Why is lime water added to ice powder? Can baking soda be used instead of lime in ice powder?

Ice jelly is a very popular dessert in the hot summer. It is refreshing. It is icy and contains various desserts and dried fruits, which makes people want to taste a cup. Ice jelly is widely loved by the public because of its smoothness, transparency, icy, deliciousness and low price. However, some friends who like to observe and study will find out why lime water is added to ice jelly? Are you also curious to know?

Contents of this article

1. Why do we need to add lime water to ice powder?

2. Can I use baking soda instead of lime in ice powder?

3. The reason why hand-rubbed ice powder does not solidify

Why add lime water to ice powder?

The main purpose is to solidify the ice jelly. The substance rubbed out from the ice jelly is a kind of sugar, which has a certain viscosity, while the lime water is just a coagulant. Adding it to the ice jelly will react with the ice jelly slurry and quickly solidify the ice jelly.

When adding lime water, you need to stir it evenly in the same direction.

Add lime water to the ice powder, and make sure it is food grade lime water.

Ice jelly is widely loved by the public because of its smoothness, transparency, icy taste, and low price.

Can I use baking soda instead of lime in ice powder?

No. Lime powder is needed to make ice jelly because it contains calcium, which can solidify the loose pectin in the ice jelly. The main component of baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which does not contain calcium and is difficult to solidify. Food-grade calcium hydroxide or toothpaste can be used instead.

Ice jelly contains pectin, and lime water contains calcium ions. Adding lime water to the ice jelly can make the originally loose pectin solidify together.

However, there are also disadvantages to using toothpaste to make ice jelly. One is that it is easy to leave a toothpaste smell, and the other is that there are many other additives in toothpaste, which may cause discomfort to the human body when consumed.

The reason why hand-rubbed ice powder does not solidify

It may be that the raw material of ice powder seeds are shriveled and difficult to shape, or the ratio of ice powder seeds to water is wrong, or too little lime water is added. The main raw material of ice powder comes from the ice powder tree, which is also called pearl lotus and false nightshade. Ice powder is a famous snack originating from Yunnan and Guizhou.

There are three types of ice jelly: fruit ice jelly, glutinous rice cake ice jelly and regular ice jelly. Ice jelly is cool, sweet, tender and refreshing.

The raw material for making ice jelly is ice jelly seeds, which are the seeds of Physalis alkekengi, native to Peru. The plant is about 60 to 120 cm tall and has purple-black stems.

Ice powder seeds grow in Hebei, Gansu, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Tibet and other provinces and regions, and are found on the edge of fields, in wastelands or in residential areas.