Dessert soup anyone?
A new Cantonese dessert café quietly soft-opened in Vancouver last month and transports everyone to a space that gives off a modern, yet traditional tea house space.
Desserts Artisanaux took over the former Oiso Korean Kimchi Café’s unit at 2675 Kingsway and opened its doors on Jan. 24.
Despite the café still being in its soft opening phase, it has an expansive menu featuring mochi pistachio paste, steamed milk egg pudding, mango pomelo sago and longan and red date milk tea.
There are also durian and black glutinous rice desserts and other Hong Kong-style beverages.
Owner Henry Li said he grew up eating Cantonese-style desserts made by his grandmother.
"To me, these treats aren't just desserts -- they're a way to pass on tradition and emotion," said Li.
He told Vancouver Is Awesome that Asian drinks like bubble tea have become "widely embraced in Canada," and wishes to introduce Cantonese desserts to the community similarly.
"I want to open a dessert shop where those who love these sweets can rediscover the familiar flavours, and at the same time, introduce this traditional delicacy to people from diverse cultural backgrounds."
Li describes Cantonese desserts as having an "important place in (Asian) culinary culture" and they are about balancing sweetness and health.
The new café highlights the importance of health and natural flavours of the ingredients used in their desserts including dried chrysanthemum flowers, goji berries, longan berries, peach resin, and pistachios.
Instead of using granulated sugar, they opt for natural cane sugar, which they claim offers “moderate sweetness without the addition of excessive sweeteners.”
"My goal is to gradually introduce and encourage Western consumers to appreciate Cantonese desserts, bringing this culturally rich and traditional sweet treat into more lives," said Li.
Desserts Artisanaux is open every day from 5 to 11 p.m.
Follow Desserts Artisanaux @desserts_artisanaux_official on Instagram.
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