Chè is a broad category of Vietnamese sweet desserts that can be served as a drink, pudding, or soup. It is highly versatile and comes in hot or cold variations, making it a popular treat year-round.
Types of Chè:
- Chè Thái: A colorful dessert with fruits, jellies, and coconut milk.
- Chè Ba Màu (Three-Color Dessert): Layers of mung bean paste, red beans, and pandan jelly topped with coconut milk.
- Chè Đậu Xanh: Made with sweet mung beans.
- Chè Đậu Đỏ: Red bean dessert, often served warm.
- Chè Chuối: Banana and tapioca pearls cooked in coconut milk.
- Chè Trôi Nước: Glutinous rice balls filled with mung bean paste, served in sweet ginger syrup.
- Chè Bắp: Sweet corn pudding with coconut sauce.
- Chè Khúc Bạch: Almond-flavored jelly served with lychee and syrup.
- Chè Sương Sáo: Grass jelly served with syrup or coconut milk.
- Chè Thập Cẩm (Mixed Dessert): A combination of ingredients like beans, jelly, fruits, and tapioca pearls in syrup or coconut milk.
Key Ingredients:
- Beans and Legumes: Mung beans, red beans, black-eyed peas.
- Fruits: Bananas, lychee, jackfruit, and longan.
- Jelly and Tapioca Pearls: Add texture and chewiness.
- Coconut Milk and Syrup: Sweet and creamy base.
- Sticky Rice and Glutinous Balls: Found in traditional variations.
Flavor Profile:
- Sweet, creamy, and refreshing, often with a chewy or jelly-like texture.
How It’s Served:
- Cold Chè: Served with crushed ice, making it perfect for hot weather.
- Hot Chè: Enjoyed warm, especially in cooler seasons.