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Grass jelly

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Grass jelly

Grass jelly, also known as leaf jelly or herbal jelly, is a jelly-like dessert originating in China. It is commonly consumed in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is created by using Chinese mesona (a member of the mint family) and has a mild, slightly bitter taste. Grass jelly was invented by the Hakka people who historically used the food to alleviate heat stroke after long days working in the field. The dish was introduced to Southeast Asia by the Chinese diaspora. It is served chilled, with other toppings, such as fruit, or in bubble tea or other drinks. Outside Asia, it is sold in Asian supermarkets.

Grass jelly has 8.2 calories per serving of 20g, containing 1.3g of carbohydrates, 0.8g of protein, 2.2mg of sodium, and 4.8mg of potassium.

Grass jelly is made by boiling the aged and slightly oxidized stalks and leaves of Platostoma palustre (Mesona chinensis) with potassium carbonate and a little starch for several hours. The liquid cools to a jelly-like consistency, and this jelly can be cut into cubes or other shapes. The jelly is then mixed with syrup to produce a drink or dessert thought to have cooling (yin) properties, suitable for hot weather. The jelly itself is fragrant with a smoky undertone and is a translucent dark brown or black. Food coloring may sometimes be added to make it darker.

Preparation of other variants, known as green grass jelly, requires no cooking or heating process and uses only a mixture of leaf extracts and water. Jelly produced in this way has been described as having a leafy, neutral flavor.

In China, grass jelly is considered a signature dish of the Hakka people.

The name 仙草粿 (xiāncǎo guǒ) may be used for its specificity, and it translates closely to "grass jelly" in English. Although the dish is known by multiple regional names. It is sometimes called liangfen (leung fan) in Chinese, particularly in Cantonese speaking regions, but it should not be confused with the Chinese starch jelly liangfen, which is an entirely different dish.

In Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, grass jelly was traditionally served with sugar syrup. Now it is often served mixed with other ingredients, such as mango, sago, watermelon, cantaloupe, and other fresh or canned fruit, and condensed or evaporated milk.

In Taiwan, grass jelly is known as 仙草 (sian-chháu), and is used in various desserts and drinks. It can sometimes be added to boba drinks and shaved ice (刨冰). It is also commonly used in a traditional Taiwanese dessert where the jelly is melted to be consumed as a thick pudding-like dessert (燒仙草), with numerous toppings like tangyuan, taro balls, azuki beans, and tapioca. The plant is also made into mesona tea (仙草茶).

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