Sikhye facts for kids
| Sikhye | |
Sikhye served in a bowl
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Quick facts for kids Korean name |
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| Hangul |
식혜
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| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | sikhye |
| McCune–Reischauer | sikhye |
Sikhye (식혜) is a yummy, sweet Korean drink. People often have it after a meal, like a dessert! It's also sometimes called shikhye, shikeh, dansul, or gamju.
This special drink has tiny bits of cooked rice floating in it. Sometimes, you might even find pine nuts! It's a bit like jiuniang from China or amazake from Japan. You can easily find sikhye in stores across South Korea.
Contents
How to Make Sikhye
Making sikhye is quite interesting!
- First, you pour water that has malt in it over cooked rice.
- This mix then sits at about 62 degrees Celsius (that's warm, but not boiling!).
- You know it's ready when the rice grains start floating to the top.
- Next, the liquid is strained to remove the rice.
- Finally, it's boiled until it becomes naturally sweet. No extra sugar is usually added to the basic recipe!
You can buy sikhye in cans or plastic bottles at Korean grocery stores. One big company that makes it is Vilac from Busan. Canned sikhye often has some cooked rice at the bottom. Many Korean restaurants also serve homemade sikhye after your meal.
Different Kinds of Sikhye
Just like there are different kinds of juice, there are different kinds of sikhye!
Andong Sikhye
This type comes from Andong, a city in South Korea. It's special because it includes radish, carrots, and even red pepper powder! Unlike regular sikhye which is boiled, Andong sikhye is fermented for several days. It's known for helping with digestion because it has good bacteria called lactobacillus.
Hobak-sikhye (Pumpkin Sikhye)
Hobak-sikhye is made with pumpkin, steamed rice, and malt. It's fermented for a few days at the right temperature. Sometimes, a little sugar is added to make it taste sweeter.
Yeonyeop-sikhye
This unique sikhye is made by wrapping hot sticky rice, a type of rice wine, and honey inside a lotus leaf. Before you drink it, people often add a few pine nuts on top.
Why Sikhye is Good for You
People believe sikhye is good for your health!
- It has dietary fiber and things called anti-oxidants, which help your body stay healthy.
- Long ago, kings and queens in Korea drank sikhye after their meals to help them digest their food.
- Some people also think it helps balance your body's temperature.
- It's even said to help people feel better after a long night out!
Where the Name "Sikhye" Comes From
The word "Sikhye" is a Korean word. It's not found in Chinese or Japanese languages. "Sik" (or "Sak") means something like "mature," and "Hye" means "sweet juice." So, when you put them together, it means "mature sweet juice." However, experts are still looking for old writings to fully confirm this idea.
Images for kids
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Yeot-gireum (malted barley) used for making sikhye
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A can of sikhye, produced by Korea Yakult
See also
