Papaya Cool Water

Papaya Cool Water

　　The “papaya” here is not the milky, teardrop-shaped fruit that grows on southern papaya trees, but rather the fruit of a wild herbaceous plant. Its seeds are extracted, mashed, and then transformed into a crystal-clear, gel-like substance. A sprinkling of sesame seeds is added, and once cooled, it becomes jelly-like yet soft and almost formless. It is then cut into small pieces, placed in a cup or bowl with ice cubes, mixed with some brown sugar syrup, and a touch of rose sugar to make papaya cool water.

The fun of drinking this papaya water doesn’t lie in gulping it down, but rather in using a thin straw to suck in that “big chunk,” letting it slide into your mouth, and then gulping it down with a gurgle. The smooth, cool, and sweet sensation floods your senses all at once, filling your stomach while also helping to cool down internal heat.