Longan, Red Date and Coral Grass Sweet Soup

Why people make this sweet soup

Coral grass — a dried sea algae sometimes marketed as “sea bird’s nest” — has long been prized in traditional Cantonese food therapy for nourishing the skin. After soaking overnight with several changes of water to remove the sea smell, it expands into translucent, crisp pieces with a pleasant jellyfish-like texture. Simmered briefly with longan and red dates, the result is a dessert that is subtly sweet, gently restorative, and easy to prepare. The key is not to overcook the coral grass — much like jellyfish, it is best added at the very end of cooking so it retains its pleasant bite. Coral grass is available at Chinese or Asian grocers, or online.