Grass jelly is a jelly-like dessert popular in many Asian countries. It's usually served cold in drinks or desserts.
It is usually black or dark brown and has a mild herbal taste. Because it isn't sweet on its own, it's often served with syrup, sugar, or sweet drinks.
In this guide, we'll look at what grass jelly is, what it tastes like, what it's made of, and how it's used in desserts and drinks.
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What is Grass Jelly?
Grass jelly is a jelly dessert made from the leaves and stems of the Chinese mesona plant, a herb in the mint family.
To make it, the plant is boiled to extract its flavor and color. The liquid is then cooled until it sets into a soft, dark jelly.
The jelly is usually black or dark brown and has a texture similar to firm gelatin or Jell-O.
You may also see a green version, called green grass jelly. It is made from a different plant and has a lighter color and milder flavor.
This heb jelly is popular in many Asian countries and is commonly added to iced drinks, milk teas, and shaved ice desserts.
What Does Grass Jelly Taste Like?
Grass jelly has a mild herbal taste.
It isn't sweet on its own, so it's usually served with sugar, syrup, or sweet drinks.
Some people describe the flavor as slightly grassy or earthy, with a light bitterness.
Because the taste is fairly mild, it works well with sweeter ingredients like milk, fruit, and syrups.
Many people enjoy it more for its smooth, jelly-like texture than for its flavor.
What is Grass Jelly Made Of?
Grass jelly is made from the leaves and stems of the Chinese mesona plant.
The plant is dried, then boiled in water to extract its flavor and color. After the liquid is strained, a small amount of starch or thickener may be added to help it set.
When the liquid cools, it turns into a soft jelly.
Traditional grass jelly is made from the plant itself, but many store-bought versions are made with grass jelly powder, which already contains the herbal extract and gelling ingredients.
Where to Buy Grass Jelly
In the U.S., grass jelly is most commonly sold in cans at Asian grocery stores. The jelly is usually packed in syrup or liquid and is ready to use.
You can also find grass jelly powder, which is mixed with water and cooked to make the jelly at home.
Some bubble tea shops and Asian markets may also sell fresh grass jelly, though this is less common outside of Asia.
If you don't have an Asian market nearby, grass jelly products are also available online.
How to Store Grass Jelly
If you buy canned grass jelly, keep the unopened can in a cool, dry place like a pantry.
Once opened, transfer any leftover jelly to a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator. It's best used within a few days.
If you make grass jelly from powder, store the prepared jelly in the refrigerator and use it within a few days as well.
For grass jelly powder, keep it in a sealed container in a cool, dry place away from heat and moisture.
How Grass Jelly is Used
Grass jelly is usually cut into cubes and added to drinks or desserts. Because it isn't sweet on its own, it's often served with sugar, syrup (arnibal), milk, or sweet drinks.
The soft jelly and mild flavor make it easy to pair with many sweet ingredients. You'll commonly see grass jelly used in:
- Milk teas and iced drinks - Cubes of grass jelly are added for texture.
- Shaved ice desserts - It's often used as a topping along with beans, fruit, and condensed milk.
- Sweet drinks - In Filipino drinks like sago at gulaman or samalamig, grass jelly is sometimes added with sago, gulaman, or nata de coco.
- Fruit desserts - It can be mixed with fruit, syrup, or sweet beans for contrast in texture.
FAQs About Grass Jelly
No. Grass jelly is made from the leaves of the Chinese mesona plant. Gulaman is made from seaweed and is commonly used in Filipino desserts.
No. Grass jelly is not sweet on its own. It's usually served with sugar, syrup, milk, or sweet drinks.
No. Boba are chewy tapioca pearls made from cassava starch. Grass jelly is a soft jelly made from a plant.
No. Agar-agar (used to make gulaman) is a gelling ingredient made from seaweed. Grass jelly is made from the leaves of the mesona plant.
Grass jelly turns dark when the plant is boiled to extract its flavor and color. This gives the jelly its black or dark brown color.
Yes. Grass jelly can be eaten on its own, but it's usually served with syrup, milk, or sweet drinks.
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Dara says
Is grass jelly made of gelatin or agar agar? Thanks
Nora Rey says
Hi Dara, Great question! Grass jelly isn't made from gelatin or agar agar. It's made from the stalks and leaves of the Chinese Mesona plant, then boiled with an alkalizing agent, potassium carbonate, to extract flavors and give the jelly its dark color. Sometimes they even toss in a bit of starch to get that jelly-like consistency. Fun fact: the way potassium carbonate works in grass jelly is kinda like how lye water works in some Filipino rice cakes, making them firm and chewy. Hope that clears things up!