Recipes

Ginger Pear Tea

July 22, 2020

This delicate ginger pear tea is inspired by Baesuk, a classic Korean drink-and-dessert-in-one. Sweet pears and honey contrast the spice of freshly cut ginger and whole peppercorns, creating a complex flavor profile. The traditional garnish of poached pear slices and floating pine nuts look lovely in any of Ember’s heated coffee mugs, adding an aesthetic quality to an already indulgent drink.

Baesuk can be served chilled as a refreshing summer drink or warm as a soothing sweet beverage prized for its use as a cough and sore throat remedy. Of course, at Ember we always prefer things warm. The zing of the ginger and peppercorns are best enjoyed after simmering, while the delicate flavor of the pears is brought out by a slightly lower-than-average drinking temperature. We recommend setting your heated mug to 130°F to enjoy the complexity of this fresh ginger pear tea with every sip.

Drinking Temperature

Served at 130°F (54°C)

Ingredients

Makes 3 servings

3 cups of water
2-3 3” pieces of peeled ginger root
1 Korean pear (or other pear), peeled and cut into 8-10 wedges
16-30 whole peppercorns, according to taste
1-1½ tablespoons honey
Pine nuts for garnish (optional)

Music Playlist

Directions

Place peeled ginger and water in pot and bring to rolling boil (about 8-10 minutes)
While ginger is boiling, peel and cut pear into wedges. Using a toothpick or chopstick create 2-3 small holes in pear slice and push in one peppercorn per hole
Use a slotted spoon to remove ginger from pot
Reduce heat to low, add pear slices and honey, and cook uncovered for 7 minutes
Add tea to your Ember Mug² and let cool to 130℉ (Include 1-2 pear slices as an optional garnish)
Garnish with pine nuts