Grass jelly dessert is a beloved treat throughout Asia that offers a completely different dessert experience from the heavy, sugary sweets many Western palates are used to. This unique dessert features cubes of dark, slightly herbal jelly made from the leaves of a plant in the mint family, served in a lightly sweetened syrup with additional toppings like fruit, tapioca pearls, or coconut milk. The jelly itself has a subtle, earthy flavor that’s refreshing rather than overly sweet, with a smooth, slippery texture that’s incredibly cooling and satisfying. It’s the perfect dessert for hot summer days, after spicy meals, or anytime you want something light that won’t leave you feeling overstuffed. While grass jelly might sound unusual if you’ve never tried it, it’s hugely popular in countries like Taiwan, China, Thailand, and Vietnam. Making this dessert at home is surprisingly simple, and you can customize it with your favorite toppings to create your perfect bowl of refreshing sweetness.
Serving Quantity: Serves 6 to 8 people
Cooking Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes (including 10 minutes prep time, 20 minutes cooking time, and 2 hours chilling time)
1. Ingredients
- One package grass jelly powder (about 3.5 ounces or 100 grams)
- Six cups water, divided
- Three-quarters cup granulated sugar, divided
- One cup coconut milk or evaporated milk
- Half cup condensed milk
- Two cups fresh fruit, diced (mango, lychee, or longan)
- One cup cooked tapioca pearls or sago (optional)
- Half cup canned red beans or mung beans, drained (optional)
- Ice cubes for serving
- Optional toppings: grass jelly drink cubes, aloe vera chunks, nata de coco, crushed ice
2. Prepare Your Pan
Choose a 9 by 9 inch square pan or an 8 by 10 inch rectangular pan for setting the grass jelly. Make sure it’s clean and dry. You don’t need to grease it because the jelly will release easily once it’s set. Have the pan ready near your stove so you can pour the hot jelly mixture quickly once it’s ready. Setting up ahead of time makes the process smoother.
3. Mix the Grass Jelly Powder
In a large pot, measure out 5 cups of cold water. Slowly sprinkle the grass jelly powder over the water while whisking constantly. This prevents lumps from forming. Keep whisking for about 1 minute until the powder is completely dissolved and the mixture is smooth with no clumps floating around. The mixture will look dark green or black and quite thin at this stage. Don’t worry, it will thicken and set as it cooks and cools.
4. Add Sugar and Cook
Add half a cup of the granulated sugar to the pot with the grass jelly mixture. Stir well to dissolve the sugar completely. Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching on the bottom. Once it reaches a rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and let it simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. The mixture will thicken slightly and become glossy. You’ll notice it becoming more gel-like as it cooks.
5. Pour and Set the Jelly
Once the grass jelly mixture has simmered and thickened, carefully pour it into your prepared pan. Pour slowly and steadily to avoid creating too many bubbles on the surface. If bubbles do form, you can skim them off with a spoon or gently pop them with a toothpick. Let the jelly cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes until it’s no longer steaming hot. Then cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and transfer it to the refrigerator. Chill for at least 2 hours or until completely firm and set.
6. Make the Sweet Syrup
While the grass jelly is chilling, prepare the sweet syrup that will flavor your dessert. In a small saucepan, combine the remaining 1 cup of water with the remaining quarter cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold. This simple syrup will sweeten the dessert without making it heavy. You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less sugar according to your preference.
7. Prepare the Milk Mixture
In a medium bowl or pitcher, combine the coconut milk or evaporated milk with the condensed milk. Whisk them together until smooth and well blended. The condensed milk adds sweetness while the coconut or evaporated milk adds creaminess and richness. Taste it and adjust the sweetness if needed by adding more condensed milk. Refrigerate this mixture until you’re ready to assemble the dessert. The cold milk mixture contrasts beautifully with the jelly.
8. Cut the Grass Jelly
Once your grass jelly is completely set and firm, it’s time to cut it. Run a knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the jelly. Use a long knife to cut the jelly into small cubes, about half an inch to three-quarters of an inch square. You can also cut it into diamond shapes or strips if you prefer. The cubes should hold their shape nicely and have a smooth, shiny surface. The jelly will feel slippery and jiggly, which is exactly what you want.
9. Prepare Your Toppings
Get all your toppings ready for assembly. If you’re using fresh fruit like mango, peel and dice it into small cubes. If using lychee or longan, drain them from their syrup and leave whole or cut in half. If you want tapioca pearls, cook them according to package directions until soft and translucent, then rinse with cold water and drain. Drain your canned beans if using. Having everything prepped and ready makes assembling individual servings quick and easy.
10. Assemble Individual Servings
Take individual dessert bowls or glasses for serving. Start by placing a generous amount of grass jelly cubes in the bottom of each bowl, filling it about halfway. Add your chosen toppings over the jelly. You might include some fresh mango cubes, a spoonful of red beans, some tapioca pearls, or whatever combination you prefer. The beauty of this dessert is that everyone can customize their bowl with their favorite additions.
11. Add Liquids and Ice
Pour the cold simple syrup over the grass jelly and toppings in each bowl, adding enough to just cover everything. Then drizzle or pour the milk mixture over the top. You can add as much or as little milk as you like depending on how creamy you want your dessert. Some people prefer just a drizzle for flavor, while others like it swimming in coconut milk. Finally, add a few ice cubes to each bowl to make it extra cold and refreshing.
12. Serve Immediately
Grass jelly dessert is best enjoyed immediately after assembling while everything is cold and the ice hasn’t melted too much. Give each person a spoon and let them stir their dessert to mix all the components together. The combination of cool jelly, sweet syrup, creamy milk, and fresh fruit creates a wonderfully refreshing treat. The different textures from smooth jelly, chewy tapioca, and soft fruit make every spoonful interesting. This dessert is especially perfect after spicy food or on a hot day.
13. Nutrition Information Per Serving
- Calories: 195
- Total fat: 5 grams
- Saturated fat: 4 grams
- Cholesterol: 10 milligrams
- Sodium: 35 milligrams
- Total carbohydrates: 36 grams
- Dietary fiber: 2 grams
- Sugars: 28 grams
- Protein: 3 grams
14. Helpful Tips for Perfect Grass Jelly Dessert
- You can buy pre-made grass jelly in cans at Asian grocery stores if you want to skip the cooking step entirely.
- Whisk the grass jelly powder into cold water first to prevent lumps from forming when you heat it.
- Don’t add too much sugar to the jelly itself as you’ll be adding sweet syrup and condensed milk later.
- Let the jelly cool slightly before refrigerating to prevent condensation from forming and making it watery.
- Cut the jelly into uniform cubes so they look attractive and are easy to eat with a spoon.
- Make the grass jelly up to 3 days ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Adjust the sweetness level by using more or less condensed milk and simple syrup to suit your taste.
- Try using different milk bases like almond milk or regular dairy milk for variations in flavor.
- Add a splash of pandan extract or rose water to the simple syrup for extra aromatic flavor.
- Serve this dessert in clear glass bowls or cups to show off all the beautiful layers and colors of the ingredients.
