Arrowroot tea is called gegen-cha in Chinese, kuzuyu in Japanese, and chikcha, galgeun-cha, and galbun-cha in Korean.
Preparation
Japan
Kuzuyu 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. 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 is the word for "kudzu". It is also translated as "arrowroot", although kudzu and arrowroot are distinct plants. Yu means "hot water". In English, the name of the drink is sometimes translated as kudzu starch gruel or arrowroot tea. In order to make Kuzuyu, Kudzu flour is added to hot water and stirred until thick. Kudzu flour, or Kuzuko, 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. 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.
Korea
Chikcha can be made with either sliced East Asian arrowroot or the starch powder made from the root. Chick is the native Korean name of the plant, while cha means "tea". Chikcha can also refer to the tea made from arrowroot flower. Chikcha made from powdered arrowroot is also called galbun-cha. Gal is the Sino-Korean name for the plant, and bun is the translation of "powder". Conversely, chikcha made by boiling the dried roots is called galgeun-cha, with geun meaning "root". The roots are harvested from late autumn to early spring. They are then washed, peeled, and sun-dried. To make tea, of fresh roots are simmered in of water over low heat, until the water is reduced by two thirds. Jujubes can also be boiled with the shredded roots if desired. The tea can be served hot or cold. While honey may be added to taste, sugar is not recommended. 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. Tea is then made by mixing the starch powder with hot water. The gruel-like tea that results can also be combined with sugar, milk, green tea, or cocoa. Similar tea can also be made using starch powder from the scaly bulbs of Asian fawnlily. Chikcha made from the arrowroot flowers can also be prepared by infusing two dried flowers, preferably picked in August, in of hot water.
