how to make grass jelly from scratch
How to Make Grass Jelly from Scratch
Grass jelly is a dessert found in Asia, mainly around Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Thailand. It is a great addition in milkshakes or to have with fruits. Although it is found in its canned form in most Asian stores, it is also pretty easy to make at home if you have the right ingredients.
- Cornstarch, ½ pound
- Mesona chinensis/xian cao leaves, ½ cup (dried)
- Alkaline water, 2 tablespoons
- Wash the dried Mesona leaves thoroughly to remove any dirt or grime on them.
- In 4½ quarts of regular water, add the washed leaves and the alkaline water, and bring it to a boil.
- Simmer the mixture for around two hours, then remove the vessel from the heat and allow it to cool.
- Once it is cooled, take the leaves out of the water and vigorously rub and squeeze them to get the leaf extract into the water.
- Boil the water and extract mixture for ½ an hour, then cool and repeat the rubbing and squeezing procedure.
- Filter the water to get all the solids out.
- Mix 2½ cups of cold water and cornstarch, and stir well.
- Heat the mixture once again, and take it off the flame when it's just about to boil.
- Cool the liquid and leave it in the refrigerator till it sets into a jelly.
- The grass jelly is now ready for use in any dessert you wish to use it in.
- Mesona chinensis leaves, 6 tablespoons (dried)
- Rice flour, 4 tablespoons
- Bean flour, 4 tablespoons
- Alkaline water, 2½ tablespoons
- Mix the rice flour with some water to make a thin, watery paste. Strain the mixture to remove any solid particles, and leave it aside.
- In a non-metal pot, add the Mesona leaves, alkaline water, and 9 cups of regular water. Bring to a boil and then simmer for an hour.
- Remove the vessel from heat, cool the liquid, and rub the leaves in the water to remove the extract.
- Boil this extract-water mixture for 25 minutes, remove from heat, cool, and repeat the rubbing process.
- Strain the liquid to remove any solids, then bring it to a boil again before taking it off the heat.
- Put the rice water and bean flour in a separate pan and mix well. Add this mixture to the jelly liquid while it's still hot.
- Stir the jelly mixture and cool. Refrigerate it till it sets.
- The black grass jelly is ready for use.
- Cincau perdu leaves, 50 approx (aged)
- Water, 1½ quart (boiled)
- White sugar, 50 grams
- Soak the Cincau leaves in cold water for 10-15 minutes, after which you have to remove any stalks still attached to the leaves.
- Rinse the leaves 2-3 times under strong running water, to thoroughly clean them from dirt and pesticides.
- Cut the leaves into small pieces, and put them in a blender.
- Add the sugar and boiled water in the blender, and run the machine till the leaves are ground well along with the sugar.
- Strain the liquid 2-3 times, to get rid of any solids.
- Pour the strained liquid into a bowl or container and refrigerate until it sets into a solid jelly.
- Your green grass jelly is now ready to use.
- Water, 9 cups
- Grass jelly, as per taste
- Rock sugar, as per taste
- Ice cubes
- Take 2 cups of water and bring it to a boil.
- Add the desired amount of rock sugar to the boiling water and stir till it dissolves.
- Add the remaining water and grass jelly, and stir well.
- The drink is ready to serve if you want it warm. However, if you would like it chilled, refrigerate the mixture till cold, and serve with ice cubes.