Malaysian Recipe : Agar-Agar Cordial

Ingredients:

• 1 packet agar-agar powder
  
• 8 screw pine leaves, knotted
  
• 3 oz sugar

A:

• 10 oz sugar
  
• 10 fl oz. water
  
• 8 screw pine leaves

• ½ tsp red food coloring
  
• ½ tsp rose essence

1. Dissolve agar-agar powder in 8 tbsp cold water
2. Bring 1 litre water and the agar-agar solution to a boil with the screw pine leaves over moderate heat. Add in sugar, boil till dissolved and continue boiling for 5 minutes.
3. Rinse a mold or square tin. Pour the agar-agar through a nylon sieve into the mold and allow to set. Keep in refrigerator till ready to use.
4. To make syrup, bring A to a boil in a saucepan for 15 minutes. Put in red coloring and boil for another minute. Remove from heat. Pour syrup into a jar through a piece of muslin.
5. To serve, cut agar agar into slabs and grate into long strips with a coarse grater. Put agar agar strips into glasses and add syrup. Dilute with cold water to taste. Serve with ice chips.