清热祛湿【香兰薏米水】PandanBarleyWater

东南亚天气炎热，很容易上火，所以那里的人都习惯喝点凉茶或者可以清热祛湿的饮料。这个香兰薏米水就是其中一种，香浓的薏米加上班/香兰叶的甜香，是一种让人不会忘怀的味道！
百度百科说：薏米是常用的中药．又是普遍、常吃的食物，性味甘淡微寒，有利水消肿、健脾去湿、舒筋除痹、清热排脓等功效，为常用的利水渗湿药。薏仁又是一种美容食品，常食可以保持人体皮肤光泽细腻，消除粉刺、斑雀、老年斑、妊娠斑、蝴蝶斑，对脱屑、痤疮、皲裂、皮肤粗糙等都有良好疗效。
上个星期出差亚利桑那，承蒙老友Linda收留，在她家住了几天。某天跟着她去亚洲超市买菜，可爱的Linda刚刚才跟我投诉说亚利桑那买不到新鲜的香兰叶一边就拿着一大包的新鲜香兰叶问我说：“盈盈这个是不是新鲜的粽叶啊？”我拿过来一闻，马上睁大眼说：“这不就是新鲜的香兰叶吗？”
谢谢Linda热情的款待，也谢谢她送我的新鲜香兰叶，让好久没机会喝新鲜香兰叶做的薏米水的我得以一尝久违的味道。
Barley water is well known for its cooling property, it is used especially in the Southeast Asia, where the tropical climate brings with it the heat and humidity, this particular beverage could help to prevent dehydration and cool down the body.
It is normally made with screw pine leaves/Pandan leaves to give a sweet distinctive smell to the already very nice and creamy flavor of barley.
It is very hard to find fresh screw pine leaves here in the States. Last week when I was traveling for work in Arizona, I paid a visit to a close friend, she show me around and I saw fresh Pandan leaves sold in the Asian supermarket. I was elated and waste no time to bring one packet home!
The Chinese traditional herb and medicine also believed that barley could help to reduce weight, cure water retention, is a good source of fibre, and could help to whiten skin tone. If used for long term, could also help to prevent freckles and wrinkles! Talking about home-made skincare huh!
材料：
1/4 杯 薏米 （最好是洋薏米和薏米仁混合）
2 片新鲜的香兰叶/班兰叶 （Pandan Leaves/Screw pine Leaves）
2-3块冰糖 （按个人口味增减）
8-10 杯水
Ingredients：
1/4 cup of hulled barley （Mixture of Chinese Pearl barley and Pearl Barley is the best）
2-4 leaves of Pandan/Screw pine Leaves
2-3 pieces of Rock Sugar （or to taste）
8-10 cups of water

1. 薏米洗净泡水半个小时，装入瓦煲里，加入8-10杯水，喜欢浓一点的用8杯水，喜欢稀一点的10杯。
2. 香兰叶洗净打个结，顺便搓搓让味道出来。把香兰叶加入锅里，先大火煮滚后转小火煮1个小时，熄火后才加入冰糖。
注：冰糖不要太早加入，太早下冰糖甜味就不突出，这是一个卖糖水的阿姨教我的，最好是喝之前再加糖。
1. Clean and soak barley for half an hour, add it to a deep claypot/stock pot together with 8-10 cups of water.
2. Clean and tie the pandan leaves into a knot, lightly rubbed it to release more fragrance. Place the pandan leaves in the pot.
3. Bring the water to boil, and reduce heat to medium low to cook for another hour. Add rock sugar after turning off stove.

欢迎到我的英文博客玩--
http://www.echoskitchen.com/2011/09/lindalinda-linda-12-2-pandan.html