Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Salabat (Ginger Tea)



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In the Philippines, salabat is traditionally sold outside churches during the Christmas season. Patrons would warm themselves with this drink as they leave the church. So we're told. I don't think I've ever had salabat before! It was a good time to remedy that.

I steeped ginger in some water, adding some brown sugar. You can make this as sweet and as ginger-y as you like. Strain the ginger and it's ready to serve. As a timesaver, you can make this very strong (a concentrate) and store it in the refrigerator. Whenever you want some ginger tea, simply take some salabat concentrate and add hot (or cold) water.

(This would be good right now. Still sick!)




We served salabat during our New Year's Eve party:
A Starry, Starry Night in Vancouver -- Evoking the Philippine Christmas Spirit

eatingclub vancouver Filipino food
Bibingka
Mama's Ampalaya (Bitter Melon)
Faux Kamote-Que
Philippine-Style Chicken "BBQ"
Fried Hasa Hasa (Mackerel)
"Savory" Chicken Wings
Sinamak (Chile-infused Vinegar)
Pan-roasted Halibut w/ Fava Beans, Potato-Onion Cakes & Bagoong Butter Sauce
Bulalo & Bangus: an even simpler Filipino meal
Baked Tahong (Mussels)
Adobo Kangkong (Adobo Water Spinach)
Oyster Torta (Oyster Omelette)
Chicken Tinola (Chicken Soup w/ Green Papaya & Pepper Leaves)
(Chinese) Roast Pork Belly / Lechon
Tilapia wrapped in Banana Leaves
Pork Belly, Two Ways
Chicken Adobo
Embutido
Salabat (Ginger Tea)
Lechon Manok (Philippine Roast Chicken) & Lechon Sauce
"Chinese Adobo" Clams and Oysters
Bistek (Citrus Beef with Caramelized Onions)
Beef Kaldereta (Beef Stew with Bell Peppers)
Atsara (Green Papaya Pickle)
Sardinas na Bangus (Milkfish in the style of Sardines) and Pressure Cooker Fear

eatingclub vancouver Beverages, a selection
Matcha Latte (Japanese Green Tea Latte), Hot and Iced
Caffè Latte with Almond Milk
Cilantro Horchata
Salabat (Ginger Tea)
Turkish Çay (Turkish Tea)
Squash Churros with Orange-Sage Hot Chocolate
Avocado Shake

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11 comments:

  1. katJanuary 21, 2009 3:54 PM

    I really like ginger drinks so I bet this would be great. You should drink lots to cure your sickness!

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  2. What's Cookin ChicagoJanuary 21, 2009 7:59 PM

    I never thought to make salanat from scratch and always reached for the jar of mix! Great idea!

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  3. bbJanuary 21, 2009 9:06 PM

    That sounds so good, and I'll bet it would be a good cure if you had a cold too. All that steamy ginger clearing your head....mmmm!

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  4. kayce.January 21, 2009 10:19 PM

    one of the filipino ladies i used to work w/ introduced me to this as a cure-all for my flu (it worked like a charm) ~ i have used it ever since, but had no idea the name or traditional uses ~ thanks!

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  5. Fitness FoodieJanuary 22, 2009 4:47 AM

    This is a great recipe. I have often wanted ginger tea, but had none in the house, but duh! I could have made it fresh. Thanks for this great idea.

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  6. What's Cookin ChicagoJanuary 22, 2009 5:54 AM

    Thanks for being a refreshing blog and providing such an enjoyable blog to read! As a result, I've nominated you for an award! You can view it here:
    http://joelens.blogspot.com/2009/01/lemonade-award.html

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2009 7:34 AM

    ooo i made this the other day very good drink to keep the cold at bay.. hope you're better.

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  8. TessaJanuary 22, 2009 9:06 AM

    I've never made this from scratch. Mom has an never ending supply of instant salabat granules from the Philippines. ;) I will try this though! It's really soothing when you have a sore throat.

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  9. MaggieJanuary 22, 2009 10:02 PM

    I make unsweetened ginger iced tea a lot. I have to try some brown sugar in mine.

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  10. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 9:18 PM

    Never made salabat from scratch like this... Always from the premix. Gotts try this sometime.

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  11. TS of eatingclub vancouverJanuary 30, 2009 5:41 PM

    kat:
    We did... JS more so than I.

    Joelen:
    I didn't even know there were instant salabat mixes!

    Thanks so much for the Lemonade award!!! =D

    bb:
    Yeah, I believe it can be used for any general "sickness".

    chef_the_city:
    I guess it's similar to those lemon-ginger-vinegar cure-alls as well. =)

    Parker:
    Welcome.

    paoix:
    Yehey, you made the drink!

    Tea:
    Jude:
    I didn't even know there were instant salabat mixes! I only knew of their existence when I saw jars in the Filipino store a couple of days before our New Year's Eve party.

    Maggie:
    And it would be nice to put tea in ours!

    ReplyDelete