If you're going to try Asian snacks (read Part II here), it's only right to try Asian desserts, too! These amazing confections will introduce you (or refamiliarize you) with the sweeter side of Asian culture.
Listed here are five of my favorites. They're available almost anywhere in the 626 or in the locations that I've mentioned below. Enjoy!
1. Egg tarts (dan taht)
Egg tarts are exactly what they sound like! It's a custard tart with a pastry crust that's flaky and sweet. You can order these at dim sum restaurants -- and guess what, since it's dim sum, it doesn't matter if you eat dessert first!
2. Custard desserts
Sweet, easy to eat, and available in a variety of flavors, custard desserts are a real treat. My personal favorite is the coconut milk and black sticky rice custard (the white-colored one). They also come in flavors like green tea, mango, and taro!
Note: Check out your local Phoenix if you'd like to try these (and other Chinese desserts)!
3. Butterfly cookies
Although they look absolutely nothing like cookies, butterfly cookies are twisted, crunchy, and deep-fried desserts covered in sticky sugary syrup. They may be sticky, but eating butterfly doesn't make much of a mess because the sugar makes the crispy parts stick together.
Basically, they're just really fun to eat!
4. Red bean soup
You're probably used to having soup before or during dinner, but dessert soup is a popular thing in Asian cultures. Red bean soup in particular is served warm and is known for its sweet and comforting taste.
5. Shaved ice (Taiwanese style)
Forget the American rainbow-y mound of ice that eventually ends up just tasting like water. This kind of shaved ice is known more commonly as 'fluff ice' or 'shaved snow.'
It's not nearly as icy as the American shaved ice that uses syrup for flavor. The Taiwanese style means that you can choose from a ton of flavors, like red bean, green tea, mango, etc. There's also a variety of toppings, like fresh fruit, mochi, boba, red bean, or condensed milk!
Try this version of shaved ice at places like Guppy House, Fluff Ice, or Class 302!
