What is the Jelly in Bubble Tea?

The jelly commonly added to bubble tea is usually one of three different types:

1. Fruit Jelly
2. Grass Jelly
3. Custard Jelly

Both fruit and grass jelly tend to be the most popular options due to their health benefits and versatility, however custard jelly stands unique in its sweet dessert-like addition to any bubble tea.

Each jelly carries its own health benefits, flavours and textures. So whether you’re new to bubble tea and you’re looking for the best bubble tea combination to start with or you’re a seasoned bubble tea drinker, this guide will help you understand which jelly will make the best addition to your next bubble tea order.

Reasons to add jelly to your bubble tea

Generally there are two main reasons why anyone would add jelly to their bubble tea:

1. Smoother bubble tea - the popping bubbles and tapioca pearls more commonly found in bubble tea don’t suit everyone, so for those looking for a smoother tea, jelly is the one.
2. Healthier bubble tea - both the fruit and grass jelly offer unique health benefits which have been enjoyed by south-east asian communities for decades.

Let’s take a closer look at those three jelly options and reveal the health and flavour characteristics of these bubble tea ingredients.

1. Fruit Jelly

A popular choice with younger audiences as it is completely vegan and suits fruit bubble tea very well.

What is fruit jelly made of?

Fruit jelly is commonly made of coconut meat as well as konjar, a vegetable by-product. This makes the jelly completely vegan as well as offering a fresh sweet flavour to your bubble tea.

Health benefits of fruit jelly

Fruit jelly is high in fibre and low in fat, as well as carrying no cholesterol content whatsoever. 

This combination offers a wealth of health benefits such as:

• Blood sugar control
• Better heart health
• Weight loss and better weight management
• Boosts to skin health
• Relief from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

This is what makes fruit jelly so unique - incredibly healthy and tasty. What more could you want?

2. Grass Jelly

Also commonly known as leaf jelly or herb jelly, grass jelly has been consumed as a traditional Asian herbal dessert for decades. This is due to its unique taste and you guessed - amazing health benefits.

What does grass jelly taste like?

The flavour of grass jelly is actually incredibly subtle, carrying a refreshing herbal taste which can often carry notes of mint. This subtle taste makes grass jelly a great addition to bubble tea with syrups and sweeter ingredients.

What is grass jelly made of?

Grass jelly is traditionally made using Chinese mesona as it’s key ingredient, and the best part is this popular jelly dessert can be made at home.

The mesona plant grows in grassy dry areas in south-east Asia, and both the leaves and stem are used to make grass jelly which at the cooking stage is added to corn starch and potassium to produce the vegan jelly you see in many bubble tea drinks.

Health benefits of grass jelly

Though not quite as diverse as fruit jelly, grass jelly does carry it’s own set of unique health benefits including:

• Antioxidant
• Antibacterial
• Aids digestion

3. Custard Jelly

Now we arrive at the more indulgent end of bubble tea jelly: custard jelly. Also known as ‘egg pudding’ and consumed on its own as a popular Asian dessert. It’s perfect if you’re a sweet tooth looking to improve the texture and taste of your bubble tea.

What is custard jelly made of?

Simply put and in its purest form, custard jelly is made of sugar, eggs and milk. Which of course makes it not suitable for vegans. 

However, it’s worth noting that custard jelly takes many forms and variations around Asia and between different bubble tea cafes so be sure to try a few different varieties before making a final judgement.

What does custard jelly taste like?

Custard jelly carries a simple flavour, offering a sweet and smooth addition to your bubble tea.

Custard jelly makes a fantastic addition to any bubble tea which contains caramel and chewy boba. The texture is unique as well, as the custard sinks into the tea it produces a velvety savoury-sweet flavour which is absolutely divine in a dessert bubble tea.

-

So now you’re all clued up on jelly in bubble tea, you’re ready to create the best bubble tea of all time. With health benefits and unique flavours and textures, jelly is a fantastic addition to any bubble tea.

We are Bubblebase: Wales’ first Bubble Tea Bar. We believe in using the best quality ingredients to consistently serve our customers with a delicious range of drinks that have not only been created with utmost care, but also with the sharpest appearance.

Order online with our exclusive Bubblebase app and earn 9 stamps free when you register! Or place your order through our delivery partners and get Bubblebase delivered right to your doorstep. 

‍

Written by Aled Nelmes for Bubblebase.

‍

See our price changes, just an FYI.