Sansuyu-cha (Korean Cornelian Cherry Tea)
Quick answer
- Total time
- 28 min
- Level
- Easy
- Servings
- 2 servings
- Ingredients
- 6
About this dish
The tea uses pitted, dried cornelian cherry flesh: dark red-purple, deeply wrinkled and soft, not whole berries with the hard stone still inside.
Read more
Even pitted fruit can hide the odd stone or stem, so it gets picked over before rinsing. Fifteen minutes on low with jujubes and ginger turns the water red.
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1
Measure 30 g of dried, pitted Cornus officinalis fruit flesh.
Pick out any hard stones or stems, rinse briefly in cold water, and drain in a fine sieve.
- 2
Split 3 jujubes in half so the cut flesh is exposed to the water.
Slice 10 g fresh ginger thinly, because thin pieces release warmth quickly without needing a long simmer.
- 3
Put 700 ml water, the cornelian cherries, jujubes, and ginger into a pot, then stir gently to spread everything out.
Heat over medium until small bubbles gather at the edge and the surface starts moving.
- 4
As soon as it begins to boil, lower the heat and simmer gently for 15 minutes only.
The tea is ready when the liquid turns red and the ginger aroma rises from the pot.
- 5
After the 15-minute simmer, turn off the heat and strain through a fine sieve.
Let the clear tea drain without pressing the solids.
- 6
Let the steam settle briefly, then stir in 2 tablespoons honey off the heat so its aroma stays noticeable.
Float 1 tablespoon pine nuts on top and serve the tea warm.
References checked
These references were consulted when this page was prepared or corrected. A source check does not mean the recipe was independently kitchen-tested.
- The Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th Edition: Cornus Fruit
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan · Checked: 2026-08-29
Official cooking and safety guidance
Public-agency cooking and food safety guidance that applies to this recipe.
Official cooking and safety guidance
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Ingredient selection
The Japanese Pharmacopoeia defines Cornus Fruit as the pulp of Cornus officinalis and describes it as dark red-purple to dark purple, coarsely wrinkled, and soft. For this recipe, choose 30 g of pitted dried fruit flesh, rinse it briefly in cold water, and drain before simmering.
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. The Japanese Pharmacopoeia 18th Edition: Cornus Fruit
Sources checked 2026-08-29
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