Lychee Agar Jelly Cubes (Printable)

Translucent lychee jelly cubes in chilled sparkling yuzu water, garnished with mint and thin citrus slices.

# What You'll Need:

→ 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)

# Directions:

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.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The jelly's shimmer and the bubbles feel endlessly festive, even when you're alone in the kitchen.
  • A splash of yuzu, plus those impossibly tender lychees, make this the most refreshing way to end any meal.
02 -
  • Never let the agar-agar mixture cool before pouring—once it thickens, it won't set smoothly.
  • Chill your glasses ahead of time if you want the jelly to stay bouncy even after serving.
03 -
  • Agar sets quickly at room temperature, so have your mold and lychees ready before you start heating the mix.
  • Adding a splash of elderflower cordial turns this into a fragrant show-stopper without overpowering the yuzu.
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