This Lychee Oolong Soft Serve is a rich and creamy dessert with notes of fruity lychee mixed with earthy oolong tea.
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What is sherbet?
Sherbet is a hybrid dessert in between sorbet and ice cream.
It typically contains fruit juice or water and sugar, with the addition of dairy (cream or milk).
It's different than sorbet, as sorbet does NOT contain any dairy.
Like ice milk, the sherbet mixture is churned to incorporate air which gives it its light, creamy texture.
What is lychee?
Lychee (also litchi) is a tropical fruit with a white juicy flesh and thin, red pebbled skin.
It has a sweet aroma and floral, fruity flavour and taste, which make it great in doughnuts, cakes, cupcakes, drinks, or simply as a syrup.
What is oolong tea?
Oolong tea is a traditional Chinese tea.
Similar to green tea or black tea, oolong tea made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant.
What sets oolong tea apart from other teas is that it is partially oxidized, or lightly fermented.
What does oolong tea taste like?
Depending on the amount of oxidization, oolong tea can vary from a lightly sweet, fruity green tea to a strong, woody, black tea.
Why you'll love this recipe
This recipe is inspired by McDonald's Singapore lychee oolong soft serve.
It's fruity, creamy and filled with earthy, roasted notes from the oolong tea.
As long as you have an ice cream maker, this recipe is simple to make.
Equipment you'll need
- ice cream/sorbet maker: for churning the sherbet mixture; ice cream bowl chilled overnight
- spatula: for scooping out the ice cream
- freezer-safe container: for storing the sherbet; chilled
Ingredients you'll need
- lychee nectar: or lychee juice; you can also blend lychees and strain out the juice
- granulated sugar: depending on how sweet your lychee nectar is
- heavy whipping cream: at least 36% milkfat (MF)
- oolong tea powder: similar to matcha powder, is made of ground oolong tea leaves; if you can't find it, you can substitute with hojicha powder or use oolong tea bags and steep with the cream
- vanilla extract: use a pure alcohol-based extract for a more creamier consistency
How to make it
The night before making the sherbet, place the ice cream maker bowl in the freezer to freeze completely.
In a bowl, heat up 30ml heavy whipping cream in the microwave, until just warmed.
Add in sugar and oolong tea powder.
Stir the mixture until the sugar and oolong tea powder is completely dissolved.
Pour the tea mixture into a large jar or container.
Add in the lychee nectar and heavy whipping cream.
Mix well with a spatula and place into the fridge to completely chill, at least 2-4 hours.
Once the mixture is cold, pour the tea mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to your manufacturer's instructions.
Transfer the soft serve into a chilled container.
Enjoy immediately for soft serve texture, or freeze for a few hours for a firmer consistency.
How to serve
Serve the Lychee Oolong soft serve in homemade waffle cones, or enjoy it in a bowl or cup.
Top it off with lychee jelly pieces, or tapioca pearls.
Or try it long with matcha shaved ice for the ultimate iced dessert.
How to store
Store the Lychee Oolong Soft Serve in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 1 week.
Substitutions
If you can't find oolong tea powder, you can use oolong tea bags or loose leaf tea.
Heat up a portion of the heavy cream and add the oolong tea to it.
Steep for a few minutes, and extract the tea, discarding the tea leaves/tea bags.
Otherwise, you can use hojicha powder, which is a roasted green tea, with a similar earthy, roasty flavour profile.
Expert tips
For best results, chill the ice cream bowl in the freezer for at least 8 hours, or overnight. The longer, the better.
It will quickly freeze the sherbet mixture, preventing it from forming too many ice crystals.
More lychee recipes
Other dessert recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Creamy Vanilla Ice Milk (Only 4 Ingredients)
No-Churn Jasmine Tea Ice Cream
Be sure to let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
Lychee Oolong Soft Serve (Sherbet)
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 130 ml heavy whipping cream divided
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar or to taste, depending on how sweet your lychee nectar is
- 1 teaspoon oolong tea powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 250 ml lychee nectar or lychee juice
Instructions
The night before making the sherbet, place the ice cream maker bowl in the freezer to freeze completely.
- In a bowl, heat up 30ml heavy whipping cream in the microwave, until just warmed.
- Add in sugar and oolong tea powder.
- Stir the mixture until the sugar and oolong tea powder is completely dissolved.
- Pour the tea mixture into a large jar or container.
- Add in the lychee nectar and heavy whipping cream.
- Mix well with a spatula and place into the fridge to completely chill, at least 2-4 hours.
- Once the mixture is cold, pour the tea mixture into your ice cream maker and churn according to your manufacturer's instructions.
- Transfer the soft serve into a chilled container.
- Enjoy immediately for soft serve texture, or freeze for a few hours for a firmer consistency.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
David @ Spiced
I've been meaning to make some sherbet for a while now, but I haven't gotten around to it. This version sounds fantastic with the oolong tea - what a unique and fun flavor for summer desserts!
Ben | Havocinthekitchen
Oh I bet the season of lychee has arrived to your blog? I'm excited about your further ideas! This is such a beautiful dessert - elegant, light, and so refreshing.
Raymund | angsarap.net
This Lychee Oolong Soft Serve sounds absolutely divine! The combination of fruity lychee and earthy oolong tea creates a unique and enticing flavor profile. I can imagine the rich and creamy texture of the soft serve, perfectly complemented by the refreshing notes of lychee and the subtle complexity of oolong tea.