Top 16 Asian Sweet Soups

Cendol is a traditional Southeast Asian dessert that appears in numerous variations throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar. In its basic form, the dessert consists of thin strips of jelly noodles that are typically tinted and flavored with pandan leaves and are then served in a sweet combination of coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and usually crushed ice. Due to its popularity, the variations may include numerous additional ingredients such as red beans, jackfruit, or durian, while the jelly noodles can be made with tapioca, and rice or mung bean flour. The origin of cendol is vague, but it is believed that it was modeled on a similar Javanese dessert known as dawet, though the first written mention of cendol is found in Malaysia, and it dates back to 1932.Expand

Chè trôi nước is a Vietnamese dessert that combines sweet ginger-flavored soup and rice balls. The soup is usually sweetened with palm sugar, and it's sometimes additionally flavored with pandan leaves, while the filling inside the glutinous rice balls traditionally includes a combination of coconut milk and mung bean paste. Although it is considered a traditional Vietnamese specialty, it is believed that the dish was modeled on tangyuan—a similar sweet soup of Chinese origin. Chè trôi nước is always served warm, typically garnished with coconut milk and roasted sesame seeds. It is commonly enjoyed as a comforting wintertime dessert.Expand

Invented in 1984 in Lei Garden’s Singapore branch, mango pomelo sago is a refreshing summer dessert made with mango, pomelo, sago, whole milk or evaporated milk, and coconut milk. Apart from Hong Kong, the dessert is also popular in Singapore and Taiwan.Expand

Sago pearls (also known as tapioca pearls) in coconut milk are a type of Cantonese tong sui (lit. sugar water; dessert soup). This simple treat can be found in many dim-sum eateries in Guangzhou and Hong Kong, where it is served as a perfect ending to a meal. Also, for a refreshing summer dessert, sao mai lo is often mixed with fresh fruits like mango, pomelo and strawberries.Expand

The sweet bilo-bilo is a popular Filipino treat made with chewy rice balls cooked in a creamy coconut milk blend. It can also incorporate bananas, tapioca pearls, sweet potatoes, or sliced jackfruit. Whether served warm or cold, bilo-bilo is usually enjoyed as a satisfying afternoon dessert or a sweet snack. Since these round rice balls symbolize prosperity and togetherness, this refreshing treat is also a staple dessert served on special occasions such as weddings or New Year.Expand

Chè ba màu is a colorful Vietnamese dish that belongs to the category of desserts, drinks, puddings, porridges, and soups regarding its consistency. It might include sticky rice, tapioca pearls, lotus seeds, sweet beans, water chestnuts, or agar jelly. Regardless of the wide variety of ingredients used in chè, they are almost always drenched in coconut milk and additionally garnished with bananas, crushed peanuts, or other toppings. The dish is served either hot or cold, although it is especially popular as a chilly treat on hot summer days. It is believed that the Cantonese dessert soup called tong sui is chè ba màu's predecessor. The dish is sometimes referred to as three-layered dessert or rainbow dessert due to its three distinct layers: yellow (mung beans), red (azuki beans), and green (agar jelly with pandan extract). There are also some other varieties of chè such as chè bap, chè ba ba, and chè dau den, but chè ba màu still holds the number one spot in terms of popularity.Expand

The smooth, velvety zhi ma hu or black sesame soup is a variety of Chinese tong sui (lit. sugar water), a dessert soup commonly enjoyed for breakfast, after meals, or served for teatime accompanied by dim sum, the traditional Cantonese bite-sized tea snacks. Particularly popular in southern China and Hong Kong, this dessert boasts numerous health benefits, thanks to the extremely nutrient black sesame seeds which are rich in vitamin B, magnesium, calcium, manganese, and iron. Zhi ma hu is known to improve digestion, kidney function, prevent gallstones, and reduce blood fat. The Chinese also believe that it helps to darken and strengthen hair. A simple but elegant dessert, black sesame soup is not only pleasing to the eye, but an amazingly fragrant mélange of earthy and nutty flavors with a distinctive peppery finish.Expand

Tangyuan is a traditional dessert consisting of glutinous rice flour balls, which are soft and chewy, and can be either small and plain or larger with fillings. The fillings vary but commonly include sweetened black sesame, peanut, red bean paste, or even fruit fillings. Tangyuan can be served in a thin sweet soup or broth, which can be flavored with ginger, osmanthus flowers, or simply a clear sweet syrup. It is often served during the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations. The dish symbolizes family unity and happiness, as the round shape of the tangyuan is associated with completeness and togetherness. Eating tangyuan during the Lantern Festival is a way to celebrate family reunions and the beginning of spring.Expand

Red bean soup is a classic Chinese soup that is commonly consumed as a dessert, made from red azuki beans, lotus seeds, and tangerine or orange peel. The soup isn't too sweet, and has a subtle sweetness instead, ideal for rounding off a large Chinese meal. Red bean soup can be served hot in winter or cool during summer. Dates, sago, longan, and coconut milk can all be added in the preparation of this soup, which is considered to be one of the healthiest soups in China because it is rich in vitamins, boosts immunity, and helps against constipation.Expand

Japanese zenzai is an unusual dessert which combines thick red bean soup with mochi, the famous sticky rice cake. It can be made by boiling dried red beans or diluting anko (sweetened red bean paste) in water. The soup can either have a coarse or a completely smooth texture. Zenzai can be enriched with different flavors such as orange zest, but the flavor should generally be subtle and earthy with a hint of sweetness. Before serving, the hot mochi cakes which have been heated or grilled are placed into this hearty liquid dessert. Zenzai is eaten with a spoon and chopsticks, and it is occasionally served with sour ingredients such as pickled plums or kombu tea, which contrast nicely with the sweetness of the soup. Although it is a traditional and comforting winter dessert that is usually eaten warm, zenzai can be chilled and served during summer, usually alongside a few scoops of ice cream. Across Japan, there are different varieties of zenzai, such as the Okinawa version made with green beans, or the soba zenzai made buckwheat dumplings. It is believed that the dish was introduced to Japanese cuisine in the 18th century after sugar was brought to the country. Zenzai and its varieties are also eaten outside Japan, primarily in China, North Korea, and Vietnam.Expand