Chrysanthemum Goji Longan Jelly

It’s officially a monkey year. Here’s to a healthy, peaceful, and exuberant filled year ahead. 祝大家身體健康，幸福美滿，候運當頭!

While loving all the sweet treats and deliciously rich dishes available during the celebration of Chinese (Lunar) New Year, they could be uneasy on the stomach, heavy on the digestion, and not to mention dangerous to the waistline.

I might got just a solution to remedy those concerns. A cup of light and refreshing chrysanthemum goji longan tea comes to the rescue. Perhaps it makes a great beverage to serve during or after meal, do you agree? This tea makes an appearance in our household quick often, especially after it has been “jello-ized” into a light and refreshing, and ridiculously cute looking shaped snack.

Not only they are pretty to look at, chrysanthemum (also known as mums) flowers and goji berries could also be consumed and had been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years. Just naming a few health benefits:

-A natural remedy for common cold
-Reduce of heat and inflammation
-A natural remedy for red or dry eye
-Help with blurred vision
-Calming nerves
-Promote healthy skin
-Help with insomnia

With the weather warming up, I like to serve it cold and in a dessert form. With Valentine’s Day coming up, these would make lovely lovely lovely dessert for your loved ones (kids and adults). Each piece has a golden hue and a mild, flowery flavor similar to chamomile. Each bite is soft and juicy with a taste of goji berries and naturally sweetened longan. 4 ingredients is all you need to make this quick and easy dessert.

This dessert or snack is:

Refreshing
Thirst Quenching
Adorable looking
Flowery flavor
All Natural
Fat-free
Gluten-free
Processed sugar-free
Guilt-free
Caffeine-free
Bite sized
Finger food

Leave a comment and let us know if you get a chance to try it. We love to stay in touch and hear your thoughts. Have a beautiful day!

Chrysanthemum Goji Longan Jelly 

Serve: 24 jelly
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes + 1 hour

Ingredients
3 cup water
1/4 cup (roughly 5-7g) dried chrysanthemum flowers
1/4 cup + 1 tbsp sweetener (honey or agave nectar)
1 tbsp agar agar powder (or gelatin if preferred)
1 tbsp dried goji berries, soaked for 10-15 minutes, till puffy
7 dried longans, soaked till soft, about 15-20 minutes, and julienned
24 small moulds

Instructions
In a pot, bring water to a boil. Add chrysanthemum flower. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Pour tea over a sieve over a bowl or cup to remove all chrysanthemum flowers. Pour tea back into pot. On low heat, add honey and stir to combine. Then, add agar agar powder and bring to a boil. Stir constantly to combine powder. Remove from heat.

If using silicone moulds, place them on a baking sheet or flat surface to assist moving from kitchen to fridge to avoid flipping and flopping. Fill moulds with tea halfway. Fridge for 5 minutes, or until a little solidify. Take them out and place goji berries and longan pieces into moulds (this way they will flow in the center of jelly). Fill moulds with remaining tea. Fridge for an hour or overnight, before serving.

Enjoy them cold!