Post-Hot Pot Pit-Stops: Refreshing Eats To Cool You Down

Hot pot is a fun, interactive dining experience with a long history in China. It's a great way to socialise with friends and family, and it's especially good in cold weather. If you're planning to eat hot pot, it's a good idea to line your stomach with a dairy drink like yoghurt beforehand. During the meal, you can drink cold beer or a Chinese liquor like báijiǔ. After the meal, fresh fruit or ice cream is a great way to cool down.

Beer, especially Tsing Tao, is a good pairing with hot pot

Beer is a popular drink to have with hot pot, especially the Chinese-made Tsing Tao. Tsing Tao is a light beer that goes well with almost all Chinese food and can soothe your mouth from the spicy heat of the hot pot with its icy contrast. It is also a good pairing because it is a lighter beer that won't overwhelm the flavours of the hot pot.

Hot pot is a social meal, shared amongst friends and family, and the beer flows as the spicy broth bubbles. Tsing Tao is a popular choice in China, and as the hot pot is a communal meal, it is a good idea to bring beers for the whole table.

If you are a beer enthusiast, you might prefer a hoppy IPA to cut through the intense flavours of the hot pot. However, Tsing Tao is a good choice for a traditional pairing with hot pot.

Dairy drinks like yoghurt or fermented milk are recommended to coat your stomach before and after

Yogurt is a popular choice as it is a fermented milk with a distinctive thick and creamy semi-solid consistency and a mildly tart flavour. It is made from incubating milk at a high temperature, and then allowing it to cool before adding a starter culture. The bacteria used to ferment milk into yoghurt are typically thermophilic, meaning they are active at elevated temperatures. This process gives yoghurt its thick consistency and kills any native bacteria that could compete with the introduced cultures.

Fermented milk drinks are also a great option to consume before and after a hot pot meal. These drinks can be made at home and are incredibly easy to prepare. All you need are two ingredients: milk and a starter culture. Simply heat the milk, allow it to cool, add in the starter culture, and then keep the mixture at a constant temperature for at least eight hours to ferment.

Drinking dairy drinks before and after a hot pot meal will help to balance out the intense spices and leave you feeling refreshed.

Salads, nuts, and spring rolls are good side dishes to accompany hot pot

There are several types of salads that go well with hot pot. A spicy smashed cucumber salad is a refreshing option. A mushroom salad is another good choice, especially if you have vegetarians in your group. You can also opt for a mixed nut salad, which is a typical side dish to have with alcohol.

Spring rolls are another great side to have with hot pot. They are a good option if you're looking for something toasty and crunchy.

In addition to salads and spring rolls, there are other side dishes that pair well with hot pot. Scallion pancakes, for example, are a tasty and toasty option.

Fresh fruit or ice cream are great dessert options

Hot pot is a fun and interactive dining experience, but it can be a heavy meal. So, it's best to finish with something light and refreshing, like fresh fruit or ice cream.

Fresh fruit is a great way to end your hot pot meal, especially if you've opted for a spicy broth. The natural sweetness and crispness of fruits like apples, pears, oranges, and berries can help cool down your palate and provide a refreshing finish to your meal. It's also a healthy option, providing vitamins, minerals, and fibre to balance out the rich flavours of the hot pot.

If you're craving something more indulgent, a scoop (or two) of ice cream is the perfect way to cap off your hot pot experience. Go for a simple soft serve or a creamy, rich flavour like vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry. The cold temperature and smooth texture of ice cream can be a delightful contrast to the savoury, spicy flavours of the hot pot.

Whether you opt for fresh fruit or a bowl of ice cream, these dessert options are a great way to end your hot pot meal on a sweet note, leaving you and your guests feeling satisfied and refreshed.

If you're still thirsty, try a sour plum tea, which is believed to aid digestion

If you're still thirsty after a hot pot, a sour plum tea is a great option. Sour plum tea, or Suanmeitang, is a traditional Chinese drink that is believed to aid digestion. It is made from smoked plums, rock sugar, and other ingredients such as sweet osmanthus, liquorice root, and dried hawthorn berries. The drink is slightly salty, sweet, and sour, with a unique smoky flavour. It is typically served chilled, making it a perfect refreshment during the summertime.

Sour plum tea has a long history in China, dating back to the Song dynasty (960–1279 CE). It is believed to have cooling properties and is often consumed to relieve heat during the summer. In addition to its refreshing taste, sour plum tea is also known for its health benefits. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is effective in improving digestion and inhibiting the buildup of lactic acid in the body.

Preparing sour plum tea is quite simple. The process involves rinsing the ingredients, including the plums, hawthorn, liquorice root, and orange peel, and then boiling them together with water. After boiling, rock sugar is added, and the mixture is boiled again. Once the beverage has cooled, it is chilled and ready to be served.

The colour of the tea is a beautiful dark magenta, and it is known for its delicious flavour. It is an excellent way to rehydrate and replenish electrolytes lost through sweating or spicy foods like hot pot. You can also freeze sour plum tea into cubes to enjoy anytime without worrying about it going bad.

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