Sua Suong Sao is a Vietnamese iced drink of grass jelly and milk, sweetened with simple syrup. It’s a quick and refreshing treat for a hot day.
What is Grass Jelly?
Grass jelly, or Suong Sao, is a black gelatin that begins with boiling the leaves and stalks of the Chinese mesona plant then gelatinized with starch. The jelly is cut into cubes for use in many desserts and drinks in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia.
Where to get Grass Jelly?
There are two kinds of grass jelly in the states: canned grass jelly and powdered grass jelly. Both can be found at your local Asian grocery stores.
The canned jelly is ready to go. Open the can and slide the jelly out like canned cranberry. Cut into cubes and use them in a dessert recipe like the one below.
The canned version is mostly tasteless with a slight hint of herbal bitterness. Some canned grass jelly have banana flavoring, something I don’t like. If available, I always opt for the plain version.
The powdered jelly requires cooking. The advantage of powdered jelly is that you can adjust sweetness by adding more water and firmness by adding more water.
When using powdered grass jelly, it’s important to constantly stir the mixture when bringing it to a boil to prevent clumping. Once the mixture comes to a slight boil, pour it into a tray to set. Immediately place saran wrap directly on the mixture to prevent the top from forming a skin.
Vietnamese Grass Jelly and Milk Dessert (Sửa Sương Sáo)
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Refreshing ice-cold drink with milk and sweetened grass jelly cubes.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cubed grass jelly
- 2–3 tablespoons simple brown sugar syrup (equal part water and brown sugar; bring to a boil then cool)
- 1/2 cup ice cubes
- 1/2 cup choice of milk
Instructions
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Assemble the Drink: In a tall glass, add grass jelly and your desired amount of simple syrup. For a sweeter drink, use about 3 tablespoons.
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Add Ice and Milk: Fill the glass with ice cubes and top with milk.
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Serve: Stir gently if desired and serve immediately. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: dessert, drink
- Cuisine: asian, vietnamese, chinese
