Grass Jelly Drink

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Easy, simple and refreshing grass jelly drink is a popular Asian beverage like taro boba drink, lychee slush, papaya milk and red bean ice drink. This grass jelly drink recipe is so refreshing and great for summer. Let’s learn how to make grass jelly drink from grass jelly powder with step by step photos and a video!

Love Asian food? Check out these Hawaiian spam musubi, chicken satay, cashew shrimp, pan fried buns, salt & pepper squid, tom yum kung and pho noodle soup recipes.

two cup of grass jelly drinks with silver straws

What is grass jelly drink?

Grass jelly drink is a popular beverage in Asian countries, particularly in Southeast Asia and East Asia such as Hong Kong, Taiwan and China. Also, it is made from grass jelly, a traditional ingredient made from the leaves of a plant called mesona chinensis. Besides, grass jelly is known for its dark color and resembles a slightly gelatinous texture. It is usually used to make grass jelly dessert, shaved ice or this grass jelly drink.

The drink is made by cutting the grass jelly into cubes or strips and combining it with sweetened liquid. The sweetener can vary such as sugar, honey or syrup. The liquid can use tea, juices, coconut milk, soy milk and other milk. The drink is refreshing and often served cold. Therefore, it makes it a popular choice for hot weather and summer beverages.

What are the benefits of a grass jelly drink?

From a traditional Chinese medicine point of view, grass jelly has cooling properties which is one of the reasons it's often consumed in regions with warm climates or in summer. Grass jelly drink is not only enjoyed for its taste and texture, but also for its cooling and soothing effects. Although the name "grass jelly" might sound like grassy flavor, it actually has a mild, slightly herbal taste that pairs well with the sweetened liquid to make grass jelly drinks.

Where can I buy grass jelly?

You can buy them at Asian grocery stores in the states, it usually comes in a can. If you are in Asia, you can buy them in the markets.

If you prefer making your own grass jelly, you can buy dried mesona chinensis to make fresh grass jelly which is a traditional way. Or, you can use grass jelly powder to make simple and easy grass jelly.

What is grass jelly powder?

Grass jelly powder is a convenient and pre-packaged form of the traditional ingredient used to make grass jelly. Traditional way to make grass jelly is from the leaves of the mesona chinensis plant. It is quite a process and work. You can see this grass jelly post and see how to make grass jelly from scratch with dried mesona chinensis plant.

However, grass jelly powder is a dried and powdered form of the grass jelly ingredient. It makes it easier and quicker to make grass jelly. Also, it reduces the process of preparing grass jelly from scratch because not many places have the dried mesona chinensis available. In addition, using the grass jelly powder gives consistent results.

The quality and taste of grass jelly made from powder can vary depending on the brand and the specific ingredients used in the powder. Therefore, choosing a good brand of grass jelly powder is important. Some people might prefer the taste and authenticity of grass jelly made using traditional methods. While others enjoy the convenience of using grass jelly powder.

I prefer to use Tea zone brand grass jelly powder because it’s smooth and soft. Also, the herbal taste is not too strong. You can adjust the firmer texture by adding more grass jelly powder.

What does grass jelly drink taste like?

Grass jelly has a mild, slightly herbal taste with a touch of bitterness. When made into a drink, it's often combined with sweet liquids to balance the flavors.

Is grass jelly drink the same as boba tea?

No, grass jelly drinks and boba tea are different. Boba tea typically contains chewy tapioca pearls, while grass jelly drinks feature the grass jelly ingredient. However, both types of drinks can be customized with various flavors and toppings. Some boba stores can customize or add grass jelly into the boba milk tea.

What are the ingredients for a grass jelly drink?

In this grass jelly drink recipe, I use easy and simple grass jelly powder to make grass jelly. Therefore, the ingredients for this drink are grass jelly powder, water, honey, soy milk and ice cubes.

I use honey as a sweetener. You can use sugar, syrup or sweet condensed milk. Also, I use soy milk for the liquid. But, you can use coconut milk, regular milk or other types of milk you prefer.

Cooking tips for how to make grass jelly drink:

Use good quality grass jelly powder. I prefer Tea zone brand grass jelly powder because it has a smooth texture and the herbal taste is not too strong.
I prefer to use honey for this grass jelly drink. You can use other syrup, sweet condensed milk and sugar as a sweetener.
For the liquid, you can use tea, juice, coconut milk and other milk. Personally, I like to use soy milk.
Different brands of grass jelly powder, have slightly different instructions, follow the instructions on the packaging to mix it with water.
If you use Tea zone brand grass jelly powder, put the powder into a container and use a whisk to break down the clumps. Then, boil water. When the water is boiling, pour the hot boiling water into the grass jelly powder container. (Be careful pouring hot water.)
Use the whisk to mix the mixture well.
After mixing the mixture, do not touch it and let the grass jelly mixture completely cool off (1-2 hours), covered with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours or overnight.
When the grass jelly is done, cut them into cubes or strips.
Pour some grass jelly into the cup, add honey, soy milk and ice cube.

FAQs:

Is grass jelly drink sweet?

Yes, it is usually sweet because of the sweetener like honey, sugar or syrup added into a grass jelly drink, but the amount can be adjusted based on personal preference.

Can I make fresh grass jelly from scratch?

Yes, you can make grass jelly from scratch. See details on how to make grass jelly from dried mesona chinensis plant. In this grass jelly drink recipe, I mainly show how to use grass jelly powder to make grass jelly instead because it is easier, quicker and convenient.

Can I add other ingredients to my grass jelly drink?

Yes, absolutely! You can customize your grass jelly drinks with flavorings like tea, juices, coconut milk. Or, even add fresh fruits for texture and taste.

Can I make grass jelly drinks in advance?

I prefer to make the grass jelly in advance and combine the drink before serving to maintain its freshness.

How do I store leftover grass jelly drink?

If you have leftover grass jelly drink, store it in the refrigerator. It is best to consume it the same day.

Instructions for how to make grass jelly drink:

Make grass jelly from grass jelly powder:

1. Pour 5 cups of water into a pot. Then, turn on medium high fire.

grass jelly powder in container top view

2. Put ¾ cup of grass jelly powder (I use Tea zone brand) into a glass container. Then, use a whisk to break down the clumps. (You can add more grass jelly powder if you want a firmer texture.)

water boiling in the pot over the stove top view

3. When the water is boiling, turn off the fire.

hot boiling water pouring into the grass jelly powder

4. Pour the hot boiling water into the grass jelly powder. (Be careful pouring the hot boiling water.)

grass jelly mixture in the glass container

5. Use a whisk to stir and mix the mixture well.

grass jelly mixture in the container cover with a plastic wrap

6. Let it completely cool off (1-2 hours). Then, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6-8 hours or overnight.

grass jelly in the glass container top view

Cut grass jelly:

7. When the grass jelly is done, remove the plastic wrap.

cutting grass jelly in the container with a knife

8. Cut the grass jelly into cubes or strips.

9. After that, scoop the grass jelly out.

Combine the drink:

10. Put ½ cup of grass jelly (5.3 oz) into the cup.

pouring honey into the cup of grass jelly drink

11. Next, pour 1 tablespoon of honey into the cup. (You can adjust the amount less or more according to your taste.)

12. After, pour ½ cup of soy milk (4.6 fl oz) into the cup. (You can use other milk.)

ice cube add into grass jelly drink top view

13. Lastly, put ½ cup of ice cubes (2.8 oz) into the cup.

Enjoy this easy and refreshing grass jelly drink recipe! Also, check out these japchae Korean glass noodle, California rolls, Vietnamese spring rolls, massaman curry, sticky rice dumplings and gyudon beef bowl recipes.