Savour the Joy of Asian Icy Desserts

When the days get hot, Asians go cool. From street food treats and diner faves to homemade delights, iced desserts have been a beloved staple during summer in the Far East and in tropical Southeast Asia. Now, you too, can enjoy the cooling delights in the comfort of your home with these 6 joyful icy recipes!

Kakigori

Kakigori is a favoured treat of Japanese aristocrats during feudal times; with ice blocks made in the winter and spring, to be shaved and topped with sweet ingredients, and savoured in the summer. Since the introduction of refrigeration in the 19th Century, Kakigori has become widely popular with the invention of a modern hand-cranked ice block shaving machine. Street vendors served up the fluffy snow-like dessert, paired with fruits, sweet red bean paste, chewy sticky rice ball and other cooling goodies. Today, Kakigori is a must-have summer treat at festivals, convenience stores, coffee shops and diners. Want a taste? Make your own Kakigori with our authentic matcha-flavoured recipe!

Bingsu

Bingsu is Korean shaved ice dessert, created during the Joseon Dynasty and remains a summer favourite to this day. The ice is shaved to snow-like softness and mounted in a bowl, topped with flavours aplenty from juicy fruits to creamy milk and yogurt, as well as chewy Tteok rice cakes. It’s also quite easy to make. Here’s a strawberry Bingsu special for you to savour!

Nam Kang Sai

With sunny tropical weather all year round, Southeast Asia is never short of icy treats. In Thailand, the Nam Kang Sai is the among the top faves. The name literally means ‘shaved ice’, and the treat is often layered with grass jelly, palm seeds, fruits such as mango, coconut and jackfruit; topped with cubed bread, and sweetened with a combo of red Sala syrup and creamy coconut milk. Come grab the recipe for this cooling Thai treat!

Nom Sod

Nom Sod is another classic Thai iced dessert favourite. A creamy, milky treat with tapioca sago and rock melon, made delightfully fragrant with pandan leaf, and cooled with crushed ice. Instant chill vibes in every taste. Make yours fresh and cold with our special recipe!

Cendol

Cendol is a rice flour jelly and shaved iced dessert from Indonesia that has also long since spread to Malaysia and Singapore since ancient times. Originally with just the rice flour jelly that’s coloured green with pandan leaf juice, and served in creamy coconut milk. Once refrigeration came to their shores, the modern Cendol shaved iced treat was born; with additional sweet toppings like corn and kidney beans, and flavoured with palm sugar syrup for a uniquely tropical sweetness. Try it with our authentic recipe!

Ais Kacang

Ais Kacang is the ultimate Malaysian shaved ice dessert, traditionally topped with a trio of yummy-sweet goodies – grass jelly, creamed corn and red beans. Sweetened with palm sugar and lathered with red and green sweet syrup. Every Ais Kacang vendor in Malaysia has their own unique additions too, such as tropical fruits, ice-creams, agar-agar, sweet condensed milk, agar-agar and coconut jelly. An absolute cooling delight in every spoonful. Come grab the recipe!