Guilinggao (Chinese Herbal Jelly)

Nov 7, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Easy

A firm, almost black jelly made from a blend of Chinese herbs, with a bittersweet, earthy flavor. It is cooked with rock sugar and pandan, chilled, and served cold with honey to balance its bitterness. Makes 8 servings in about 4 hr 40 min.

Prep 10 min

Cook 30 min

Cooling 4 hr

Total 4 hr 40 min

Servings 8

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

⅓ cup (50 g)guilinggao powder
1 cup (250 ml)cold water
4 ¼ cups (1000 ml)water
½ cup (100 g)rock sugar, crushed
¾ oz (20 g)pandan leaves, washed and knotted
4 tbsp (80 g)honey

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Instructions

Whisk the guilinggao powder into the cold water until it forms a smooth, lump-free paste.
Bring the 1000 ml water, rock sugar and pandan leaves to a boil in a large saucepan and simmer until the sugar has dissolved, about 5 minutes. Lift out the pandan leaves.
Lower the heat to medium-low and pour in the guilinggao paste in a thin stream, whisking constantly.
Cook, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom, until the liquid is glossy and lightly coats the spoon, 15 to 20 minutes. It will still be fairly thin while hot and sets firm as it cools.
Strain into the bowls or container and skim off any foam.
Cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate until firmly set, about 3 hours.
Serve cold, in the bowls or cut into cubes, with the honey spooned over each portion.

Tips

Powders vary by brand: this recipe uses about 1.25 L of water in all per 50 g packet; if your packet gives a different water ratio, follow it.
Keep the heat moderate and stir all the time: high heat makes the jelly lumpy and can scorch it.
The bitterness is part of the dish; serve the honey on the side so everyone can sweeten to taste.
Do not give honey to infants under 1 year old.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make guilinggao (chinese herbal jelly)?

Plan on 10 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking, plus 4 hours to chill and rest. The recipe makes 8 servings.

How should I store guilinggao (chinese herbal jelly)?

Refrigerate covered for up to 5 days.

Can I make guilinggao (chinese herbal jelly) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Once made by simmering turtle shell with medicinal herbs for hours, guilinggao is now almost always made from a turtle-free herbal powder and served cold with honey or syrup. Serve it with chrysanthemum tea.

Variations

Condensed milk topping: replace the honey with 90 g (1/4 cup) sweetened condensed milk; time unchanged. Adds milk as an allergen.
Brown sugar syrup: replace the honey with a syrup of 100 g (1/2 cup) dark brown sugar simmered with 100 ml (scant 1/2 cup) water for 3 minutes, cooled; makes the dish vegan.
Over shaved ice: cut the set jelly into 1/2-inch (1 cm) cubes and serve over crushed ice with the honey.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 8 servings this recipe makes.

101 Calories / serving

0.0g Fat

26.1g Carbs

0.0g Protein

20.7g Sugar

Whole recipe (8 servings): ~808 cal · 0g fat · 209g carbs · 0g protein · 166g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.