Marmalade Tea Recipes

YUJA TEA (KOREAN CITRON TEA) RECIPE

Steps:

• Sterilize a glass jar in a pot of boiling water.
• Rinse the yuja fruit in running water. You may use bi-carb soda and/or coarse salt to scrub the yuja skin. Pat dry yuja with some paper towels.
• Separate the yuja - rind, pulp and juice, pith and seeds. Discard the pith and seeds. Thinly slice the yuja rind in even shapes and sizes. If you need more tips on this step, refer above "Tips for Preparing Yuja for Marmalade".
• Blend the yuja pulp and juice (but not the rind) in a mixer or blender. (Depending on the volume of yuja-cheong you're making, you may need to use a handheld blender instead).
• Combine blended yuja with sugar in a clean bowl and mix them well. Place the sliced yuja rind in the sterilized jar then pour over the yuja and sugar mixture. Stir with a clean teaspoon.
• Close the lid and sit the jar at room temperature until the sugar dissolves. Depending on the volume, it may take a few days to dissolve all the sugar. During this time, stir the yuja-cheong using a clean teaspoon everyday.
• Transfer the jar into the fridge until used up. The marmalade taste improves as times goes by. (i.e. It tastes better from week 1 to 2 of making it. Also the subtle bitterness improves from week 3 of making it.)
• Dissolve 2-3 teaspoonfuls of yuja-cheong (yuja marmalade) into a cup of water. Serve. (You can eat the yuja rind if you wish.)

CITRUS MARMALADE

Steps:

• Cut the citrus: Using a sharp knife, slice off the top and bottom of the citrus so it sits sturdily on the cutting board. Slice off the peel and white pith in sections, starting at the top and following the curve of the fruit. (You should have a pile of peels and a few naked fruit.)
• Thinly slice the peels (with the pith) no thinner than 1/8 inch and no thicker than 1/4 inch, place them in a large bowl and set aside.
• Halve the fruit and remove any visible seeds. Thinly slice about 1/4-inch thick (white membrane and all), removing any seeds you might have missed. Add the fruit to the peels, and cover with 3 to 5 cups of water, taking note of how much water you used. Let this sit for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. (This will help extract the pectin slowly as well as soften the peels.)
• Make the marmalade: Place a small plate in the refrigerator to chill. (You'll use this later.)
• Place the peels, fruit and water in a large pot. Add enough water to bring the total to 6 cups and bring to a strong simmer over medium-high heat.
• Cook the citrus until the peels have begun to soften and turn translucent, and the liquid has reduced by about three-fourths, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Add sugar and any add-ins and continue to cook, stirring occasionally at first, then more frequently as the marmalade cooks and the juices thicken. Continue until most of the liquid has evaporated and the peels are totally softened and almost completely translucent, another 40 to 50 minutes.
• As the marmalade cooks, the liquid reduces, the sugars thicken and the natural pectins activate. You'll notice the liquid go from a rapid, rolling boil with smaller bubbles to a slow, thick, tarlike boil with larger bubbles: This is the stage at which it's most important to stir constantly along the bottom of the pot to prevent scorching and sticking. (Sugar is heavier than water and will concentrate at the bottom of the pot, making the fruit more likely to burn.) It's also the stage at which splattering may occur, so take care in stirring.
• When the marmalade reaches this point, add lemon juice and continue to cook, stirring constantly until the jam has returned to its previously thickened state, about another 5 minutes. At this stage, the mixture should look thick and viscous with bits of the peel floating around. The peels will never break into the liquid as with a jam: This is O.K.
• To test the jam's thickness, spoon a bit onto the chilled plate, return it to the refrigerator and chill for 2 minutes. Drag your finger through it: It should hold its shape on either side without appearing watery or runny. If it's not there yet, cook it for a few more minutes.
• Remove from heat and discard the vanilla bean, if used. Divide among jars, leaving 1/4 inch of space at the top, and seal immediately. Can the marmalade (our How to Make Jam guide has detailed instruction), or store in the refrigerator.

MARMALADE TEA

Steps:

• Place tea bag into a saucepan.
• Pour boiling water over tea bag; cover and let steep for 5 minutes.
• Remove tea bag.
• Add in marmalade, sugar, and lemon; stir to combine.
• Strain mixture if you want or serve as is.

MARMALADE VODKA

Steps:

• Pour the vodka into a sterilised 1-litre sealable flip-top jar. Stir in the marmalade and the vanilla pod and seeds until the marmalade has mostly dissolved, and just the peel is left. Seal and leave in a cool, dark place for 48 hrs, or longer if you prefer a more bitter flavour.
• Strain through a fine mesh sieve, then bottle. Will keep for several months in a cool, dark place. Use in a cosmopolitan or breakfast martini with vermouth, or top up with sparkling water and a dash of bitters.