| Guilinggao | |||||||||||
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| Traditional Chinese | 龜苓膏 | ||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 龟苓膏 | ||||||||||
| Literal meaning | turtle essence jelly | ||||||||||
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Guīlínggāo, also known as Tortoise Jelly (though not technically correct) or Turtle Jelly, is a jelly-like Chinese medicine, also sold as a dessert. It was traditionally made from the powdered plastron (bottom shell) from the critically endangered turtle Cuora trifasciata (commonly known as "three-lined box turtle", or "golden coin turtle", 金錢龜)[1] and a variety of herbal products, in particular, China roots Smilax glabra (土伏苓, Tu fu ling).[2][3] Although the golden coin turtle (Cuora trifasciata) is commercially farmed in modern China, it is extremely expensive;[4] therefore, even when turtle-derived ingredients are used in commercially available guīlínggāo, they come from other, more commonly available, turtle species.[1][5]
More often, commercially available guīlínggāo sold as a dessert does not contain turtle shell powder at all, despite the product name and the prominent turtle images on most brands' labels. They do, however, share the same herbal additives as the medicine and are similarly marketed as being good for skin complexion when ingested.
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According to a legend, the Tongzhi Emperor nearly cured his smallpox by taking guilinggao.[6] However, Empress Cixi believed his disease could be cured by worshipping a smallpox idol. She succeeded in convincing the emperor to quit his guilinggao regimen. The emperor died soon after.[6]
Guilinggao is thought to be good for the skin, allowing for a healthier complexion upon repeated consumption.[1] Other supposed positive effects of the jelly includes improving circulation, assisting muscle growth, relieving itching, reducing acne and kidney restoration.[6]
Regular guilinggao jelly is black in appearance; however, the actual color is more of a dark brown. Naturally, it is not sweet, but slightly bitter, although sweeteners such as honey can be added to make it more palatable.
Relatively inexpensive canned guilinggao jelly with pop tops and little plastic spoons for immediate consumption can be found in many East and Southeast Asian countries, as well as Chinatowns in the United States and Canada.
Traditional guilinggao recipes require boiling turtle shell for many hours, first by itself, then with a variety of herbal ingredients, so that the liquid is gradually evaporated and a jelly-like residue forms. Rice flour and corn starch is added to "thicken" the product.[5][3]
Guilinggao jelly can be prepared at home from commercially sold powdered concentrate (the "guilinggao powder"),[3] similarly to how Jello is made. When it is prepared, other herbal substances, such as ginseng, are added to the jelly to give it certain tastes and medicinal values.