Corn tea
Oksusu-cha (옥수수차) or corn tea is a Korean tea made from corn.[1] While oksusu-suyeom-cha (옥수수수염차) or corn silk tea refers to the tea made from corn silk, oksusu-cha can be made from corn kernels, corn silk, or a combination of both.[2] The caffeine-free infusion is a popular hot drink in winter.[1] Along with bori-cha (barley tea), oksusu-cha is one of the free grain teas served in many restaurants in place of water.[3] In Gangwon Province, the tea is called gangnaengi-cha (강냉이차)—gangnaengi is a Gangwon dialect for "corn"—and is consumed throughout late autumn and winter in most households.[4] PreparationTraditionally, corn kernels are dried and roasted to prepare oksusu-cha.[2] The roasted corn kernels are then boiled in water until the tea turns yellow.[4] The tea is then strained and the boiled corn discarded. Although the drink is naturally sweet, sugar is sometimes added when a sweeter flavor is desired.[4] Roasted corn kernels are available at groceries, traditional markets and supermarkets in Korea, as well as at Korean groceries abroad. Tea bags containing ground corn are also commercially available.[5] BlendsOksusu-cha is often combined with bori-cha (barley tea), as the corn's sweetness offsets the slightly bitter flavor of the barley. Gallery
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