← Nouns Cooking · Thai

Ingredients

• 40 g Dried bael fruit slices (matoom)
• 1.5 l Water
• 70 g cane sugar, to taste
• ½ tsp Salt
• 720 ml Ice (optional)

Method

1. Toast the dried bael slices in a dry pan over medium-low heat for 3–4 min, turning, until they darken and smell like caramel.
2. Add the water, bring to the boil and simmer gently for 15 min, until it is a rich amber colour.
3. Stir in the sugar and salt until dissolved, then strain.
4. Drink warm, or cool and chill for 1 hour and serve over ice.

Tips

• Look for dried bael (matoom) in Thai or Indian shops, where it is sold as bel fruit.
• Add a knot of pandan leaves while it simmers for an extra fragrant brew.

Sources

Written in our own words after cross-checking these recipes:

Hungry in Thailand Simply Suwanee