by REERA YOO | @reeraboo
editor@charactermedia.com
What Asian country makes the best dessert? Actress Lynn Chen, who runs the food blog The Actor’s Diet, recently embarked on a quest to answer this question in a Buzzfeed video.
Here are some of the Asian desserts Chen sampled.
Philippines
First country on Chen’s dessert list was the Philippines. Chen stopped by Leelin Bakery to pick up an ube hopia, or a pastry filled with purple yam jam.
“The texture is starchy, kind of like a potato, and [it’s] very sweet,” she said, describing the hopia’s taste. “Doesn’t taste purple at all.”
South Korea
Next stop was Koreatown’s Haus, where Chen grabbed a bowl of patbingsu, or shaved ice topped with fruits, red bean paste and rice cakes.
“This is really good, and you think that you’re just eating fruit and ice, so it’s good for you,” Chen said, digging into her bowl of patbingsu. “But the truth is, it’s covered in sugar.”
China
Chen then ventured to Chinatown, where she picked up an old childhood favorite treat, dan ta, a Chinese egg tart. Not only was the tart delicious, but it only cost 60 cents.
India
After her friends recommended some Indian sweets via texts, Chen decided to go with the vegan dessert bundi laddu.
“Very fragrant,” the food blogger noted. “The texture is kind of like couscous that’s been packed together really tight.”
Thailand
The final destination in Chen’s dessert quest was a Thailand bakery. She wound up ordering khao niao bing, grilled sticky rice filled with taro and all wrapped in a banana leaf.
The Final Verdict
And the winner is… Korea, of course!
As for her reasons behind choosing patbingsu as the winner, Chen said, “It just had all these different elements. It was cold, and it was sweet. It had fruit, and it was creamy.”
“And I couldn’t stop eating it,” she added with a twinge of guilt.
What’s your favorite Asian dessert? Let us know in the comments below.
Recommended Reading
“Would You Be Brave Enough to Try These Weird Asian Desserts?”
“Can You Tackle This Patbingsu Challenge?”
“7 Unique Beers You Can Order in Seoul”
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All photos via Lynn Chen/The Actor’s Diet
