[Japanese Recipes] Vegan Coffee Jelly Dessert (2024)

FAQs

What is Japanese coffee jelly made of? ›

Japanese coffee jelly typically has four ingredients - coffee, gelatin or kanten powder, water, and sugar. If you want to make the recipe vegetarian-friendly, use kanten or agar powder instead of gelatin. As mentioned, the toppings vary for Japanese coffee jelly depending on where you purchase it and your preferences.

“If you love coffee and jelly, this is the dessert for you and there's a few ways to make it. For the vegan version, you'd use agar agar, which is a seaweed, and a substitute for gelatin.

Head to any kissaten (old-style coffee shop) in Japan, and chances are you'll spot kohii zerii (coffee jelly) on the menu. A staple of Japanese coffee shops since the 1960s, Japanese coffee jelly has become so popular over the years that you can even spot it readymade in the chilled section in convenience stores.

Bingfen (Chinese: 冰粉; pinyin: bīngfěn), also called ice jelly, is a Chinese dessert native to Southwest China in provinces such as Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan. It is served as a bowl of iced transparent jelly, made from the seeds of the Nicandra physalodes plant, along with toppings like haw flakes and wolfberries.

The other ingredients are water, sugar, and thickening agent (gelatin or agar-agar), although they might vary slightly between versions. It has a jello-like texture and a bittersweet taste that is unforgettably good.

Made of black coffee, gelatin powder, and sugar, coffee jelly or kohii zerii can be found on the menus in many restaurants, cafes, and bakeries in Japan. This chilled dessert is typically served in small cups, and sometimes the jelly is cut into cubes and served in a cup with whipped cream or milk.

Plant-based gelatin alternatives

Cornstarch and agar agar (an algae-based product found in the seaweed section) have both been used to successfully replicate these tricky textures. Like gelatin, both cornstarch and agar agar are activated when combined with a hot liquid.

“If you love coffee and jelly, this is the dessert for you and there's a few ways to make it. For the vegan version, you'd use agar agar, which is a seaweed, and a substitute for gelatin. You get jelly that is a little crunchy, and if I were to lay this coffee jelly out to dry, it'll become edible crystals.

However, with a growing vegan community and a demand for inclusive food options, many jellies now use plant-based gelling agents. These vegan-friendly alternatives include natural thickeners like pectin, derived from fruits, which align with vegan dietary requirements.

Although the price is a little high for a coffee jelly (297 yen), you can feel its hefty weight just picking it up. The package also includes a serving of coffee sugar and milk creamer.

What is Japanese jelly called? ›

Yokan (羊羹) — a Japanese block-shaped dessert with a jelly texture, is a sophisticated dessert for any time of the day.

For Japan Royal Jelly's royal jelly, all raw materials have a high content of decenoic acid, between 2.0% and 2.5% (of raw royal jelly). In addition, the Japan Royal Jelly's royal jelly is also rich in Apisin, which is another important unique component of royal jelly.

I love this refreshing summer treat. It's basically the simplified version of Japanese Fruit Jelly. You can incorporate these jellies into most cold soupy desserts like sweet tofu, sago soup, sweet bean soups, or bubble tea if you'd like.

In Mauritius, the grass jelly is cut into cubes and is added into water and sugar or in syrup water to make a cold drink called "Mousse Noir" which is literally translated as "black jelly" in English. The Mousse noir is of Chinese origins and is a reflection of the Sino-Mauritians influence on the Mauritian cuisine.

Sì (pronounced [si˥˧], Min Dong Chinese: 𥻵, transcribed as sì in Foochow Romanized) is a traditional spherical dessert made from glutinous rice, eaten in celebration of the Winter Solstice festival in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. It is usually produced without filling, in contrast to the tangyuan.

Coffee jelly is a nutritious snack or delicious dessert everyone will love. It provides a perfect and healthy alternative to your usual coffee routine. You can add your favorite syrups, drinks and toppings and its suitable for every occasion.

Konjac jelly, or konnyaku (こんにゃく), is made from the starchy konjac plant, which belongs to the same family as the taro and the yam. The elephant foot yam and devil's tongue are alternative names for the konjac plant. People grow the plant in various parts of Asia, which has been in China for centuries.

What Does Coffee Jelly Taste And Look Like? Coffee jelly tastes almost exactly like a slightly sweetened coffee. It's somewhat bitter and just the right amount of sweet so that it's not overwhelming.

This coffee jelly is a refreshing Japanese summertime treat made with coffee, powdered gelatin, and sugar. My favorite way to serve it is with frozen whipped cream and chocolate sauce, although it's also delicious with ice cream, regular whipped cream, or flavored coffee cream.