Eating in China
Illustration of tiny brown flattened bingfen seeds in a shallow ceramic dish.

Bingfen seeds

冰粉籽(假酸浆籽)Bīngfěn zǐ (jiǎ suānjiāng zǐ)

The seeds of Nicandra physalodes, used to make traditional hand-rubbed bingfen jelly. Pectin released from the seeds provides the jelly base.

Type
Edible seeds

A CLOSER LOOK

How to recognize it

Tiny brown seeds, roughly a millimetre across, shaped like flattened kidney-shaped discs with a finely pitted surface.

In the kitchen

The seeds are tied in a cloth bag and rubbed in water to extract pectin. The bag and seeds are removed; the resulting liquid is set into jelly.

These are not aiyu fig seeds or ready-mixed jelly powder. Powder-made bingfen uses a different mix; setting agents and toppings vary.

Ask about this ingredient

这道菜里有冰粉籽(假酸浆籽)吗?

Does this dish contain Bingfen seeds?

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