Desserts are sweet food items; they are not eaten as the main food but they are eaten after the main course as a sweet treat. They are often used to satisfy the craving to eat something sweet or to calm a sweet tooth.
Desserts are popular around the world and they come in many forms. They have their own unique flavors, appearances and tastes. They can come in many forms, such as pastries, ice cream cakes, puddings and candies.
The Chinese are known all over the world for their unique dishes. Chinese desserts are delicious. They are not just loved by the people of China but by people all over the world. There are a lot of mouthwatering Chinese desserts that are available and we’ll be looking at them in this article. Chinese desserts are deeply rooted in the culture, history and tradition of China
Chinese desserts are known to be very tasty and most of them are enjoyed as street food. They are also available in different flavors and different local ingredients are used in producing them. They can be enjoyed as a snack and also served at different events like weddings and festivals. In this article, we’ll be exploring more about the different types of Chinese desserts available.
10 Types of Chinese Desserts
By now, you’ve had a good understanding of what desserts are. Let’s explore some of the Chinese desserts.
1. MoonCakes
Mooncakes are one of the most widely known Chinese desserts. In Chinese it is also called yuebing or 月饼. Mooncakes are a type of traditional Chinese pastry that is usually eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival in China.
The Mid-Autumn Festival is an important part of Chinese culture. It is also known as the Moon Festival. The Moon Festival is usually celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. This festival is very important to the Chinese people as it is a celebration of the autumn harvest and on the day that the festival would be celebrated, a national holiday would be declared.
Mooncakes are a major feature during the festival. The Mooncakes are round in shape like the moon, representing the full moon, and they also have an imprinted design on their top, which could be the image of the moon.
2. Egg Tarts
The next Chinese dessert on our list of Chinese desserts is Egg tarts. The Egg tarts are traditionally called Dan tat (蛋撻) in Cantonese. Egg Tarts are a very popular dessert in China, especially in the southern region of Guangdong.
Just like their name, egg tarts, the major ingredient used in making them is eggs. Egg tarts are small-sized tarts that have a creamy custard-like filling and the fillings are made from eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla for additional flavor. They are delicious to eat.
3. Tofu Pudding
The next Chinese dessert is Tofu pudding. Tofu pudding is also traditionally called douhua (豆花). How is tofu pudding made? The Major ingredient for making the Tofu pudding is soybeans. The soybeans are soaked in water until they are soft enough to grind.
The soybeans are then blended into a paste, and after grinding, the paste is pressed out to separate the liquid from the remnant. The soy milk is then heated and allowed to cool and thicken to give a very thick, creamy texture
The tofu pudding is highly proteinous, usually served warm or at room temperature and has a very sweet taste.
4. Zongzi
Zongzi is one of the most healthy and highly nutritious Chinese desserts. The Zongzi is also called Bak Zhang (粽子) by the locals.
The Zongzi are usually eaten during the Duanwu festival. The Duanwu festival is the dragon boat festival that is celebrated in China.
Zongzi is made by wrapping glutinous rice and different types of fillings like salted egg yolks, pork, peanuts, red bean paste, dried fruit, etc. in bamboo leaves and it is then steamed or brought to a boil until the rice is soft and sticky.
5. Sticky Rice Cake
The next item on our list of Chinese desserts is the Sticky Rice Cake which is also known as Nian Gao (年糕) or Niangao in Chinese. Sticky rice cake is a type of Chinese dessert that is made from traditional ingredients like rice flour and sugar.
Just like the traditional name of the sticky rice cake shows, this type of dessert is often enjoyed during Chinese New Year. The word “Nian Gao” means “year cake”. The cake is a symbol of prosperity and good hopes for the new year. The sticky texture of the cake is also a symbol of love, peace and unity among members of the different families.
6. Sesame Balls
Sesame balls, also known as Jian Dui (煎堆) or Ma Tuan (麻团), are a popular Chinese dessert that is usually enjoyed during the festive period in China. Sesame balls are usually served during the Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Sesame balls are made from local ingredients like rice flour and they are packed with sweet fillings like sesame paste or red bean paste. They are made into small balls and covered with sesame seeds.
After which, the balls covered with sesame seeds are now deep-fried until they are crispy and golden brown. They are very sweet and also appealing to the taste buds. The inside of the sesame ball is very soft, sweet and chewy.
7. Cream Puffs with Red Bean Paste
The next Chinese desserts here are the Cream Puffs with Red Bean Paste. They are called Xiao Long Bao (小笼包) or Shuang Shuang Bao (双香包). This type of Chinese dessert is very unique because it is a combination of Western cream puffs and traditional Chinese red bean paste.
The cream puffs are filled with sweetened red bean paste, which enhances the taste, flavor and texture of the cream puff. The result of this combination is a sweet, chewy and creamy dessert that is very tasty and attractive.
8. Stuffed Dates
We’re still on the list of the different Chinese desserts available and the next on the list is Stuffed Dates. Stuffed Dates, also known as Red Dates or Hong Zao (红枣). They are highly nutritious and they offer several health benefits. They are not just known as a popular and delicious Chinese dessert but they are also used as traditional medicinal food.
The dates are pitted, which means the pit or seed has been removed from the dates, leaving only the fleshy part. The pitted date is then packed with fillings like sweetened walnuts, sesame seeds, or sweet bean paste. After which, the dates are steamed until they are soft and sweet.
Dates are naturally a healthy snack and they are very rich in nutrients like vitamin C, B vitamins, iron and potassium. They are also used in traditional Chinese medicines, as dates have been said to help with several ailments and they are also helpful for some important organs of the body like the spleen, stomach and heart.
9. Red Bean Dumplings
Still on the list of the different Chinese desserts, the next one here is the Red Bean Dumplings. This is another type of Chinese dessert that is enjoyed during festive periods. Red Bean Dumpling is a traditional Chinese dessert that is often served during different festivals like the Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Dragon Boat Festival. They are believed by the locals to bring good luck and prosperity.
Red Bean Dumplings, also called Shao Jiao (烧饺) by the locals, are made from glutinous rice flour with sweet red bean paste. The Red Bean Dumplings are molded into small, round balls and are often served either steamed or fried. The filling is made from mashed red beans and sweeteners like sugar and honey can be added to enhance its taste.
10. Dragon’s Beard Candy
The last type of Chinese dessert on our list is Dragon’s Beard Candy. The Dragon’s Beard Candy is called Long Xua Tang (龙须糖) by the Chinese. This type of dessert is made by heating a combination of sugar, water and corn syrup. You heat these three in a pan and continuously stir until they become thick and give an amber-colored mixture.
This mixture is then taken from the pan and pulled until it forms thin, definite strands that look like a dragon’s beard. The strands are then wrapped around peanuts, sesame seeds or red bean paste which are all different types of fillings. This kind of Chinese dessert is common among children and teenagers because it is very sweet and delicious.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve looked at 10 different types of Chinese desserts. All the Chinese desserts listed above are just a few of the many different types of Chinese desserts that are available.
There’s one common thing about Chinese desserts, which is that they are all very delicious and sweet and they all represent invaluable qualities of Chinese culture like prosperity, health, and togetherness. Whether you choose to enjoy any of the Chinese desserts as a snack or a special treat for holidays and celebrations, one thing you need to know is that you can’t go wrong with Chinese desserts on the menu.
