KOREA FOUNDATION

In the sweltering summer weather, appetites may shrink but the quest for a cool, refreshing beverage only intensifies. A sip or two, let alone a whole glass, of a perfectly chilled or bubbly, carbonated drink is enough for us to momentarily forget all about the heat. But even in the eras before ice and carbonation were easily accessible in the heat of the summer, countries around the world developed their own traditional refreshing beverages.

  Sikhye is a Korean beverage beloved through the ages and is even now trending on social media thanks to its unique features, like the grains of rice that float on the drink’s surface. Made by pouring malt water over steamed rice and letting it mature, this light drink pairs especially well with greasy foods. Whether served cold or at room temperature, it leaves a clean, fresh aftertaste, and the malt provides a gentle sweetness without the addition of sugar. Sikhye is enjoyed by Korean people not only in the summer but all year round. For those who prefer to leave out the grains of rice, a canned version is the perfect option.

   In Britain, nothing beats Pimm’s in the summertime. The boozy fruit punch is made with a base of Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur mixed with ingredients such as lemonade or ginger ale, various fruits and cucumber, and fresh mint leaves. The taste of the drink is said to be terribly missed by Britons who live outside their country, and even Korean students who have returned home after studying in England say they’re disappointed to discover they cannot find the right ingredients for Pimm’s punch in Korea.

   In Spain, the traditional drink horchata is perennially popular. It’s a delicious a blend of tiger nuts, sugar, and water, served cool. Despite their name, tiger nuts are actually small dried tubers, meaning horchata can be safely consumed even by people with nut allergies. In Mexico and other parts of Central and South America, horchata is made by combining tiger nuts with cinnamon powder and milk instead of sugar and water.

   In India and Turkey, lassi is the representative summer drink. The traditional Indian beverage contains yogurt, water, aromatic herbs and spices, salt, fruits, and vegetables. Both a spicy, salty lassi with cumin and a sweet version with sugar are popular in India. Turkish lassi differs in that it uses fewer ingredients—typically just yogurt, lemon, salt, and water.

   Vietnam, the country of rice, has summer drinks that utilize grains, much like Korean sikhye and misutgaru, mixed grain powder. These Vietnamese drinks are more like desserts than beverages as they are thicker than their Korean counterparts and are often served alongside fruit. Iced coffee, cola, and beer may top the world’s most popular summer drinks, but this year, why not turn to traditional drinks from different corners of the global village to beat the sultry weather in an exciting and healthier way?

Written by Kim Shinyoung
Illustrated by Jeong Hyoju

Sikhye Pimm’shorchata lassi