Grass jelly

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/grass-jelly

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the botanical classification?Derived from Platystoma species (family Lamiaceae)
2. What is the cultural origin?Developed by the Hakka people in China
3. Where did grass jelly come from?It started in China, especially among the Hakka people. When Chinese families moved to places like Malaysia and Thailand, they brought the jelly with them.
4. How is grass jelly made?The leaves are boiled to release a juice that contains natural polysaccharides. When the juice cools, it turns into a jelly that traps water and becomes wobbly.

Ethnobotany: The study of how people of a particular culture and region use indigenous plants.
Phytochemicals: Biologically active compounds found in plants, often with health-promoting properties.
Hydrocolloid Gel: A gel formed by polysaccharides or proteins that absorb water, creating a semi-solid structure.
Functional Food: Food that has been modified to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition.