansi juice and lots of ice! But today, I just want a cold frizzy drink!

So here it is!

Ingredients:

• 2 Sour Plum
• 30ml Hot Water
• 200ml Sprite
• 2 - 3 teaspoon Calamansi Juice
• Ice cubes!

How to do it:

1. Soak and soften sour plums with hot water in a tall glass.
2. Add the calamansi juice.
3. Pour over the sprite.
4. Serve with ice cubes.

Refreshing Lemongrass with Lemon Honey 香茅柠檬蜜清凉饮

I made this last week when the weather was unbearable. Usually, I'll just boil the lemongrass and sweeten it with sugar but I wanted the kids to drink it so I used honey instead this time.

Personally, I prefer sweetening it with sugar or rock sugar as honey sort of mask the smell and taste of the lemongrass.

My suggestion is, if you have a sore throat or suspect you are going to have one, you might want to use honey. It help soothe it. Use sugar instead if you just want to make yourself a refreshing drink,

Ingredients:

• 7 stalks Lemongrass, cleaned cut into 3 sections
• 1 litre Water
• Half a Lemon, slice
• Sugar, Rock Sugar or Honey to taste

How to do it:

1. Smash lemongrass to help release flavour during boiling.
2. Place lemongrass in a pot of water and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce heat to a simmer and continue to simmer for half an hour.
4. Drain and discard the lemongrass.
5. Sweeten with sugar, rock sugar or honey.
6. Serve it warm or chilled with lemon slices.

Note:
If you prefer a more tangy drink, squeeze some lemon juice before serving.

Green Tea Latte 抹茶拿铁

I'm not a tea drinker. Other than Pu'er Tea, I only drink Hot Green Tea. I have a bottle of Powdered Green Tea at home which I will make when I want a break.

Although I love green tea, I have never tried Green Tea Latte before. I have a friend, Jessica who loves Green Tea Latte. ;) And I thought I have to tried it one day but it never happen. :P

Since I have green tea at home, I thought I would try to make my own Green Tea Latte. Hey! It taste quite good. Next time, I shall try making Iced Green Tea Latte. :)

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup of hot green tea, either using tea bag or powdered form
• Sugar to taste
• 1/4 cup of fresh milk

How to do it:

1. Bring milk to a simmer.
2. Remove hot milk from heat and froth it if you like.
3. Meanwhile, add sugar to taste to the 3/4 cup of hot green tea.
4. Add frothed milk to green tea.
5. Serve.

Note:

• This is a recipe based on personal preference.
• Make a cup of cup green tea on how strong you want it to be, taking into consideration that it will be diluted by the added milk.
• The proportion of my green tea to milk is 3 part green tea to 1 part milk. If you prefer a more milky latte, you can adjust to half cup tea to half cup milk or to your preference.
• Size of the cup indicated is not restricted to what is shown in the photo. If you prefer a taller glass, please go ahead to use that.
• Frothing the milk incorporate air bubbles to the milk. You don't have to do that if you do not have the gadget. I'm using a cheap frothing gadget bought from Daiso.

Lime Juice 酸酐汁

We often have pot-luck sessions in the office during my 1st job more than 15 year ago. Each of us will contribute an item. There was this HR Officer, the only Male Officer we ever had, who brought Lime Juice as his pot-luck item. It’s a really nice drink to go along with fried food. My son tried it for the 1st time yesterday and like it.

Ingredients:

• 100g lime;
• 1 litre water
• 8 tablespoon sugar

How to do it:

1. Squeeze juice out of lime and set aside. My 100g lime yields 100cc of juice.
2. Dissolve sugar in water.
3. When syrup is cooled, add in lime juice and mix.
4. Serve chilled.

Note:
Add more sugar if you find the lime juice too sour. Add some to your coke. It taste great!

Waterchestnut with Lotus Roots Drink 马蹄莲藕水

My father taught me how to make this drink during my *ahem* younger days. Nothing I tried outside come close to this. Although, he insisted on leaving the skin of the waterchestnut and lotus roots on, I preferred to skin them. I hate it. So time consuming. No choice. Have the urge to drink so gotta do it.

Ingredients:

• Waterchestnuts: skinned
• 2 Canes; chopped into sections
• 1 small section of Lotus roots; skinned and sliced
• Rock sugar to taste

How to do it:

1. Put all ingredients except rock sugar into a pot of water.
2. When the water starts to boil, turn to low fire and brew for 3 hours.
3. Add rock sugar to taste.
4. Serve when cooled.

Note:
If you preferred the normal waterchestnut and cane, don’t add lotus root. But then you will miss the essence of this drink.