Grass Jelly Dessert with Taro Balls Recipe

A bowl of grass jelly milk tea is my usual order at bubble tea shops. This Grass Jelly Dessert with Taro Balls is another delightful twist on that favorite, and it’s surprisingly easy to make!

What is grass jelly

Grass jelly, or 仙草 (xiān cǎo) in Mandarin, is a classic Asian dessert made from the leaves and stalks of the Mesona chinensis plant, a member of the mint family. It features a distinctive, slightly herbal flavor and a smooth, gelatinous texture similar to agar.

Grass jelly is commonly served in dessert soups or added to beverages like bubble tea, often enjoyed in cubes with sweet syrup or combined with sago, fruits, and beans.

Additionally, in traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed to have cooling properties, making it a favored treat during warm weather.

In China, there are primarily two types of grass jelly: one made from fresh Mesona chinensis, which has a vibrant green color, and another that is black, made from dried Mesona chinensis or grass jelly powder.

I think fresh Mesona chinensis can be difficult to find outside of China, so I prefer using grass jelly powder for its convenience and ease. You can also use canned grass jelly as an alternative.

Ingredients:

• 100g grass jelly powder
• 1000g water
• 150g taro balls (store-bought or homemade; if homemade, refer to my recipe)
• 100g sago pearls
• 100g sweet red bean
• 50g raisins
• 100g mango (peeled and diced; you can substitute with other fruits like strawberries or blueberries)

Instructions:

Making the Grass Jelly

1. In a pot, add 1000g of water and leave it off the heat for now.
2. Gradually sprinkle in 100g of grass jelly powder while stirring with chopsticks or a whisk. Ensure there are no lumps of dry powder remaining.
3. Turn the heat to low and continuously stir the mixture. This prevents the grass jelly powder from settling and clumping at the bottom.
4. Stir the mixture while cooking.
5. Once boiling, pour the mixture into a clean container and let it cool to room temperature until it sets. This usually takes about 40 minutes.

Preparing the Taro Balls

1. If using store-bought taro balls, cook them according to the package instructions. If using homemade taro balls, follow the next step.
2. Cook the taro balls in boiling water until they float to the surface, indicating they are done. Remove them and rinse them in cold water to enhance their chewy texture. Set aside.

Cooking the Sago Pearls

1. In a separate pot, add enough water to cover the sago pearls and bring it to a boil.
2. Once boiling, add 100g of sago pearls. Stir continuously to prevent them from sticking together.
3. Boil for about 15 minutes. You may notice a small white core in the center of the pearls at this point.
4. Turn off the heat and cover the pot, letting the sago sit for an additional 15 minutes to finish cooking.
5. After resting, drain the sago and rinse it in cold water to improve its texture.

Assembling the Dessert

1. Once the grass jelly has set, cut it into small cubes.
2. In a serving bowl, layer the bottom with grass jelly cubes.
3. Add a layer of cooked sago pearls evenly on top of the grass jelly.
4. Next, add the cooked taro balls over the sago layer.
5. Sprinkle the sweet red beans on top of the taro balls.
6. Add the raisins over the beans for extra sweetness.
7. Finally, top it all off with diced mango or your chosen fruit.

Serving Suggestions

• For an extra touch, you can drizzle some coconut milk over the assembled dessert before serving.
• Enjoy it chilled or at room temperature, and watch as everyone delights in this beautiful and delicious treat!

Notes:

• Ensure you stir the grass jelly powder thoroughly while combining it with water to prevent clumping.
• Feel free to mix and match the fruits used in the dessert based on what’s in season or your personal preference.
  

  Grass Jelly Dessert with Taro Balls Recipe

  A bowl of grass jelly milk tea is my usual order at bubble tea shops. This Grass Jelly Dessert with Taro Balls is another delightful twist on that favorite, and it's surprisingly easy to make!

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  Course: Chinese Dessert Soup

  Prep Time: 30 minutes

  Cook Time: 40 minutes

  Cooling Time: 40 minutes

  Servings: 4

  Calories: 105kcal

  Ingredients

  • 100 g grass jelly powder
  • 1000 g water
  • 150 g taro balls store-bought or homemade; if homemade, refer to my recipe
  • 100 g sago pearls
  • 100 g sweet red bean
  • 50 g raisins
  • 100 g mango peeled and diced; you can substitute with other fruits like strawberries or blueberries

  Instructions

  Making the Grass Jelly

  • In a pot, add 1000g of water and leave it off the heat for now.
  • Gradually sprinkle in 100g of grass jelly powder while stirring with chopsticks or a whisk. Ensure there are no lumps of dry powder remaining.
  • Turn the heat to low and continuously stir the mixture. This prevents the grass jelly powder from settling and clumping at the bottom.
  • Stir the mixture while cooking.
  • Once boiling, pour the mixture into a clean container and let it cool to room temperature until it sets. This usually takes about 40 minutes.

  Preparing the Taro Balls

  • If using store-bought taro balls, cook them according to the package instructions. If using homemade taro balls, follow the next step.
  • Cook the taro balls in boiling water until they float to the surface, indicating they are done. Remove them and rinse them in cold water to enhance their chewy texture. Set aside.

  Cooking the Sago Pearls

  • In a separate pot, add enough water to cover the sago pearls and bring it to a boil.
  • Once boiling, add 100g of sago pearls. Stir continuously to prevent them from sticking together.
  • Boil for about 15 minutes. You may notice a small white core in the center of the pearls at this point.
  • Turn off the heat and cover the pot, letting the sago sit for an additional 15 minutes to finish cooking.
  • After resting, drain the sago and rinse it in cold water to improve its texture.

  Assembling the Dessert

  • Once the grass jelly has set, cut it into small cubes.
  • In a serving bowl, layer the bottom with grass jelly cubes.
  • Add a layer of cooked sago pearls evenly on top of the grass jelly.
  • Next, add the cooked taro balls over the sago layer.
  • Sprinkle the sweet red beans on top of the taro balls.
  • Add the raisins over the beans for extra sweetness.
  • Finally, top it all off with diced mango or your chosen fruit.

  Serving Suggestions

  • For an extra touch, you can drizzle some coconut milk over the assembled dessert before serving.
  • Enjoy it chilled or at room temperature, and watch as everyone delights in this beautiful and delicious treat!

  Tried this recipe? Tag me on Instagram!Do you make this recipe? I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @yumofchina.

  Video

  Nutrition

  Calories: 105kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 145mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 271IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg