Grass jelly, is a dessert that looks like jelly, hence the name, and is very popular mainly in Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It is made by using a plant from the mint family (Platostoma palustre, aka Chinese mesona) which has a slightly bitter taste, it is so mild that even I can eat it, and I don’t like bitter stuff! It is served cold as a topping in bubble tea, on fruits and other drinks (soya milk etc). It’s made by boiling the leaves and stalks of the plant (slightly oxidized) together with potassium carbonate and a little starch for a few hours. After it cools down, it can be cut into cube form. Curious? Then read on for our Top 5 Health Benefits of Grass Jelly!
1. Supports Digestion
Grass jelly leaves have alkaloid compounds along with the benefit of vitamin B and C which can help your digestive system problems such as stomach pain and diarrhoea.
2. Weight Control
Being rich in fibre, it makes it easier to maintain your weight while at the same time nourishing your body since it’s rich in other nutrients. It’s also low in calories and although it contains sugar it’s a simple sugar which is useful as a source of energy that doesn’t of itself cause weight gain.
3. Helps Prevent Constipation
Grass jelly being rich in fiber content makes it a good remedy against constipation.
4. Useful for Diabetics
Grass jelly leaves are rich in bisbenzylisoquinoline (alkaloid) and chlorophyll which are useful for stabilizing your blood sugar levels.
5. Antimalarial
Scientific studies show that a decoction of grass jelly roots is a useful drug for malaria prevention as being rich in specific alkaloid compounds.
