Hwachae
Quick and Easy Korean Dessert
Hwachae is a must when it's hot and you want a sweet summer dessert. A traditional Korean punch made with in-season fruits and flower petals such as watermelons in honey water or juice, it's ideal for sipping in the sun.
Hwachae refers to traditional Korean punches made from various fruits or edible flower petals. Honeyed water or honeyed magnolia berry juice is used to soak the fruits and flowers. Carbonated drinks and/or fruit juices are also commonly added to hwachae in modern South Korea. Before serving, hwachae is frequently garnished with pine nuts.
This Korean watermelon punch is one of my favorite childhood summer memories. When my sisters and I walked a full mile home from school in the hot and humid Korean summer weather, my mother would make this punch and serve it to us.
Oh, it was delicious! With this watermelon punch, life as a small Korean child was a blessing and a privilege. I recall always having a second bowl.
My mother's watermelon punch was made simply with a lemon-lime carbonated drink and honey. This type of simple Korean drink recipe appeals to me. She occasionally mixed in some melon with the watermelon.
Whatever you put in the punch, as long as there's watermelon in it, it'll be just as good. Showering before serving is optional (but usually a good idea)!
There are probably hundreds of different types of Hwachae, with many different fruits and juices used to create lovely sweet snacks; when I was younger, my grandmother used Fanta because it was less expensive than juice. In today's health-conscious society, I believe that would be frowned upon.
My recipe contains a lot of fruit and orange juice, so it's similar to a fruit salad. Most fruits can be used, and I enjoy changing the fruits depending on the season.
The following ingredients were used:
1/2 an apple Clementine No. 1 Grapes (7-8) 5 to 6 strawberries 2 tbsp watermelon orange juice Water Ice
Begin by cutting the fruits into bite-sized pieces; with the watermelon, try to save the juices as they can be used later. Combine the juice and water in a 50:50 ratio and pour into a bowl with the fruits and some ice.
Spoon it into bowls and serve; it's that easy, quick, and delicious!
Put some honey or sugar in some water and leave it in the fridge to dissolve and make the water cold and sweet, then add your fruits and enjoy.
Replace the water or juice with carbonated water or a tropical drink like Lilt, Sprite, or Fanta if you want a fizzy punch.
Hwachae Watermelon
This is a delicacy that looks great on a table and will certainly impress your guests; however, it is fairly simple to make with a little planning.
Cut a whole watermelon in half, or just buy a half one. Remove all of the melon and place it in a container to freeze; it should be chunky and in several small pieces.
Using a small knife, cut triangles out of the watermelon as shown above, working your way around the melon. They don't have to be perfect or the same size because no one will notice once finished. Put the watermelon in a bag and place it in the fridge if you want to eat it that day or in the freezer to save for later.