Chrysanthenum Agar Agar

After the raining spell, the real hot weather is here. Temperature on average was above 31°C during the day.

What better way to beat the heat than a slice of cold agar-agar.

For this agar-agar, I used dried chrysanthenum and longans to brew the tea which is then set by agar-agar strands.

In Chinese food therapy and herbal medicine, longan is believed to have an effect on relaxation while chrysanthenum aids in influenza recovery. The dried longan is considered a "warm item" while the chrysanthenum is a "cool item". The mix of longan and chrysanthenum balances the "yin yang" in food therapy thus making it suitable for most people to consume.

Beat the heat and enjoy a chilling piece served with honey to soothe the body!









Ingredients:
13g - 15g agar-agar strands (I used 15g)

40g dried longans (桂圆 or 圆肉)
20g dried chrysanthenum (菊花)
1500ml water

80g -100g rock sugar

Method:
1. Cut the agar-agar strands into smaller pieces and soak in water till soften.
2. Put longans, chrysanthenum and 1500ml of water into a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. While simmering the tea, select some whole chrysanthenum flowers from the tea and keep for use as decor.
4. Strain the brewed tea and measure out 1000ml for the agar-agar.
5. Bring the 1000ml tea to boil again and add in the strained agar-agar strands. Stir till agar-agar strands dissolved before adding in the rock sugar. Simmer till rock sugar dissolved.
6. Strain agar-agar mixture into molds which are rinsed with cool drinking water. Add in longans if desired. Place the selected chrysanthenum flowers on top of the agar-agar (they will float) for a pretty presentation.
7. Chilled till set and serve with some honey if desired.

Notes:
For a crunchier texture use 15g agar-agar strands.