Grass Jelly

A refreshing Asian dessert made from a type of grass/herb, in the mint family. If not made fresh, it is normally sold in cans in a whole jellied state. You can cube it, slice it, dice it, or cut it up in any form. As a child, my mother would cube it and mix it with sugar or "block brown sugar" syrup (sold in Asian grocery stores and different from brown sugar as we know from American grocery stores).

Best to cool the entire can prior to serving, then sweeten it to balance the bitterness. Strips of grass jelly can also be found in some Asian dessert drinks, or mixed with evaporated milk along with sugar for a different variety.

Acquired taste--its combination of the name, its bitterness, and the color may be offensive; therefore, recommended for food adventurists.