Cyclea barbata, commonly known as cincau hijau or tanaman cincau, is a tropical climbing vine native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, and is also cultivated in parts of South Asia. The name Cyclea derives from the Greek kyklos (“circle”), referring to the shape of its fruits, while barbata means “bearded,” describing the hairy stems. The plant is valued for its mucilaginous leaves, which are used to prepare a naturally gelatinous dessert known as green grass jelly (cincau hijau).

Historically, C. barbata has been used in Southeast Asian traditional medicine as a cooling agent for fever, digestive discomfort, and skin ailments. The jelly made from its leaves was consumed as a refreshing drink and mild laxative during hot weather. In modern times, it remains popular as a traditional beverage base and a functional food ingredient for its purported health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.