Sikhye

Sikhye is light, refreshing, and delicately sweet, with a gentle malty aroma and soft grains of rice floating in the glass. Served cold with pine nuts, it is soothing, clean-tasting, and especially satisfying after a rich meal.

Nutrition · per serving

170kcal

2.8gProtein

38.5gCarbs

1.5gFat

0.7gFiber

2 servings

Ingredients

7 items

Malt infusion

malt powder60 g

warm water1.2 L

Rice and sweetening

cooked short-grain rice120 g

granulated sugar50 g

fresh ginger, sliced8 g

To serve

pine nuts6 g

ice cubesas needed

Tips

•Traditional Sikhye is usually fermented more slowly over several hours, but this accelerated version fits the time limit while still giving a malty, gently sweet flavor.
•Use cooked short-grain rice that is intact rather than mushy, so the grains stay attractive in the drink.
•If you have time, chill the finished punch thoroughly before serving instead of using ice for the cleanest flavor.
•For a deeper ginger note, lightly bruise the sliced ginger before simmering.

Steps

1
Make the malt infusion: whisk the malt powder with 400 ml of the warm water in a bowl until mostly dissolved. Add the remaining 800 ml warm water, stir well, then let it stand for 10 minutes so the sediment drops. This quick settling helps you pour off a clearer liquid and avoid graininess.
60 g malt powder1.2 L warm water
2
Carefully pour the upper liquid into a saucepan, leaving the heavy sediment behind in the bowl. Do not scrape the bottom; a little loss is better than a cloudy Sikhye.
3
Add the cooked short-grain rice to the saucepan and heat over very low heat until the liquid reaches about 60–65°C; keep it in that range for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice gently. The goal is warm, not hot: if it simmers, the enzymes weaken and the drink will be less sweet.
120 g cooked short-grain rice
4
Strain out the rice, reserving both the rice and the liquid. Return the liquid to the saucepan, then add the sugar and sliced ginger. Bring just to a gentle boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the ginger lightly perfumes the punch.
50 g granulated sugar8 g fresh ginger, sliced
5
Remove from the heat and let the liquid cool for 5 minutes. Strain out the ginger. Stir the reserved rice back into the punch if you want a more traditional presentation with floating grains.
8 g fresh ginger, sliced120 g cooked short-grain rice
6
Serve chilled if possible, or pour over ice cubes for an immediate cold version. Divide between 2 glasses and garnish each serving with pine nuts. A few rice grains floating on top is a good sign of a proper Sikhye.
as needed ice cubes6 g pine nuts

Origin & History

Sikhye is a classic Korean sweet rice punch traditionally served cold as a dessert drink, especially after festive meals and on holidays. It is made by extracting sweetness from malted barley and rice, a technique that reflects Korea’s long tradition of grain-based drinks and fermentation.

korean vegan rice drink dessert chilled malt

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Steps

Make the malt infusion: whisk the malt powder with 400 ml of the warm water in a bowl until mostly dissolved. Add the remaining 800 ml warm water, stir well, then let it stand for 10 minutes so the sediment drops. This quick settling helps you pour off a clearer liquid and avoid graininess.

60 g malt powder1.2 L warm water

Carefully pour the upper liquid into a saucepan, leaving the heavy sediment behind in the bowl. Do not scrape the bottom; a little loss is better than a cloudy Sikhye.

Add the cooked short-grain rice to the saucepan and heat over very low heat until the liquid reaches about 60–65°C; keep it in that range for 10 minutes, stirring once or twice gently. The goal is warm, not hot: if it simmers, the enzymes weaken and the drink will be less sweet.

120 g cooked short-grain rice

Strain out the rice, reserving both the rice and the liquid. Return the liquid to the saucepan, then add the sugar and sliced ginger. Bring just to a gentle boil, then simmer for 5 minutes until the sugar is dissolved and the ginger lightly perfumes the punch.

50 g granulated sugar8 g fresh ginger, sliced

Remove from the heat and let the liquid cool for 5 minutes. Strain out the ginger. Stir the reserved rice back into the punch if you want a more traditional presentation with floating grains.

8 g fresh ginger, sliced120 g cooked short-grain rice

Serve chilled if possible, or pour over ice cubes for an immediate cold version. Divide between 2 glasses and garnish each serving with pine nuts. A few rice grains floating on top is a good sign of a proper Sikhye.

as needed ice cubes6 g pine nuts