Aug 31, 2016

[Recipe] Eight Treasures Tea Jelly

I'm going to leave another easy to make and healthy ancient Chinese recipe here. However, today's recipe involves more ingredients. As the name suggests, we are playing with 8 types of ingredients to make this mouth-watering after-meal dessert.


The eight treasures tea is a popular drink during the late Qing Dynasty and to be consumed by Empress Ci Xi. During long northern winter, Her Royal Highness have very little opportunity to leave the court and causing her skin to feel tired and lack of energy. The imperial doctor made this special blend of herbs for the empress. The tea is consumed for longevity and youthfulness.

Ingredients:

  • 500ml water
  • 1/4 cup gelatin powder
  • 1 piece honey rock sugar
  • 4 red dates
  • 5 slices American ginseng
  • A dash of Longjing green tea
  • A dash of chrysanthemum flowers
  • 6 cloves of French roses
  • 6 pieces of dried longan 
  • A dash of wolfberries




Preparation:

  • Rinse the green tea leaf, red dates, chrysanthemum flower, French roses, dried longan and wolfberries until clean.
  • Boil water in sauce pan. Add honey rock sugar.
  • When the sugar diluted, add red dates and ginseng slices.
  • When the red dates and ginseng slices expand, add in green tea leaf, chrysanthemum, french roses, dried longan and wolfberries.
  • Turn off the stove and strain the ingredients to separate the tea.
  • Place the ingredients in the mould. 



  • Add gelatin powder into the tea while it is still hot and stir until the gelatin powder evenly mixed.
  • Pour the gelatin tea into the mould. Leave until cool and chill it in the fridge.
  • Serve on plate.


The recipe is very versatile. You can substitute the ingredients below with the follow:

  • Honey rock sugar = sugar, honey, crystal rock sugar or brown sugar.
  • French rose = dried orange peel
  • Chrysanthemum = osmanthus

Some additional tips:
Always keep the fire low. Watch the tea closely so you can manage the brewing time. The jelly is best served a night after chilled in the fridge.


This recipe is good for females and can be consumed daily. If it is a food fit for an empress dowager, it is surely good for you.
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Aug 22, 2016

[Recipe] Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake

That is a mouthful word for a simple jelly recipe. Let's put the fancy name aside, this recipe is actually goji seed & osmanthus flower jelly (in a layman term). Now, does it sound easier to make?


Osmanthus flower helps improve skin complexion if taken regularly. It also gets rid of excessive nitric oxide (a compound linked to formation of cancer cells, diabetes and renal diseases. Goji seeds contain Vitamin C, B2, A, and iron. It has been consumed for its antioxidant benefits for centuries in the East. 

You only need 5 ingredients:
  • Unsweetened jelly powder (80g)
  • Honey rock sugar* (Depending on how sweet you like it. If you use pre-mixed jelly powder, you can skip the sugar altogether.)
  • Goji seeds* (half cup)
  • Dried Osmanthus flower* (one and half table spoon)
  • 500ml of water (not in photo, I guess you already know how it looks like)
*You can buy the ingredients from Chinese medicine hall.



Making the jelly takes approximately 15 minutes, setting and chilling it takes about 2 hours. If you don't have a baking mould, you can use square tupperware and cut into cubes when it is ready to be served.

  • First thing first, soak the goji seeds and osmanthus flower for 5 minutes. Wash it under slow running tap water in a strainer until it is clean. 
  • Boil the water in a sauce pan and add the sugar. 
  • Once the sugar is melted, lower the fire and add in the goji seeds and osmanthus flower. Let the goodness of the ingredients seep into the water. 
  • When the water turns brownish yellow, turn off the fire. While the water is still hot (not boiling), add in the jelly powder. Make sure you stir it while adding the powder so that it will be evenly distributed. 
  • Pour the mixture into a mould or Tupperware. And let it cool under the fan. (Optional) Use a small spoon to stir the mixture until it is slightly thicken when it is in the mould. This will distribute the ingredients evenly so they don't flood or sink.
  • Chill it in the fridge until it is ready to be served. 



Some tips, be mild with osmanthus flowers. The more you put in, the bitter it gets. Adjust the sugar accordingly to suit your taste. For the jelly consistency, adjust the jelly powder.


The total cost for me to make a 500ml portion is approximately RM8. If you don't want to make it yourself, you can get the same thing from Tim Ho Wan, which cost RM6.90 for 3 small pieces.


This is not only a healthy option for your dessert, it can also be consumed as part of your beauty supplement since the goji seeds and osmanthus flowers have high antioxidant properties. If you're trying to cut down your kids' intake on ice-cream and cakes, consider this as a substitute.


If you are recreating this recipe, don't forget to tag me on Instagram @QueenJerine. I would love to see your work! Have fun trying!
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