Chongqing Ice Jelly is a must – have summer treat in the mountain city, offering a cool and sweet taste with its hand – made tender jelly and a variety of toppings. Traditionally, Ice Jelly was made by repeatedly kneading ice jelly seeds in a muslin bag, which reacted with lime water to solidify. Nowadays, instant ice jelly powder is often used instead. To make it, the ice jelly powder is mixed and set into a jelly – like consistency, then scooped into small pieces and placed in a bowl. It’s topped with brown sugar syrup, fermented glutinous rice, hawthorn slices, raisins, crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, and other ingredients. The brown sugar is slowly simmered to develop a rich sweetness, and the aroma of the fermented glutinous rice complements the refreshing jelly. When eating, a spoonful of Ice Jelly melts instantly in the mouth, blending the sweetness of the brown sugar syrup, the tangy – sweet dried fruits, and the crunch of nuts, instantly relieving the summer heat. On the streets of Chongqing, stalls selling Ice Jelly can be seen everywhere. Especially after enjoying a spicy hot pot, having a bowl of Ice Jelly is the perfect way to cool down and relieve the spiciness.