Alright, alright, let’s talk about them Chinese desserts, the ones you can buy, you know? Not the ones you gotta slave over a hot stove for all day.
What kind of Chinese desserts can you buy?
Well, there’s a whole bunch of ‘em, let me tell ya. First off, you got them red bean buns. Sweet, doughy, filled with that red bean paste. Folks seem to like ‘em, though I never really got the fuss. Too sweet for my taste, but hey, to each their own, right?
Then there’s this fancy thing called “dragon’s beard candy.” Looks like a white beard, all thin and stringy. Melts in your mouth, they say. Kinda pricey though, not somethin’ you’d buy every day. More for special occasions, you know, like when the grandkids come visit.
- Egg tarts, those are good. Little pastry cups filled with sweet egg custard. You can find them in almost any Chinese bakery. Kids love ‘em, and they’re not too heavy on the stomach.
- And then you got candied fruit. All sorts of fruit, dipped in sugar and dried. Sweet and chewy. Good for a little snack, I guess. But be careful, they can stick to your teeth somethin’ fierce.
Pumpkin pancakes? Now that sounds more like somethin’ I’d make. But the store-bought ones ain’t bad either. Soft, fluffy, with a hint of pumpkin spice. Perfect for breakfast or a little dessert after supper.
Sweet egg buns are kinda like the red bean buns, but with a sweet egg filling instead. Fluffy and soft, good with a cup of tea. You can find these in most Chinese bakeries too.
Now, deep-fried durians…that’s somethin’ else. Durian smells like…well, it smells strong. Not everyone likes it, but some folks swear by it. Deep frying it makes it a little less…smelly, I guess. And it’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. If you’re brave enough to try it, go for it.
Sweet soup balls, those are fun. Little balls of dough, filled with sesame or peanut paste, swimming in a sweet soup. Warm and comforting, especially on a cold day. They call them tangyuan or something fancy like that. I just call them little balls in sweet water.
Almond jelly and grass jelly…now those are kinda weird. Jiggly, like jello, but with a different flavor. Almond jelly is sweet and nutty, grass jelly is a little bitter, but they say it’s good for you. I don’t know about that, but some folks eat it all the time.
Where can you buy these Chinese desserts?
Well, you can find some of ‘em in the grocery store, in the Asian food aisle, you know? But if you want the real deal, you gotta go to a Chinese bakery. Places like Kee Wah Bakery, they say, are good, or that New Territories place. I ain’t never been to them fancy places myself, but folks seem to like ‘em. There’s also places that’ll deliver them right to your door, if you’re too lazy to go out. Just download an app, they say, and you can order whatever you want. But I still like going to the store myself, you know? Get out of the house, see some people.
When do people eat Chinese desserts?
Well, you can eat ‘em anytime, I guess. But mostly, folks eat ‘em after dinner. Or as a snack in the afternoon. Some folks eat ‘em for breakfast too, those sweet buns and pancakes. And some folks like fresh fruit after dinner. Whatever tickles your fancy, I say.
Why are Chinese desserts different?
Well, they ain’t like them cakes and pies you see on TV, that’s for sure. They use different ingredients, you know? Like red beans, and sesame, and durian, whatever that is. And they don’t use as much sugar as them Western desserts, I think. Some are sweet, some are savory, and some are both, they say. Kinda confusing if you ask me, but that’s how they do it over there.
So, which Chinese dessert should you try?
Well, that’s up to you, ain’t it? If you like sweet, go for the buns or the egg tarts. If you like somethin’ different, try the durian or the grass jelly. Just don’t be afraid to try somethin’ new. You never know, you might find somethin’ you like. And if you don’t like it, well, there’s plenty of other desserts to try. You can order Chinese food, too, they got desserts on those menus sometimes. Or you can just grab a piece of fruit, that’s always a good choice.
Anyways, that’s all I gotta say about them Chinese desserts you can buy. Go try some, see what you think. And don’t listen to me too much, I’m just an old woman talking. You gotta figure things out for yourself, you know? That’s the way life is.
