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The Tea Seller’s Secret: The One-Step Method to Soft, Fragrant Black Beans in 10 Minutes

2 June, 2025

Black bean dessert is a rustic and refreshing treat, offering not just a cooling effect but also numerous health benefits such as liver detoxification, diuretic properties, and skin nourishment. However, not everyone knows the secret to preparing this dessert perfectly – achieving a soft and fragrant bean while maintaining its shape, paired with a clear and mildly sweet broth.

Vendor’s Secret: One Trick to Make Black Beans Tender and Fragrant in 10 Minutes

The Secret Lies in Roasting the Beans

Instead of merely cleaning and soaking the beans, vendors always take the extra step of lightly roasting them in a hot pan for about 5-7 minutes before cooking. This crucial step ensures the following advantages:

Enhances the beans’ distinctive aroma, preventing the overpowering taste when boiled directly.
Expedites the cooking process, ensuring the beans remain intact while becoming tender.
Enriches the flavor of the dessert, resulting in a savory and buttery taste without any harsh notes.

Detailed Instructions

Ingredients:

200g of green-hearted black beans or regular black beans
Filtered water
Rock sugar or white sugar
Salt, and pandan leaves (optional)

Steps:

Step 1: Roast the Beans

Clean the black beans, discarding any floating beans.
After draining, place them in a hot pan over medium heat for approximately 5-7 minutes.
Turn off the heat when the beans are dry, their skins slightly cracked, and a fragrant aroma is released.

Step 2: Cook the Beans

Place the beans in a pot, adding just enough water to cover them. Bring to a boil for about 10 minutes.
Then, cover and let the beans steep for 20 minutes (or use a pressure cooker for 5 minutes, allowing natural cooling afterward).
The beans will be soft and buttery without disintegrating.

Roasting the beans before cooking – a seemingly minor step – is the secret cherished by long-time dessert vendors.

Step 3: Prepare the Syrup

Strain the bean broth and boil it with rock sugar and a pinch of salt to taste. Add pandan leaves for fragrance if desired.

Step 4: Finalize the Dessert

Combine the beans and syrup, bringing them to a gentle boil. Allow it to cool.
Serve hot or chilled, as preferred.

Preparing soft black beans typically requires at least an hour of simmering. The above method reduces cooking time, saves energy, and yields a refreshing dessert.

Tips for Perfection

Avoid soaking roasted beans for too long; 15-30 minutes is sufficient.
A pinch of salt during roasting enhances the buttery flavor.
Rock sugar imparts a cleaner taste compared to white sugar.

With just a few minutes of roasting, you’ve shortened the cooking time and created a more delicious dessert. The beans are buttery and tender after only 10 minutes of boiling, eliminating the need for overnight soaking or hours of tending the stove.