Lychee Agar Jelly Cubes (Print)

Translucent lychee agar cubes in fizzy yuzu water, chilled and garnished with mint and citrus.

# Ingredients:

→ 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)

# Instructions:

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.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • The interplay of lychee sweetness and zingy yuzu is a delight you will want to share.
  • It looks impressive but comes together quickly with barely any cleanup.
02 -
  • If you don’t simmer the agar for at least two minutes, your jelly will never fully set.
  • I once forgot to chill the sparkling water and the result was a flat, underwhelming drink instead of a fizzy treat.
03 -
  • Stir the agar mixture continuously; even a short break can cause lumps that are impossible to smooth out later.
  • Pour gently into the mold for crystal-clear jelly—you want as few bubbles as possible for a luxe look.
Back