Arrowroot tea

Kuzuyu (葛湯) is a sweet Japanese beverage that is made by adding kudzu flour to hot water. It has a thick, honey-like texture, and a pale, translucent appearance.[4] It is served in a mug or tea bowl. During the winter, Kuzuyu is traditionally served for dessert as a hot drink.

In Japanese, Kuzu (葛) is the word for "kudzu". It is also translated as "arrowroot",[5] although kudzu and arrowroot are distinct plants. Yu (湯) means "hot water".[6][7] In English, the name of the drink is sometimes translated as kudzu starch gruel[8][7][9] or arrowroot tea.

In order to make Kuzuyu, Kudzu flour is added to hot water and stirred until thick. Kudzu flour, or Kuzuko (葛粉), is a powder that is made from the dried root of the kudzu plant. Kudzu flour can also be used in East Asian sauces and soups, as it is a powerful thickening agent.[10] When added to hot water, it quickly alters the water's texture. Though lacking fragrance and taste in its powder form, the arrowroot takes on a unique sweet flavor when dissolved in the hot water.

Chikcha (칡차; "arrowroot tea") can be made with either sliced East Asian arrowroot or the starch powder made from the root.[1][11] Chick (칡) is the native Korean name of the plant, while cha (차; 茶) means "tea". Chikcha can also refer to the tea made from arrowroot flower.[12] Chikcha made from powdered arrowroot is also called galbun-cha (갈분차; 葛粉茶). Galbun-cha is a Sino-Korean name for the drink, formed from gal (갈, 葛: the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese word for kudzu) and bun (분, 粉: the Korean pronunciation of the Chinese word for "flour, powder").[13] Conversely, chikcha made by boiling the dried roots is called galgeun-cha (갈근차; 葛根茶), with geun (근; 根) meaning "root".[14]

The roots are harvested from late autumn to early spring. They are then washed, peeled, and sun-dried.[12] To make tea, 15–20 g (0.53–0.71 oz) of fresh roots are simmered in 600 ml (21 imp fl oz; 20 US fl oz) of water over low heat, until the water is reduced by two thirds.[11][12] Jujubes can also be boiled with the shredded roots if desired.[11] The tea can be served hot or cold. While honey may be added to taste, sugar is not recommended.[12]

An alternative tea can be made by ground arrowroot. First, the roots are torn into thin shreds. They are then dried for twenty days in shade, followed by ten days in a hot ondol room, after which they are ground to a starch powder.[12] Tea is then made by mixing the starch powder with hot water.[13] The gruel-like tea that results can also be combined with sugar, milk, green tea, or cocoa.[11][13] Similar tea can also be made using starch powder from the scaly bulbs of Asian fawnlily.[13]

Chikcha made from the arrowroot flowers can also be prepared by infusing two dried flowers, preferably picked in August, in 600 ml (21 imp fl oz; 20 US fl oz) of hot water.[12]