Grass Jelly - Black Jelly

In Botany, Grass jelly belong to Mesona chinensis species and member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). In Indonesia it called cincau hitam (black jelly) because the color of this jelly is translucent black. There are other types of grass jelly such as cincau perdu (Melastoma polyanthum B) and cincau hijau (Cylea barbata miers). Most of grass jellies crawl on the surface of the ground or trees and not too tall. They almost as tall as soybean trees. Grass jelly grows well under the shelter, the shelter could be pine trees or other big trees.

Grass Jelly is easy to identified thanks to the gel content similar to gelatin especially in the leaves. To test these plants, you simply soaked them into water for about 5 minutes and then squeeze them. They will stick together like glues, the more sticky they are means the better quality. Uniquely, the gel content in grass jelly is affected by the altitude. To get highest content of the gel you must plant it minimum at 2000 meters above sea levels.

Grass jelly can be stored for a long time. Similar to tobaccos, the more it dry and longer it stored then the quality also better. Grass jelly food is made by boiling the aged and slightly fermented stalks and leaves of Mesona chinensis with potassium carbonate for several hours with a little starch and then cooling the liquid to a jelly-like consistency. This jelly can be cut into cubes or other forms, and then mixed with syrup to produce a drink or dessert thought to have cooling properties, which makes it typically consumed during hot weather. The jelly itself has a slight bitter taste, a light iodine lavender flavor. It can also be mixed with soy milk to produce a milky white liquid with black strands in it.

China
In China, grass jelly was traditionally served with sugar syrup. Nowadays it is often served as a dessert mixed with other ingredients. One such combination include non-sweetened evaporated milk. Others ingredients include mango, sago, watermelon, cantaloupe.

Indonesia
Pieces of grass jelly served on a spoon In Indonesia, black jelly (Cincau hitam) is manufactured as an instant powder, like other instant jellies or agar. This form is easier to use. It is made from the leaves of Mesona palustris. Two other plants used in Indonesia are Melastoma polyanthum, known as Cincau perdu, and Cyclea barbata, known as Cincau Hijau.

Malaysia and Singapore
Plain grass jelly is mixed in various kinds of desserts, such as ice kacang and cendol. It is also mixed with soy milk to produce a milky white liquid with black strands in it.

Vietnam
In Vietnamese, grass jelly is called sương sáo. Grass jelly drinks are very popular amongst Vietnamese women; they are believed to enhance fertility, this is caused by the high levels of estrogen contained in the grass's root.

Grass Jelly can also be used to reduce temperature, fever, and to prevent indigestion and to lower high blood pressure. Having seen its efficacy, it will be very useful if you grow this plant in your garden.