Milk sweet soup

Milk sweet soup is loved for its light and new taste. Thanks to the milk base, it is not overly sweet. Milk sweet soup comes with various toppings: different types of beans, lotus seeds, tapioca pearls, black jelly, purple glutinous rice, durian, … each with its own distinctive, delicious, and attractive flavor. Red bean milk sweet soup is buttery; purple glutinous rice milk sweet soup is sticky, fragrant, sweet, and good for health and skin; durian-and-jelly milk sweet soup is favored by young people for its modern yet traditional flavor, quite similar to the famous Thai sweet soup. To attract gourmet eaters, some shops even add crispy pearls that are very enjoyable to eat.

I like the durian-and-jelly milk sweet soup the most, with colorful, cool, fragrant jelly pieces in the mouth and the sweet, fatty taste with a slight bitter aftertaste of durian. Durian-and-jelly sweet soup is not as sweet as Thai sweet soup, suitable for those with a light palate.

Milk sweet soup is quite easy to make: clean and boil the beans, cook the syrup, and mix the milk mixture. The highlight is the milk part, made from coconut milk, condensed milk, fresh milk, skillfully balanced to have a mildly sweet, slightly thick mixture with the light fatty aroma of coconut milk.

Milk sweet soup is presented simply but harmoniously and pleasing to the eye, with the red of the beans, the purple of the glutinous rice standing out on the white milk base, and garnished with golden roasted peanuts. Dining in at the shop, the sweet soup is served in a bowl to clearly see the ingredients, creating a full and attractive feeling. Eating sweet soup in a glass is quick, but using a bowl is more interesting and visually satisfying!

On a hot summer day, nothing beats having a glass of milk sweet soup to cool down and provide energy for the body. Sweet soup is a joy for children with its colorful pieces and sweet flavors. The 200 or 500 dong ice cream cones with their jingling sound every summer noon, the sparkling shaved ice syrups in the sun, the candy threads tangled on the talented vendor's hands, the pulled candy stretching out children's joy are unforgettable childhood memories for the people of Hue.

Hue is striving to become the "culinary capital" of Vietnam with hundreds of types of sweet soup. The hot, humid climate here motivates talented chefs to create many dessert dishes to cool down and purify the body. The ancient capital is rich in natural ingredients such as beans, sweet potatoes, cassava, fruits, and herbs; just a little variation and a touch of sweetness is enough for a perfect glass of sweet soup. Enjoying sweet soup together in a joyful, cozy space is also a way for the people of Hue to strengthen their love and affection.

Story and photo: THUC DAN