Is Grass Jelly Good for Your Health?
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Is Grass Jelly Good for Your Health?

Is Grass Jelly Good for Your Health?
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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In many East and Southeast Asian countries, such as Taiwan, China, Singapore, and Malaysia, grass jelly (also called leaf jelly or herbal jelly) is a traditional ingredient used in beverages and desserts.

 It’s used in folk medicine preparations to treat various conditions.

 It’s often classified as having antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and antihypertensive (which means it helps fight high blood pressure) properties.

There isn’t a lot of research on grass jelly, but the studies that have been done on the gelatinous substance may be a first step to confirming the theories that it can promote health in several different ways.

What Is Grass Jelly?

Grass jelly comes in two varieties: black and green.

 Black grass jelly is made from the leaves of the Mesona palustris plant, while the leaves of the Cyclea barbata Miers plant are used to make green grass jelly. To make both varieties of grass jelly, the plants’ leaves are soaked in water until a gel-like substance forms.
Once the gel has formed, the jelly is usually cut into cubes and served with boba tea (in place of or alongside tapioca bubbles) or with coconut milk and fresh fruit like sweetened red beans.

 Just like tea, grass jelly contains phenolic compounds like flavonoids and tannins, which have health benefits.

Health Benefits of Grass Jelly

According to one research review, the plant that black grass jelly is made from contains naturally occurring compounds that studies have shown to be beneficial in numerous ways.

 Research has demonstrated that it has the following properties, among others:
  • Antioxidant
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Antidiabetic
  • Antitumor
  • Can protect against high blood pressure
  • Can protect the kidneys
  • Can enhance the function of bacteria in the gut
  • Can protect DNA from damage

While research has shown that the black grass jelly’s plant source shows promise, the review’s authors noted that there are many varieties of the plant with different levels of bioactive compounds. Until more research is done on the chemical makeup of various types, including safety investigations, it’s not possible to develop therapeutic recommendations.

Preliminary cell-based research looked at using the green grass jelly plant as a possible therapy for Alzheimer’s disease.

 Researchers found that it showed promise in reducing the release of cholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.

Acetylcholine is a chemical that plays an important role in forming memories, concentration, and verbal and logical reasoning. People with Alzheimer’s disease don’t have enough acetylcholine, so finding ways to prevent the enzyme from further reducing its levels might help them form new memories and recall previous ones. Further research is needed — first in animals, then in humans — to determine if this is a safe and effective treatment.

It’s important to note that while these studies are promising, the research on grass jelly is still pretty limited. Enjoy grass jelly as part of a balanced diet, but don’t count on it for its disease-fighting benefits until more research has been released.

The Takeaway

  • Grass jelly is a traditional East and Southeast Asian ingredient used in beverages and desserts that is believed to have medicinal properties.
  • There are two varieties of grass jelly, black and green, made from the leaves of different plants. Both are also used in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments.
  • While preliminary research is promising regarding the potential health benefits of grass jelly, suggesting antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties, more extensive studies are needed before therapeutic recommendations can be developed.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Chan V. 4 Ways to Enjoy Grass Jelly, the Ultimate Summer Refresher. Food Network. August 5, 2022.
  2. The Refreshing Sweets of Southeast Asia. SBS Food. February 10, 2022.
  3. Pan J et al. Preparation Technologies, Structural Features, and Biological Activities of Polysaccharides From Mesona Chinensis Benth.: A Review. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. May 23, 2024.
  4. Iqbal Z et al. Designing and Experimenting Semi-Automatic Green Grass Jelly Squeezer. International Journal on Advanced Science Engineering and Information Technology. July 2018.
  5. Hang K. The Best Boba in Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. Eater Los Angeles. March 5, 2025.
  6. Wai D. From Grass Jelly’s Cooling Effect to Its Antioxidants, This Versatile Cantonese Ingredient Is Ultimate Treat. South China Morning Post Young Post. October 7, 2023.
  7. Higdon J. Tea. Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute. October 2015.
  8. Andri Deswati D et al. Potent Antioxidant Activity of Black Grass Jelly (Mesona Palustris BL) Leaf Extract and Fractions. Pharmacia. February 8, 2024.
  9. Suharyo S et al. The Percentages of Chlorophyll, Flavonoids, Dietary Fibre, and Water Content in Cyclea Barbata, Premna Oblongata Miq, and Cocculus Orbiculatus Leaves. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 2023.
  10. Seah R et al. Functionality and Health-Promoting Properties of Polysaccharide and Plant-Derived Substances From Mesona Chinensis. Foods. April 8, 2024.
  11. Uddin MJ et al. Anticholinesterase Activity of Eight Medicinal Plant Species: In Vitro and In Silico Studies in the Search for Therapeutic Agents Against Alzheimer’s Disease. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. June 25, 2021.
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Roxana Ehsani, RDN

Roxana Ehsani, RD

Medical Reviewer

Roxana Ehsani, RD, is a Miami-based licensed dietitian-nutritionist, board-certified specialist in sports dietetics, and media spokesperson, consultant, and content creator for food and nutrition brands. She is an adjunct instructor for sports nutrition at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg.

Ehsani appears as a food and nutrition expert for television stations across the nation and in national publications, including Runner's World, Women's Health, Glamour, and more, and is a contributing writer for EatingWell. She has a strong background in sports nutrition and has worked with professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school teams and individual athletes, whom she sees through her private practice. 

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Lindsay Boyers is a holistic nutritionist with a Bachelor's degree in food and nutrition and a certificate in holistic nutrition consulting. She has a background in functional nutrition and is currently studying for her RD exam.

In addition to contributing to everydayhealth.com, she has 12 published books, including The Everything Guide to Gut Health, The Everything Guide to the Ketogenic Diet, and The Everything Guide to Intermittent Fasting.

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