Is agar the same as gelatin?

Nope, agar and gelatin are not the same things. Agar is made from red algae, while gelatin is derived from collagen found in animal bones, skin, and connective tissue. However, they're both commonly used as gelling agents, though what results from their use is different. Agar leads to a more firm consistency so it's normally used to make jellies and puddings. Gelatin, on the other hand, results in a softer and more delicate texture, lending itself quite well to the making of marshmallows. It's just an example.

Does agar have any taste?

Fortunately, agar has a very neutral flavor. This is great because it doesn't interfere with the flavor of the dessert you want to make. When it comes to flavor, it's pretty much the same as gelatin.

Simple Vegan Mango Pudding

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One of my favorite things to do is to veganize a recipe and make it taste as similar as possible to the original— and for today we’ve got the vegan version of the mango pudding, a dessert with unknown origin, but that is immensely popular in Hong Kong where it’s commonly served in local restaurants and cafes.

It’s a light and refreshing treat with a sweet, fruity flavor and a smooth, creamy consistency. Not the easiest to recreate because of the fundamental differences between agar and gelatin, but I�