Water Chestnut Sugar Cane Drink Recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes | Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes | Servings: 4 (about 1.5 litres)
This water chestnut sugar cane drink is a lightly sweet, cooling drink. I used dried sugar cane here since I couldn’t find fresh ones at the store, and it comes bundled in a packet with a few other dried roots that add their own sweetness to the drink.
Watch How to Make It
Equipment
Any 2.5 to 3 litre pot
What’s In a Dried Sugar Cane Packet?
Dried sugar cane sold at Asian grocery stores sometimes come bundled with other dried roots. Mine came bundled in a packet with dried carrot, dried arrowroot and dried imperata.
The fresh water chestnut is added separately from the packet. It’s a crisp aquatic corm, not a nut, and it stays crunchy even after simmering for over an hour.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Serves 4 (makes about 1.5 litres)
- 400 grams water chestnut 马蹄 400克
- 200-400 grams dried sugarcane 干竹蔗 200-400克
- 10 grams dried carrots (optional) 干胡萝卜 10克 （可选）
- 12 grams dried arrow roots (optional) 干粉葛 12克 （可选）
- 8 grams imperata root (optional) 茅根 8克（可选）
- 1500 – 2000 ml water 水 1500-2000 毫升
- 30-50 grams rock sugar 冰糖 30-50克
How to Make Water Chestnut Sugar Cane Drink
Step 1 — Prepared the ingredients
Wash and peel off the skin of the water chestnuts. Rinse them clean. Then rinse the dried sugar cane and the rest of the ingredients that come in the sugar cane packet (dried carrot, arrowroot, and imperata root)
Step 2 — Add Everything to the Pot
Add the water chestnut, dried sugar cane, and the rest of the ingredients that come in the sugar cane packet (dried carrot, arrowroot, and imperata root) into a large pot along with the water.
Step 3 — Boil and Simmer
Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Step 4 — Sweeten and Serve
Add the rock sugar, or any sugar you prefer, and simmer until it’s fully dissolved.
Tip: You can enjoy this drink hot right away, or let it cool and refrigerate it to drink cold — both ways work well.
Tips for the Best Water Chestnut Sugar Cane Drink
Simmer low and slow. A long, gentle simmer draws out more sweetness from the sugar cane and roots than a quick boil would.
Adjust the sugar to taste. Rock sugar gives a fragrant sweetness compared to white sugar. Nonetheless, you can use any sugar or your choice or you can even skip the sugar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use fresh sugar cane instead of dried?
Yes. Fresh sugar cane works well if you can find it — just peel it and cut it into short lengths before adding it to the pot. I used dried sugar cane here since fresh wasn’t available where I shopped.
Can I drink this hot or cold?
Yes, both. I drink it hot right after cooking, but it’s just as good chilled — leave it in the fridge for a few hours before serving cold.
How long can I store this drink?
Keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days in a sealed container or jug.
Where can I buy the dried sugar cane packet?
Look for it at Asian grocery stores, usually sold as a “sugar cane and arrowroot” or “sugar cane herbal soup” packet near the dried herbs and soup ingredients. You can also buy it online from Shopee.
Tried this recipe? Leave a comment below and let me know how it turned out! Don’t forget to tag @ruyiasianrecipes if you share it on social media.
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Water Chestnut Sugar Cane Drink Recipe
Ingredients
- 400 grams water chestnut 马蹄 400克
- 200-400 grams dried sugarcane 干竹蔗 200-400克
- 10 grams dried carrots (optional) 干胡萝卜 10克 （可选）
- 12 grams dried arrow roots (optional) 干粉葛 12克 （可选）
- 8 grams imperata root (optional) 茅根 8克（可选）
- 1500 – 2000 ml water 水 1500-2000 毫升
- 30-50 grams rock sugar 冰糖 30-50克
Instructions
Step 1 — Prepared the ingredients
- Wash and peel off the skin of the water chestnuts. Rinse them clean. Then rinse the dried sugar cane and the rest of the ingredients that come in the sugar cane packet (dried carrot, arrowroot, and imperata root)
Step 2 — Add Everything to the Pot
- Add the water chestnut, dried sugar cane, and the rest of the ingredients that come in the sugar cane packet (dried carrot, arrowroot, and imperata root) into a large pot along with the water.
Step 3 — Boil and Simmer
- Bring the pot to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for about 1 to 1.5 hours.
Step 4 — Sweeten and Serve
- Add the rock sugar, or any sugar you prefer, and simmer until it’s fully dissolved.
- Tip: You can enjoy this drink hot right away, or let it cool and refrigerate it to drink cold — both ways work well.
Video
Notes
- Simmer low and slow. A long, gentle simmer draws out more sweetness from the sugar cane and roots than a quick boil would.
- Adjust the sugar to taste. Rock sugar gives a fragrant sweetness compared to white sugar. Nonetheless, you can use any sugar or your choice or you can even skip the sugar.
