The Best Treatment

It has always reminded me of bird's nest, a cheaper version. Never knew what it was made of really. We'll always find them as a dessert in our typical tong shui (sweet soup). I've googled it and found out that these hasma, ?? (also known as snow jelly) were actually made from dried fallopian tubes of true frogs. Well, there are many weird things in Chinese medication and traditional herbs, it didn't much surprise me.

Hasma adds texture to a tong shui (Chinese sweet soup) and also luxury quotient of the soup. Benefits of hasma includes replenishing vital essence in lungs and kidneys. They are great remedies for coughs, and the best thing is that it is said to improve skin complexion! As I've been a bad girl and I got myself so sick, Mum boiled these for me and asked me to drink it as if I'm drinking water. I had the whole pot to myself.. She was just so worried that I wouldn't be well in time for our trip to Singapore! Yes, and I have to be sick at this time of the year. The weather in KL is terrible. Couldn't take the heat no more and I fell sick. I must have been the luckiest sick person on earth to get this soup as my remedy. My god sister laughed at me that my skin has to be glowing now. lol.

They could be easilly found in Chinese herbal shops, but make sure you don't get cheated. They've got lots of fake ones out there. Though they are not that pricy. Most Chinese dessert shops sell them too, prepared ofcourse, and it would cost around rm10-20 for some stingy portion. For the hot weather now, this would be great to cool down a little.

Double-Boiled Hasma with Snow Fungus and Ginkgo Recipe
(serves 2-3)

5g of hasma
40g of snow fungus
some ginkgo nuts
rock sugar to taste
enough water

Method:
Soak hasma and snow fungus separately in warm water for 30min. Rinse to discard dirt and membrane from hasma. Drain well for both, hasma and snow fungus. Remove shells from the ginkgo nuts. Place all of the ingredients into the water and double boil for 2-3 hours. Alternatively, use a slow cooker to cook it overnight for the same result.
Serve warm or chilled.