Known as ai yu bing I had it in Taiwan a few years ago.
It is a jelly made from the gel from the seeds of a variety of fig found in Taiwan and East Asian countries of the same climates and latitudes.
The jelly is not commonly made or found outside of Taiwan and Singapore, though it can be bought fresh in specialty stores in Japan and canned in Chinatowns.
It is known as ò-giô in Taiwanese and is used in Taiwanese cuisine.
I grew to love this jelly since the frist time I visited Taiwan several years ago. That time I bought several bags back to Miri as gifts.
This is at the Lunar Year Bazaar a young man sold it as Aiyu Bi Shui @ RM5.00 each cup. Very cooling and very nice.
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| Photo from Wikipedia.Dried seed of F.pumila ready for use. |
A very interesting TAiwanese folk story relates its origin. Aiyo is the name of the daughter of a Taiwanese tea businessman in the 1800s. " The jelling
property of the seeds was discovered by the businessman as he drank from
a river in Chiayi.
He found a clear yellowish jelly in the water he was drinking and was
refreshed upon trying it. Looking above the river he noticed fruits on
hanging vines. The fruits contained seeds that exuded a sticky gel when
rubbed.
Upon this discovery, he gathered some of the fruits and served them
at home with honeyed lemon juice or sweetened beverages. Finding the
jelly-containing beverage delicious and thirst-quenching, the
enterprising businessman delegated the task of selling it to his
beautiful 15-year-old daughter, Aiyu. The snack was very well received
and became highly popular. So, the businessman eventually named the
jelly and the vines after his daughter." (Wikipedia)
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