Sago Coolers

Well, I'm back. After two long months of waiting, I finally have a new post for you all. Where was I you ask? Was I traveling the world and crossing the pond to some far off land? Well, I did cross Lake Washington if that counts? So you can say I crossed a "puddle"?

But no, I wasn't on an adventure, I didn't travel to some far off land, and I didn't go over the Atlantic. Where was I? At Bellevue College taking a class that took up all of my time. Who knew one simple class would have quizzes on some 50 pages of dense Biology Textbook material, EVERY SINGLE DAY! UW isn't even like that!

Everyday we were asked the same question, "Can you guys do a quiz tomorrow?" For whatever reason, the opposite side of the room always said "Sure! Why not?". Everyone on my side of the room would turn to each other wondering what is wrong with these people! We're given the opportunity to not take a quiz but nooooo, let's just take a quiz on all of this material we just learned the day before. Sounds like so much fun! Yeah right! I've never met so many people that want to take quizzes. To each is their own I guess....

So, because I'm finally on summer break, and it's freakin' hot, what's a good way to cool down? With a Filipino Drink! A Sago Cooler, or what I like to call, sugar water with tapioca pearls. It flat out is a watered down simple syrup that Filipinos drink. Hey, don't look at me, I didn't event the stuff. I'm just here to spread the diabetes. ha.

Sago Coolers

Recipe by Me

Ingredients

Sago (Tapioca Pearls)

1 cup dry tapioca pearls

6 cups water

1/2 cup brown sugar

Arnibal (Brown Sugar Syrup)

1 1/2 cups water

1 cup brown sugar

1-2 tsp Banana extract

Assembly

Cooked Tapioca Pearls

Arnibal Syrup

Cold Water

Ice

Directions
Sago (Tapioca Pearls)
Place 6 cups of water in a pot with the brown sugar and bring it to a boil over medium heat. Slowly add in the dry tapioca pearls and mix to prevent from sticking. Cook for 5 min. The tapioca pearls are not done whatsoever.

Transfer the sugar water and the tapioca pearls to a pressure cooker. Seal the pressure cooker and cook for about an hour once the pressure cooker starts to release steam from it's little hole. Once finished, you're looking for the tapioca pearls to be almost completely clear. A tiny dot of white in the center is fine. Rinse the tapioca in a strainer with cold water and set aside.

Arnibal (Brown Sugar Syrup)
In a pot, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil with the brown sugar and cook for 5 min. Remove from the heat and allow to cool. Add the Banana extract.

Final Assembly
In a glass, add about 3 spoonfuls of the tapioca pearls. Pour in some cold water and drizzle in some Arnibal syrup until the drink is at your desired sweetness. Finish off with ice.

-Aaron John.