Seaweed Jelly

Seaweed jelly is a Qingdao cold speciality made by boiling seaweed such as agar-weed until it sets into a translucent jelly, then cutting it into pieces and dressing it cold for a refreshing texture.

Agar-weed grows plentifully along the Qingdao coast, and locals have long boiled it into jelly—a traditional way of making the most of seaside resources and coping with the summer heat.

The jelly is cut up and tossed cold with vinegar, garlic paste and soy sauce, giving a smooth, springy, cooling bite—a common summer dish for beating the heat in Qingdao.

Clear, springy and faintly scented with the sea, the jelly is dressed in a tangy, savoury sauce that is light and appetising—a refreshing summer treat with a distinct coastal character.