Pomegranate Soju
I was so happy when I saw Taiwan-made Korean soju selling for NT$100 (US$3) a bottle in Taipei. A bottle of soju easily costs 2-3 times more back home. I’m not a big fan of soju on the rocks though, so I mix the soju with 100% pure pomegranate juice to make pomegranate soju (석류소주/石榴燒酒).
The pomegranate soju is naturally sweetened, packed with antioxidants and looks pretty in red. The auspicious symbolism of pomegranate and the beautiful red also makes this a perfect drink for Chinese New Year.
See Also:
Cooking from Taipei:
And this is also my most unforgettable kitchen memory in Taipei. Since I don’t have a pestle (I don’t think many people pack a pestle when they go overseas ^o^), I used the top of a large carrot to pound the seeds to extract pure pom juice. Imagine making pom juice in a tiny kitchen of a studio apartment at a foreign country using a large carrot. A little sad, very comical … but this set-up really works ;)
For best results, it’s essential to use pomegranate with seeds of a blood red colour (pictured above), not the ones with pale pink seeds. They are the Taiwan, US and Korean varieties. I bought two pomegranates for NT$90 (US$3) at a local morning market. In Singapore, you can find the red pom seeds imports from US (usually available seasonally at Giant or Sheng Siong) selling for about S$2.95 per pom during sale.
The pom juice made with the right variety is so sweet that there is no need for any sweetener (NO sugar, honey or maple syrup) which to me, ruins the pureness and health benefits of the juice. It also comes in an attractive maroon red.
Pomegranate Soju Recipe
Use pomegranate with dark red seeds (US, Taiwan and Korean variety) for best sweetness and colour, as compared to the ones with pale pink seeds.
Pure pom juice stains surfaces and fabrics. Be careful when making and handling the juice. Clean up immediately if staining occurs.
Ingredients:
- seeds from 1 large pomegranate (석류/石榴)
- 1 bottle (330 ml) Korean unflavoured soju (소주/燒酒) chilled
You also need
- wire mesh bowl
- large bowl
- pestle
- glass pitcher and soju short glasses
Directions:
- Extract pomegranate seeds. Cut pomegranate in half. Break them into smaller sections. Take out the seeds, discarding any membrane or white pulp.
- Make pomegranate juice. Place a wire mesh bowl in a larger bowl. Add pomegranate seeds into the inner mesh bowl. Use a pestle (or any heavy blunt object like the top of a large carrot) to pound the seeds to extract the juice until the seeds are drained. Transfer the pure pom juice to a glass bottle to chill in the fridge.
- Make pom soju. In a serving glass pitcher, pour equal parts chilled soju and pom juice (or any higher/lower soju concentration as desired).