Grass Jelly with Sweet Toppings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Total time: 3 hours 25 minutes (includes chilling)

Servings: 4

Country of Origin

China (Taiwan / Southern Region)

Description

A cooling, jelly dessert featuring an earthy, herbal base made from the stalks of the Mesona chinensis plant. The dark, refreshing jelly is cut into cubes and serves as a canvas for customizable hot-and-cold toppings like chewy taro balls, red beans, and sweet syrups.

Presentation & How It's Eaten

Served in wide bowls, either ice-cold over crushed ice or slightly warm. Diners drizzle condensed milk or sugar syrup over the top and mix the toppings together.

Ingredients

The Herbal Jelly Base:

• 50g grass jelly powder (store-bought mix)

• 1 liter water

• 2 tbsp sugar

The Toppings:

• 1 cup sweet red bean paste (canned or homemade)

• 1/2 cup cooked taro balls (boiled until chewy)

• 1/2 cup cooked mung beans

• Condensed milk or simple syrup (for drizzling)

Step-by-Step Directions

1. Mix Jelly Powder: In a bowl, whisk the grass jelly powder with 200ml of cold water until smooth and completely lump-free.

2. Boil and Set: Bring the remaining 800ml of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar to a boil in a saucepan. Stream in the jelly powder mixture while stirring constantly. Simmer on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened. Pour into a shallow pan and chill for 3 hours until firmly set.

3. Prepare Toppings: While the jelly cools, boil your taro balls, mung beans, and red beans separately until tender. Plunge them into cold sugar water to keep them sweet and structurally sound.

4. Slice Jelly: Cut the firm grass jelly into clean 1-inch cubes.

5. Assemble Bowls: Divide the grass jelly cubes among 4 serving bowls. Arrange neat piles of sweet red beans, cooked taro balls, and mung beans around the jelly.

6. Finish: Drizzle generously with condensed milk or simple sugar syrup and serve immediately.

Cooking Tips

• Constant Stirring: When pouring the grass jelly powder mixture into the boiling water, stir rapidly and continuously. The starches in the herbal extract gelatinize almost instantly upon hitting hot water; if left unstirred, it will form large, rubbery lumps that ruin the smooth texture.

Nutrition Facts

(Estimated per serving with assorted toppings)

• Calories: ~210 kcal

• Total Fat: 1.5g

• Saturated Fat: 1g

• Cholesterol: 5mg

• Sodium: 35mg

• Total Carbohydrates: 45g

• Protein: 4g