Grass jelly dessert

Grass jelly dessert

　　Grass jelly dessert is one of the best-selling treats across Guizhou during summer. When you’re out on the street drenched in sweat and parched, seeing someone selling grass jelly is the highlight of your day. A bowl of this cool, sweet, and silky dessert instantly cools you down and takes away all that summer heat—absolutely refreshing.

　　Ingredients and seasonings: papaya seeds, slaked lime, white sugar, peanuts, red and green shredded preserved fruits, orange-flavored candy, assorted candied fruits, sesame seeds, edible ice cubes, brown sugar, and an appropriate amount of cherries.

　　Preparation method: Wrap papaya seeds in fine cloth, tie securely, and rub them vigorously in cold boiled water with both hands until a slippery liquid is extracted and fully dissolved in the water. Continue rubbing until no more slippery liquid is released. Dissolve the slaked lime in water, then slowly add drops to the grass jelly solution while stirring continuously. Once evenly mixed, let it cool and set aside. Melt brown sugar into brown sugar syrup and white sugar into white sugar syrup. Roast sesame seeds until golden, and pan-toast peanuts until fragrant, then crush them using a rolling pin. Chop the red and green shredded preserved fruits, orange-flavored candy, and assorted candied fruits. To serve, scoop the jelly into a bowl, top with crushed peanuts, red and green shredded preserved fruits, orange-flavored candy, and assorted candied fruits. Add small pieces of ice cubes, pour over brown sugar and white sugar syrups, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and garnish with a few fresh cherries.

　　Flavor profile: Cool, sweet, tender, and smooth on the palate; it stimulates saliva production, refreshes in hot weather, and helps relieve internal heat.

　　Tip: The grass jelly is made with rose petals, raisins, peanuts, sesame seeds, fruit preserves, and crystal jelly powder. It has a texture somewhat similar to jelly.