Grass jelly, also known asleaf jelly orherbal jelly, is ajelly-like dessert originating inChina. It is commonly consumed inEast Asia andSoutheast Asia. It is created by usingChinese mesona (a member of themint family) and has a mild, slightly bitter taste. Grass jelly was invented by theHakka 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 theChinese diaspora.[1][2] It is served chilled, with other toppings, such as fruit, or inbubble tea or other drinks. Outside Asia, it is sold inAsian supermarkets.
Grass jelly is made by boiling the aged and slightly oxidized stalks and leaves ofPlatostoma palustre (Mesona chinensis)[4][5] withpotassium 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.[4][6] 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[7] 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.[8]
In China, grass jelly is considered a signature dish of the Hakka people.[2]
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 calledliangfen (leung fan) in Chinese, particularly inCantonese speaking regions, but it should not be confused with the Chinese starch jellyliangfen, 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 asmango,sago,watermelon,cantaloupe, and other fresh or canned fruit, and condensed or evaporated milk.
InTaiwan, grass jelly is known as 仙草 (sian-chháu), and is used in various desserts and drinks. It can sometimes be added toboba drinks andshaved 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 liketangyuan,taro balls,azuki beans, andtapioca. The plant is also made into mesona tea (仙草茶).
Green grass jellyChaokuai sold on the Sunday Walking Street market inChiang Mai, ThailandEs Cincau, Indonesian beverage made from Platostoma palustre plant
Grass jelly is known ascincau in Indonesian, which is derived from theAmoyHokkien word清草 (chhin chháu). It is also known ascamcao,juju,janggelan, orkepleng inJavanese,camcauh inSundanese, anddaluman inBali. Black jelly (cincau hitam) is manufactured as an instant powder, like other instant jellies or agar. This form is easier to use. It is made from the leaves ofPlatostoma palustre (Mesona palustris).
Usually, the process of making Indonesian green grass jelly does not require a cooking or heating process. Mixing leaf extract and water with the addition of a period of waiting time for coagulation at mild room temperature is enough.
Indonesian green grass jelly has a distinct flavor compared to black grass jelly. It is absent of smoky flavor, almost no bitter taste, and has a mild leafy flavor. Due to its plain neutral flavor, it is usually consumed with sugar water, syrup, coconut milk, and ice.
Plain grass jelly is mixed in various kinds of desserts, such asais kacang andcendol. It is also mixed with coldsoy milk and served as a refreshing drink/dessert, a drink known asMichael Jackson in South-East Asia (a reference to Michael Jackson's changing skin color and/or the song "Black or White").[12]Various combinations of grass jelly with rose flavoured syrup added to milk (bandung) are called "bandung cincau" or "bancau" for short.[13] There is also shaved ice with grass jelly toppings. It can be green or brown.
Grass jelly (Philippine:gulaman) bricks are used in the variousPhilippine refreshments or desserts such assago’t gulaman,buko-pandan, agarflan orhalo-halo. It may be used in fruit salads or eaten with milk or tea.
InThailand, grass jelly is known aschaokuai (Thai:เฉาก๊วย,pronounced[t͡ɕʰǎw.kúa̯j]) derived from Teochew (Chinese:草粿,Pe̍h-ōe-jī:tsháu-kué). It is commonly served relatively plain together with ice andnatural brown sugar. Additionally, it can also be served with fruits such asjackfruit, the fruit of thetoddy palm or mixed with other Thai desserts.
InVietnamese, grass jelly is calledsương sáo orthạch sương sáo and the name is also derived from Teochew (Chinese:仙草,Peng'im: siêng1 cao2). Grass jelly is chopped in small cubes and served as an additional ingredient in sweet desserts made from various kinds of beans (chè). There are two common kinds of grass jelly inVietnam which arePlatostoma palustre (Mesona chinensis, calledsương sáo in Vietnamese) andTiliacora triandra (calledsương sâm;sương sa orrau câu is the name for jelly made from various kinds ofalgae). It is common now to eat green grass jelly (thạch lá găng) with douhua (tào phớ) and grass jelly (sương sáo or thạch đen) in the summer.
InMauritius, the grass jelly is cut into cubes and is added into water and sugar or in syrup water to make a cold drink called "mousse noir" which is literally translated as "black jelly" in English.[14] Mousse noir is of Chinese origin and is a reflection of theSino-Mauritian influence on theMauritian cuisine.[15] The mousse noir is well-known and well-appreciated byMauritians.[16] It can be made at home,[14] or it can be purchased in local supermarkets where it is widely accessible.[16] Mousse noir is also manufactured by local Mauritian companies, and can be found in the original flavour or can come in different flavours such ascoffee,aloe vera, andmelon.[17]
