Grass jelly

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Grass jelly

Pieces of grass jelly cut into approximately 1cm cubes
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese: 涼粉
Simplified Chinese: 凉粉
alternative Chinese name
Chinese: 仙草
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese: suong sam
or suong sao
Indonesian name
Indonesian: cincau

Grass jelly, or Leaf jelly , is jelly-like dessert found in China, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is sold in cans or packets in Asian supermarkets.

Contents

[edit] Preparation

Grass jelly is made by boiling the aged and slightly fermented stalks and leaves of Mesona chinensis[1] (member of the mint family) with potassium carbonate for several hours with a little starch and then cooling the liquid to a jelly-like consistency[2]. This jelly can be cut into cubes or other forms, and then mixed with syrup to produce a drink or dessert thought to have cooling (yin) properties, which makes it typically consumed during hot weather. The jelly itself has a slight bitter taste, a light iodine lavender flavor, and looks translucent and black in colour. It can also be mixed with soy milk to produce a milky white liquid with black strands in it.

[edit] Regional

[edit] China

In China, grass jelly was traditionally served with sugar syrup. Nowadays it is often served as a dessert mixed with other ingredients. One such combination include non-sweetened evaporated milk. Others ingredients include mango, sago, watermelon, cantaloupe.

[edit] Indonesia

Pieces of grass jelly served on a spoon
Pieces of grass jelly served on a spoon

In Indonesia, 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 of Mesona palustris.

Two other plants used in Indonesia are Melastoma polyanthum, known as Cincau perdu, [3] and Cyclea barbata, known as Cincau Hijau. [4]

[edit] Malaysia and Singapore

Plain grass jelly is mixed in various kinds of desserts, such as ice kacang and cendol. It is also mixed with soy milk to produce a milky white liquid with black strands in it, a drink known as Michael Jackson in South-East Asia.[5]

[edit] Vietnam

In Vietnamese, grass jelly is called sương sáo. Grass jelly drinks are very popular amongst Vietnamese women; they are believed to enhance fertility, this is caused by the high levels of estrogen contained in the grass's root.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Armstrong, Wayne P., Grass Jelly (Mesona chinensis), <http://waynesword.palomar.edu/ecoph37.htm>. Retrieved on 19 May 2008 
  2. ^ Bush, Austin, Inside the greenhouse, <http://www.austinbushphotography.com/2006/06/inside-greenhouse.html>. Retrieved on 19 May 2008 
  3. ^ www.unimainz.de
  4. ^ www.iptek.net.id
  5. ^ unclelimscafe.com

[edit] See also