Eating in China
Sugarcane and cogon-rhizome drink

Sugarcane and cogon-rhizome drink

竹蔗茅根水Zhúzhè máogēn shuǐ

A light, sweet Cantonese simmered drink with sugarcane, cogon-grass rhizome, carrot and water chestnut. It is strained and fluid, with gentle vegetal notes rather than the thickness of blended juice.

Specification
Simmer washed cane and rhizome with peeled carrot, water chestnuts and water, then strain. This representative recipe adds no sugar. Recipes and bottled products differ. No added sugar does not mean sugar-free; sweetness also comes from the ingredients.
Order in Chinese

At the table

How to enjoy it

Drink the strained liquid warm or chilled. Let hot servings cool; leave fibrous cane and rhizome pieces behind.

A useful check

The selected recipe uses only plant ingredients and water. Check additional herbs, sweeteners and packaged-product labels separately.

How it may vary

Recipes and bottled products differ. No added sugar does not mean sugar-free; sweetness also comes from the ingredients.

Know what you’re trying.

Specification
Simmer washed cane and rhizome with peeled carrot, water chestnuts and water, then strain. This representative recipe adds no sugar. Recipes and bottled products differ. No added sugar does not mean sugar-free; sweetness also comes from the ingredients.

Ingredients

Sugarcane, cogon-grass rhizome, carrot, water chestnuts, water.

Origin & regional roots

Hong Kong

Associated with Hong Kong.

About this regional connection

Hong Kong: Official Hong Kong recipe and local home cooking.

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ASK IF IT'S AVAILABLE

请问你们有竹蔗茅根水吗?

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A LITTLE SOMETHING TO READ

Story & history

Sugarcane and cogon-rhizome drink

This account describes a tradition or story, rather than an established historical fact.

In Cantonese home cooking, these ingredients are simmered together for a lightly sweet drink. It belongs to the tradition of prepared herbal drinks, not to ordinary tea-leaf tea.

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