6 Popular Asian Desserts

Take a peek at these wonderful treats that millions of people in Asia enjoy every day. You won’t find any chocolate cake here, but you will find something new to try! You can purchase some of these on our online oriental supermarket , or you can buy the ingredients and have a go at making some at home.

Mochi

These Japanese pastel-coloured bites have been around since the year 1794, maybe even before that, and are becoming increasingly popular. Traditionally, mochi is made with glutinous rice and different shapes and colours can be created. You can also enjoy these delicious desserts as an ice cream treat, an excellent refresher for those hotter days! Mochi ice cream took the world by storm and across the world people enjoy this unique dessert. It is commonly sold and enjoyed around the New Year and is known as a “sign of the season” in Japan. The dessert is a symbol of good fortune; this is mostly why it is so well-liked.

Pineapple Cakes

Pineapple cakes originate from Taiwan, and one is never enough! This dessert consists of a fragrant buttery crust and a pineapple jam filling, making them addictive. In Taiwan, pineapple is a symbol of luxury and hospitality, and a famous feng shui symbol of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. Therefore, these cakes are consumed regularly by Taiwanese, but it is adored across the world. These pastries are Taiwan’s best must-buy souvenirs.

Fried Sesame Balls

Fried sesame balls are sweet, soft and chewy – they are a traditional snack in China and Vietnam. The hollow fried pastry can be filled with lotus paste, red bean paste, peanut or other fillings depending on the cultural region. In China, you can enjoy these deep-fried treats with red bean filling, while in Southern Vietnam the mixture is typically mung bean paste.

Ube Halaya

Ube Halaya is a Filipino dessert and consists of boiled and mashed purple yams (ube), milk, and butter. The milk is boiled with the ube then cooked on a low heat for around forty-five minutes until the mixture thickens. Once cooled, the dessert is ready to eat! This colourful dessert has a buttery, creamy and sweet flavour. You can also make ice cream (as seen above) and cake using Ube Halaya.

Shibuya Honey Toast

This delicious dessert was created in the Shibuya, district of Tokyo, and has become loved all around the world. Essentially, this dessert is a tower of honey-soaked toasted bread. Each piece of bread is drizzled with condensed milk or ice cream, and then you can top the dessert with any topping you decide. Commonly, the dessert is topped with candies, chocolate chips, whipped cream and sometimes further little pieces of toast. Due to its extravagant appearance, people often think it must be challenging to make and take a lot of time, but they are mistaken! To create this dessert, prep will roughly take five minutes and around ten minutes to bake, so no time at all for a tasty treat!

Buko Pie

Originally from the Philippines, this dessert is full of coconutty goodness! The pie contains both young coconut meat and condensed milk, creating a dense texture in every slice. Tourists and locals travel to Laguna for the pie, stores such as Colette’s and Lety’s have become iconic destinations for this delicious pastry. Modern interpretations often incorporate almond or vanilla extracts into the recipe, but for purists, it’s coconut all the way. Hopefully, some of these desserts have inspired you to try something new! Whether you buy them ready-made at the supermarket or have a go at baking some yourself, these are worth a taste.Image Credit for Feature Image: CC by Marco Verch (Mochi Ice Cream)