Skip to main content

Homemade Gui Ling Gao Herbal Jelly

Everyone has this idea that Gui Ling Gao, a Chinese herbal jelly, is made from Tortoise Shell. I think it used to contain tortoise shell scrapings but no longer. I bet it must be tough finding people who would ingest anything made out of the poor chelonian.

I made some Gui Ling Gao today with a premix powder I bought from Eu Yan Sang. The packet priced at RM 10 consisted of 2 smaller packets (so it's actually RM 5 per pack). From RM 5 worth, I could make 14 small cups of gui ling gao, which would last me a whole week! (Normally I would buy readymade Gui Ling Gao at RM 2 for a small plastic container but I love to experiment so I thought I should be able to make some on my own. Plus it's cheaper too.)

This herbal jelly has a bitter taste but it is recommended for teens as it helps clear acne (and most women too as it enhances the complexion).

Gui Ling Gao is served chilled and as a dessert after a heavy meal. As it clears heat, it is a cooling dessert and pregnant women are not supposed to take this.

Here's how I prepared this easy dessert.

Gui Ling Gao

1 packet gui ling gao powder from Eu Yan Sang
250 ml water

Dissolve powder into water. Stir well to combine. This is (A).

In a pot, bring to boil 1 liter of water and 150 gm sugar. When water boils, turn heat down to a simmer. Quickly stir in (A). Keep stirring for 10 minutes.

Strain this gui ling gao mixture quickly once you turn off the heat. It solidifies rather fast so you have to be nimble. After straining, again quickly pour the mixture into smaller bowls or cups. Leave to cool in the open for 20 minutes before chilling them in the fridge. Serve cool.

You can also add a few teaspoons of honey if the gui ling gao is a bit bitter for your taste. I take mine as it is (since the sugar has been added).


So what's inside this herbal jelly which slithers smoothly down your throat?

Here's what I discovered...

Gelatin
Japanese honeysuckle
Chrysanthemum
Poria
Pearl

Can anyone vouch that these ingredients are what really go into a bowl of delightfully smooth gui ling gao? (It's a bit like our Malaysian grass jelly or 'cincau')

Let me know if you do!
Labels:

Comments

Anonymous said…
Very intesting
thank You
9:07 PM
Krista Goon said…
You're welcome, Steve~!
6:58 PM
Anonymous said…
You are the best! I threw away the box and had no idea why it clumped so quickly. (I didn't mix with warm/cold water first) SUPER HELPFUL!
11:55 AM
Krista Goon said…
Thanks. Try it again and let me know how it turned out.
12:37 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Goji Berry, Chrysanthemum & Red Date Tea

I've been making this simple tea for a few times already. Not sure if I had shared this before but all it needs are 3 ingredients - dried goji berries, dried red dates and dried chrysanthemum bulbs. This sugar-less concoction is good for health especially if you want to maintain immunity. It's even more important these days what with the pandemic and Covid-19. But it is also a pleasant brew - no boiling needed. All you need is a handful of goji berries (washed and soaked for 5 minutes in water), 3-5 large dried red dates and a teaspoon of dried chrysanthemum flowers (these are the small heads of flowers, not the usual type for making chrysanthemum tea). Put all the ingredients in a teapot and pour in boiling water. Let it sit for 10 minutes and voila, you have made yourself a healthy tea without sugar. It has a natural sweetness from the red dates and goji berries. And once you have drunk all the tea, you can continue adding more boiling water for a second b...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Remarkable Nut of Nuts

In this recipe, walnuts and dried red dates are combined to make a healthy and life-giving dessert. And with honey added, it packs a punch. A truly simple dessert which is used to prevent the usual flu magnets - colds and coughs. It helps too with your kidneys and with bowel movement. Walnuts are much revered in Chinese medicine, not least because the nut resembles the brain! Again, the Chinese believe that walnuts are good snacks for children as they help boost brain power which is true because of the high amounts of Omega 3 fats (good for the brain). Walnuts are of course a good source of essential omega-3 fatty acids and in Roman times, considered the food of the gods. Walnuts are a 'yang' tonic and useful for toning up weak kidneys. It also warms lung Qi while acting as a laxative, moistening the intestines (hence encouraging bowel movement if you are constipated). Walnuts are called Hu Tao Ren (juglans regia) in Chinese medicine. Walnut & Red Date Dessert 150 gm walnut...
1 comment
Read more

24 Herb Tea - Bitter, Foul-Tasting But Oh So Good For You!

Was out running a couple of errands this entire afternoon and ended up buying groceries at the nearby supermarket. If I had a choice I wouldn't go into this decade-old supermarket because it's small, cramped and you tend to knock into other shoppers with your trolley (yes, the aisles are that narrow). Nic and I figured that we might as well buy our groceries since we were in this vicinity and he did need some coffee. Finally we ended up with a trolley full of cheese, butter, coffee and noodles. Anyway, I was getting thirsty after all the errands and shopping. We decided to stop and have a drink at this stall which sells Chinese herbal tea. This uncle who mans it is actually a Hong Kong native who has been living in Malaysia for a long time. He drives a little white van which he parks at the corner of a junction and opens up for business. You see, he sells hot and cold Chinese herbal teas of all types - the kind that is slowly boiled and brewed. It's common to see Mal...
Post a Comment
Read more