I think aiyu jelly is very Taiwanese. It’s not just a “local specialty” – it cannot be made anywhere else on earth.
What is Aiyu?
Aiyu (Ficus pumila var. awkeotsang) is an endemic species of Taiwan, mainly distributed in the middle and low-altitude mountainous areas of the central south.
Aiyu is a climbing woody vine plant that cannot stand upright on its own and often spreads and grows along walls, rocks or other surfaces. It will take 6 to 7 years after planting to bear fruit, and it will be lignified year by year.
How to Get Aiyu Jelly Seed?
It is only assisted by the help of Taiwan’s endemic insect “Aiyu Bee” Ceratina nigrolateralis (which looks like a winged ant). They hate the heat, and they’re picky about where they live. Since they can only handle a very specific environment, they can only survive in certain parts of Taiwan. That’s why you can’t just take the seeds and grow them in California or Europe. Without the Aiyu Bee, the whole thing just wouldn’t work.
In addition, Aiyu bees have very strict requirements for the environment. They prefer clean and natural ecology. Therefore, farmers must take care of the land carefully to ensure that Aiyu continues to thrive.
Aiyu fruit matures from mid-October to February of the following year. The Aiyu fruit collected should be washed immediately. After cutting, it should be exposed to the sun. After the internal seeds are dried, add water and rub to precipitate the pectin, and condense into delicious and low-calorie Aiyu jelly
How can Aiyu Seed become Aiyu Jelly?
When rubbing the jade seeds, pectin and pectin esterase will be released.After being warmed often, it can be condensed into love jade jelly. Aiyu ice can be made by adding crushed ice and lemon juice, which is a famous dessert in Taiwan.
Due to the impact of global warming in recent years, the harvest is not as good as before, and the yield has decreased a lot. With the change of the growing environment of Taiwan’s native species of Aiyu, the number of Aiyu bees that are sensitive to temperature changes is gradually decreasing. In addition, the process of picking wild jade is difficult and tiring, and fewer and fewer people are willing to devote themselves to this work. As a result of various factors, the yield gradually decreases.
So, if you’re ever in Taiwan and sweating your eyes out, definitely grab a cold cup of aiyu jelly. It’s an experience you literally can’t get anywhere else. Best part? It’s pretty much all water, so you can drink as much as you want without feeling guilty.Low-calorie and healthy: The calories of Aiyu jelly per 100 grams are only about 2 to 3 calories, rich in natural pectin and dietary fiber.
