What Is Rock Sugar
Rock sugar, or Koori Zato (氷砂糖), also known as sugar candy, it’s made from a solution of sugar and water through crystallization. It’s made of different types of sugar, such as white granulated sugar, brown sugar, and sugar cane. It comes in jagged rocks or rectangular cubes. It is commonly used in Asian cuisines to sweeten teas, drinks, dessert soups, liquors, or added to cooking. It is the preferred choice of sugar for flavoring teas and soups because it is less sweet than white granulated sugar. With a clear taste, the sugar melds beautifully without overwhelming the drink’s flavor.
Rock Sugar In Japanese Cuisine
We use it to make Plum Wine (Umeshu) and Ume Plum Syrup. As rock sugar takes time to dissolve, this helps extract the flavors and fragrance from the plums slowly. You can use Japanese or Chinese brands. If you’re using a Chinese brand, choose the opaque or white-colored types, not the gold-colored rock sugar made from sugar cane, which will color the liquid.
Where To Buy
Substitutions
You could use regular sugar, but the sugar crystals will melt much faster. The undissolved sugar may sink to the bottom of the container instead of melding with the fruits. Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
