Lychee Agar Jelly Cubes (Printable Version)

Translucent lychee agar cubes served in sparkling yuzu water for a light, vegan summer finish.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Lychee Agar Jelly

01 - 400 ml lychee juice (from canned lychees, drained and reserved)
02 - 1 tbsp agar-agar powder
03 - 2 tbsp granulated sugar
04 - 8 whole canned lychees (optional, to embed in jelly)

→ Sparkling Yuzu Water

05 - 500 ml sparkling water, chilled
06 - 60 ml yuzu juice (fresh or bottled)
07 - 2 tbsp simple syrup (adjust to taste)
08 - Ice cubes, as needed

→ Garnish

09 - Fresh mint leaves (optional)
10 - Thin slices of lime or yuzu (optional)

# Method:

01 - In a small saucepan, combine lychee juice, agar-agar powder, and sugar. Whisk until fully dissolved. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer for 2 minutes to activate agar. Pour the mixture into a square or rectangular mold. If desired, cut the reserved lychees in half and evenly distribute them throughout the liquid. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate for about 1–2 hours until fully set.
02 - Once set, remove the jelly from the mold and cut into 2 cm cubes. Place several jelly cubes into individual serving glasses.
03 - In a pitcher, combine chilled sparkling water, yuzu juice, and simple syrup. Stir gently.
04 - Add ice cubes to each glass with jelly cubes. Pour sparkling yuzu water over the jelly cubes. Garnish with mint leaves and citrus slices, if desired. Serve immediately.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The gentle floral aroma and fizz make it feel far more elegant than any dessert this simple should be.
  • It’s vegan, refreshingly light, and turns the ordinary into a centerpiece at any warm-weather gathering.
02 -
  • Don’t try to speed up chilling in the freezer or the jelly texture becomes oddly grainy.
  • I once tried to skip dissolving the agar fully and ended up with a gritty base; make sure it’s smooth before boiling.
03 -
  • Store leftover jelly cubes in an airtight box to keep them from drying out overnight.
  • A tiny drop of vanilla extract in the lychee jelly adds subtle complexity without overpowering.
Return