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Vietnamese Fruit Drink

Serves 4 to 6 Beverage vegan, Beverages

Vietnamese Fruit Drink

Vietnamese Fruit Drink is a refreshing staple that graces many home tables across Vietnam, especially during the sweltering summer months. Crafted with a simple yet effective blend of citrus fruits, sugar, and water, it is often prepared by home cooks who measure ingredients by feel, ensuring each batch carries a personal touch. This drink is emblematic of everyday Vietnamese life, where sharing a chilled, sweet refreshment is a common way to combat the tropical heat.

The drink should taste like a burst of citrusy sweetness, balanced by just enough sugar to smooth the tang of lemons or oranges. The addition of ice makes it a crisp, invigorating drink that's perfect for hot afternoons. This version captures the essence of Vietnamese home cooking, where flavor is intuitive and the table is always open for sharing.

Ingredients

  • 4lemons or oranges
  • 100 gsugar
  • 1 Lwater
  • as neededice

Method

  1. Start by preparing the citrus fruits. If using lemons or oranges, roll them on a countertop with gentle pressure to release the juices inside. Cut each fruit in half and use a citrus juicer to extract the juice, ensuring no seeds fall into the juice. You should have about 200 ml of juice in total.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the freshly squeezed citrus juice with 100 g of sugar. Add 1 L of water to the saucepan. Stir the mixture gently with a wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar completely. This ensures the drink is evenly sweetened and the sugar doesn't settle at the bottom.
  3. Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Heat the mixture until it is just warm to the touch, stirring occasionally. This gentle warming helps the sugar dissolve fully without losing the fresh aroma of the citrus juice.
  4. Once the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture is warm, remove the saucepan from the heat. Allow it to cool to room temperature naturally. This step is crucial to preserve the vibrant citrus flavor.
  5. Transfer the cooled citrus mixture to a large pitcher. Cover the pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. Chill the drink for at least 2 hours to let the flavors meld together and achieve the refreshing quality typical of Vietnamese Fruit Drink.
  6. When ready to serve, fill each glass with ice cubes. Pour the chilled fruit drink over the ice, ensuring each glass has an equal amount of liquid. Serve immediately in traditional glassware to enjoy the drink at its most refreshing state.
Cover of Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Vietnamese volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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