Basil Seed Drink (Nuoc Hot E)

Unlike most American kids who grew up drinking soda pop, I grew up with soybean, pennyworth and basil seed drinks. As I got older, I transitioned to fresh soy milk and juiced my own pennyworth drinks, but I had no idea that I could make basil seed drink from scratch until a recent visit to the oriental market. I saw a little pouch of black basil seeds and couldn't wait to run home to make my drink. It looks and feels like tiny eyeballs, but is very fun to drink!

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp dried Thai basil seeds
• 2 cups water
• 2 tbsp raw cane sugar
• 1 tbsp honey
• 2 drops banana essence
• Crushed Ice
• Diced Toddy palm seeds (optional)

Pour boiling water into a glass bowl. Drop in basil seeds and wait 10 minutes until they’ve swelled into what looks like tadpoles. Strain.

Warm up ½ cup of water and dissolve sugar and honey. Mix this syrup with the remaining 1 ½ cup of water. Add a couple drops of banana essence or whatever flavor you like and stir. Chill.

For the basic basil seed drink, you just mix everything together and pour over some crushed ice. I was craving a snack, so I diced up some Toddy palm seeds and added it to the mix.