Hwachae is a refreshing traditional Korean fruit punch made with sweet syrup, watermelon, and assorted fruits. It’s a colorful, cooling dessert drink perfect for hot summer days or festive gatherings. It’s bound to make you stay inside just to continue drinking the punch!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 2 cups watermelon, scooped into small balls or cubes
- 1 cup pineapple or cantaloupe chunks (fresh or canned)
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
- 2 cups Sprite, 7-Up, or sparkling water
- 1 cup of strawberry milk
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
- Ice cubes (as needed)
- Mint leaves or edible flowers for garnish (optional)
Directions:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, and apple slices.
- In a separate bowl, mix sugar and honey with cold water until dissolved.
- Pour the sweetened water over the fruits.
- Add Sprite or sparkling water just before serving to keep it fizzy.
- Add ice cubes and gently stir to combine.
- Garnish with mint leaves or edible flowers for a festive look.
- Serve immediately and enjoy chilled.
Optional Tips/Variations:
- Try adding other fruits like grapes, pears, or peaches.
- For a more traditional version, use sujeonggwa (a Korean cinnamon punch) as the base instead of soda.
- For extra flair, freeze small fruit pieces(like strawberries or rasberries) into ice cubes and use them instead of regular ice.
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less sugar based on your preference.