Agar-Agar

Sweet bean paste against a cube with no flavour and a clean snap.

Fat clouds the set opaque, which is the only way coconut jelly looks right.

High acid, so bloom the agar in water first or the set stays soupy.

Cubes in cold milk. The bitterness arrives in pieces instead of a wash.

Powder suspends evenly in agar where it would sink in gelatin.

Ground paste turns the set grey and gives it the fat it otherwise lacks.

Dark syrup poured over. The jelly is a delivery system, nothing more.

Perfume plus snap. Both are slippery, so the texture contrast is small but real.

Green, grassy, faintly coconut. Southeast Asia sets it in layers on purpose.

Agar clarification: set the pulp, freeze, thaw, and clear water drips out.

Savoury jelly cut into cubes. The broth arrives cold and holds its shape.

Set the oil into strands and serve it as noodles. elBulli did it first.