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Osmanthus Flower Jelly with Goji Berry 桂花糕

Name: Osmanthus Flower Jelly with Goji Berry 桂花糕
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 2 tbsp goji berries, pre-soaked in room temperature water (previously boiled); 3 tbsp dried osmanthus flowers; 500 ml hot water; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 2 tbsp Agar Agar (v) or Gelatin

Jan 23, 2022 · 62 Comments

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Osmanthus Flower Jelly with Goji Berry 桂花糕 may not be traditionally a Chinese New Year Food item but setting it in a koi fish mould seems to make it a Lunar New Year worthy dessert. The play on auspicious symbolism Chinese food symbolism and pronunciation of Chinese characters that sound the same, like "fish," bring surplus and prosperity 年年有余. Make this easy to make Chinese Medicinal Food Therapy dessert that is nutritious, soothing and promotes lung health.

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Osmanthus Flower Jelly Benefits
What is Osmanthus Flower 桂花?
Osmanthus Jelly Moulds
Osmanthus Flower Jelly Dessert Cooking Tips
Osmanthus Flower Jelly with Goji Berry 桂花糕
More Chinese Recipes
More Vegetarian / Vegan Chinese Recipes

Osmanthus Flower Jelly Benefits

This beautiful translucent dessert combines the properties of osmanthus flowers and goji berries to make it a cooling and soothing dessert. The translucent appearance is the perfect dessert in the summertime.

The scent of osmanthus bespeaks the incredible flavour that comes off these blossoms.

Sometimes, it is often compared to jasmine or honey. Osmanthus flowers pair great goji berry, lychee, and sometimes coconut milk. For example, you can also make osmanthus flower jelly with lychee.

What is Osmanthus Flower 桂花?

Osmanthus Fragrans in Chinese is guìhuā 桂花 - It is a tiny sweet, beautiful golden edible flower found in South China (Guizhou, Sichuan and Yunnan), Taiwan, Japan to Southeast Asia.

There are lots of osmanthus tea's health benefits. Osmanthus is rich in polyphenols, carotene, magnesium, B3, and selenium. The dried flowers has no known contraindications, and its Traditional Chinese Medicinal herbal properties reduce coughing and phlegm in the lungs, reduce dampness, aids digestion and reduce abdominal pain.

Dried osmanthus flowers are famous for their beautiful aroma, unique flavor, and are commonly made into osmanthus tea and desserts like this osmanthus flower jelly.

Osmanthus can be purchased at most Asian grocery store or Chinese herbalist.

枸杞子/ Goji Berries (Lycium Chinense) - In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the goji berries are typically used to nourish the blood, tonifies the Yin by entering the kidney and liver channels. Wolfberry is a beautiful tonic herb that promotes longevity, anti-ageing, brightens the eyes and moistens the lungs. Goji berries help treat anemia, insomnia, tinnitus, diabetes and impaired vision such as glaucoma. Goji Berries are also known as Matrimony Vine Fruit for their aphrodisiac effect! Try adding goji berries to your oatmeals or energy raw bars for Western culinary.

Wolfberry Berries are rich in Vitamin A, B-1,2, C, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zeaxanthin, physalis, and linoleic acid. Warm-type constitutions.

Osmanthus Jelly Moulds

I debated using the koi fish mold to make the osmanthus jellies since there are so many fish motifs during Chinese New Year. However, should the fish struggled to come loose from the moulds. So, if you wonder how to get jelly out of a mould, you can submerge the mould in warm (not hot) water for approximately 10 seconds to unmould your jello osmanthus cake, then flip the mould upside down over a serving plate.

Otherwise, I like to re-use the tiny glass jars from my Maison Riviera coconut milk yogurt to set my delicious dessert jello. It is a perfect size and treats for mid-afternoon.

Agar Agar vs. Gelatin vs. Konnyaku Powder

You may wonder which is better Agar, Gelatin, or Konnyaku when making desserts and using it as a gelling agent.

Agar Agar Powder - is a gelatinous substance made initially from seaweed and sets more firmly at room temperature than Gelatin. Agar has no calories and no carbs. It is sugar-free, fat-free, rich in fibre and free from starch, soy, corn, gluten, yeast, wheat, milk, egg and preservatives. Great for Agar Agar gummies.

Gelatin Powder - collagen derived from animal bones and skin. It is a colourless and odourless substance and is best if you use Gelatin from grass-fed animals.

Konnyaku Jelly Powder こんにゃく / 菎蒻 - Konnyaku jelly is a vegan Gelatin made from Konjac, a plant of the genus Amorphophallus (taro and yam family). This plant-based jelly has a fishy taste and is usually used in seafood substitution dishes.

Pro Tip: If you prefer a more chewy texture, adjust the setting agent to your desired texture.

Osmanthus Flower Jelly Dessert Cooking Tips

Pre-soak the goji berries in previously boiled water. Never use hot tap water.

In a small pot, add dried osmanthus flower and water. Bring to a boil and steep for 5 minutes. Alternatively, boil in a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker - set tea mode like you are making osmanthus flower tea.

Alternatively, use a tea strainer and a mug and steep the dried osmanthus flowers like making osmanthus tea. Cover with lid for best results.

Next, use osmanthus tea to bloom the Agar Agar or Gelatin. Don't use hot water otherwise, it will dilute the strength of the tea. Let it bloom in a small pyrex cup or small sauce bowl.

Do not add the Gelatin directly to the boiled osmanthus tea. Otherwise, the Gelatin will get clumpy and not dissolve smoothly.

Do not submerge the mould in hot water. This will melt the jelly, turn it watery, and effect the texture of the jelly.

How To Make Osmanthus Flower Jelly with Goji Berry

In a small sauce bowl, soak goji berries in room temperature water for 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a small pot, add dry osmanthus flower and water. Bring to a boil and steep for 5 minutes. Alternatively, boil in a Buydeem Health Beverage Maker - set tea mode like you are making osmanthus flower tea with boiling water.

Strain the osmanthus flower from the boiled hot water. Set aside.

After the osmanthus tea has been steeped, pour about 200ml into a pyrex measuring cup or small sauce bowl and add gelling agent (Agar Agar or Gelatin). Let it bloom and dissolve. *

A lot of the preparation time is waiting for the gui hua to steep.

Add the dissolved gelatin powder and granulated sugar or rock sugar to the remaining osmanthus tea. Mix well. I prefer the soothing taste of rock sugar. It is the ideal ingredient for making clean desserts like this beautiful golden flower Chinese people love to boost their immune system with.

Pour the osmanthus flower jelly mixture into the jelly koi fish mould or glass jars.

Add a few tablespoon goji berries (previously soaked) and osmanthus flowers into the mould.

Allow the jelly to cool down before transferring them to the refrigerator to set for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight for best results).

Once the jelly has fully set, remove the jelly from the mould by dipping the mould in warm water for 10 seconds. Flip the mould upside down onto a large plate to release the jelly. Do not submerge the jelly mold into hot water. This will melt the jelly and turn it watery.

Serve and enjoy chilled.

Did you make this Vegan Osmanthus Flower Jelly Asian Dessert Recipe commonly found in Chinese restaurants? I'd love to see how you went with my recipes! Leave a comment below or tag me on instagram @INSTANOMSS #INSTANOMSS