The coconut candies from Vietnam’s Mekong Delta have claimed the number one spot on the list of the top 100 Asian sweets as recognized by the international food publication TasteAtlas.
|
|
Chunks of coconut candy combined with toasted peanuts. Image courtesy of Mr. True |
Coconut candy hails from Ben Tre Province and is renowned for its soft, chewy consistency and intense coconut taste.
This delicacy is crafted using grated coconut meat, coconut milk, coconut cream, sugar, and frequently includes malt syrup as well. After cooking the blend till it becomes thick, it gets shaped, allowed to cool down, and subsequently sliced into rectangular pieces. To avoid adhering together, each segment is individually enclosed in an edible rice paper wrapper.
Modern variations include flavors such as roasted peanuts, pandan, and durian.
On TasteAtlas’s extensive ranking of the top 100 sweets globally, Vietnam’s coconut candy claimed the 33rd spot.
In second place on the Asian list is matcha chocolate from Japan. This confection blends white chocolate with ground matcha green tea powder.
Completing the top three is Jeonggwa from Korea, a confection made from fruits, seeds, or roots soaked in syrup and dried for a crisp, chewy texture. Popular varieties include ginger, lotus root, and ginseng.
