Hwachae is a traditional Korean drink that is perfect for hot summer days. Let’s learn more about this refreshing summer drink made with easily accessible ingredients.
Hwachae has become a viral topic on TikTok, thanks to a mukbang video by Amy Flamy, also known as the “3 AM girl.”
So, if you find yourself waking up at 3 AM feeling “severely dehydrated”, try making a bowl of this refreshing hwachae using this easy 15-minute recipe to enjoy the rest of your night!
What is Hwachae?
“Hwachae” (화채) is a Korean word that directly translates to “flower water” in English. However when people say they want some hwachae, it generally refers to the sweet and refreshing Korean fruit punches.
This fruit punch, often made with watermelon and your choice of fresh fruits soaked in strawberry milk and a carbonated beverage, is beautifully presented and refreshes you instantly with the first sip.
Hwachae doesn’t typically contain actual flowers. However, for this recipe, I’ve included edible sakura flowers to create a flower jelly. This addition truly transforms our hwachae into a visually stunning and delicious “flower water”.
Main Ingredients for Making Hwachae
Variations Of Fruits
Hwachae is also popularly referred to as Korean Watermelon Punch. After experimenting with various fresh fruits in my hwachae, I’ve found that watermelon tastes the best in this milky and fizzy drink. Therefore, I recommend a 1:1 ratio of watermelon to other fruits.
If you plan to use 3 cups of watermelon cubes in your hwachae, opt for another 3 cups of different fruits, choosing four to five different types to your liking, such as all kinds of berries, mangoes, kiwi, pineapple, banana, peaches…
For the easiest preparation, simply use watermelon cubes and canned fruit cocktail, ensuring your hwachae is delicious in no time.
Liquid Base
The unique twist of hwachae lies in the fusion of creamy and fizzy flavors achieved through the combination of strawberry milk and carbonated drinks.
The strawberry milk introduces a creamy, sweet, and rich flavor that complements the natural freshness of the fruits used in hwachae.
For this recipe, I opted for bottled Pink Drink instead of strawberry milk because I typically prepare my hwachae bowl in the morning as a refreshing pick-me-up. Pink Drink contains caffeine, providing me with the perfect morning boost to start my day.
The fizziness of carbonated drinks makes Hwachae more refreshing. The bubbles provide a pleasing texture and a sensation of freshness, which can dilute the sweetness and richness of the strawberry milk.
In addition to Sprite, alternative options include lemon-lime soda, Ginger Ale, or sparkling water with some lemon slices.
Jelly or popping boba
Adding jelly or popping boba (check out my popping boba recipe here) to hwachae not only adds a unique texture to the dessert but also enhances its visual appeal.
For homemade jelly, simply dissolve jello powder in hot water, arrange edible flowers in the mold, pour in the jello mixture, and allow it to set in the refrigerator.
Storage of Hwachae
Hwachae is best enjoyed promptly, preferably within the same day. The carbonation dissipates quickly, diminishing the drink’s flavor, while prolonged soaking of fresh fruits in milk can lead to a loss of texture and taste, resulting in a less desirable experience.
EQUIPMENT
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup ice cubes (I made some mint leaf ice cubes.)
- 3 cups watermelon cubes
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup raspberries
- 3 cups fruit of your choice (I used ½ cup of sliced strawberries, ½ cup of blueberries, ½ cup of raspberries, 2 diced mangoes, and 1 diced banana. You can also put pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, and kiwi.)
- 1 cup jelly (I made some sakura jelly using chinese jelly powder. You can also use other homemade or store bought jelly.)
- ¼ cup popping boba (It’s optional. You can skip it or use crystal boba or coconut jelly)
- 1½ cup Sprite
- 1¾ cup Pink Drink (I used a 14oz bottled Pink Drink. You can also use strawberry milk.)
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk (Or honey to your taste)
- ½ cup vanilla ice cream (Optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place all the prepared ingredients in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Enjoy!
Hwachae (Korean Fruit Bowl)
Equipment
- 1 Large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice cubes (I used mint leaf ice cubes.)
- 3 cups watermelon cubes
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup raspberries
- 3 cups fruit of your choice (I used ½ cup of sliced strawberries, ½ cup of blueberries, ½ cup of raspberries, 2 diced mangoes, and 1 diced banana. You can also put pineapple, cantaloupe, honeydew, and kiwi.)
- 1 cup jelly (I made some sakura jelly using chinese jelly powder. You can also use other homemade or store bought jelly.)
- ¼ cup popping boba (It's optional. You can skip it or use crystal boba or coconut jelly)
- 1½ cup Sprite
- 1¾ cup Pink Drink (I used a 14oz bottled Pink Drink. You can also use strawberry milk.)
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk (Or honey to your taste)
- ½ cup vanilla ice cream (Optional)
Instructions
- Place all the prepared ingredients in a large bowl. Stir to combine. Enjoy!
Video
