11 Southeast Asian Desserts You Have To Try This Summer

We're definitely nuts for coconuts!

1. Es Teler

@jazzyculinary / Via instagram.com

Es teler is an Indonesian fruit cocktail made with a mix of avocado, jackfruit, coconut meat, coconut milk, pandan syrup, crushed ice, and sweet condensed milk. It's been called the country's "national drink" since 1982, when Murniati Widjaja won the first prize in the "Ice Making Competition."

Where: Es Teler 77 in Jakarta was the birthplace of es teler, and is definitely worth the trip because of the *special syrup* the restaurant uses. It's currently owned and managed by Widjaja's son-in-law.

2. Sago't Gulaman

Sarsa / Via instagram.com

With the heat in the Philippines, it's always a good time for sago't gulaman. The drink is a simple mix of brown sugar, ice cold water, tapioca pearls (sago), and grass jelly (gulaman). Some recipes like to add a few other ingredients like vanilla extract or pandan flavoring.

Where: A lot of Filipino restaurants like Sarsa in Manila serve a killer sago't gulaman, but there's nothing like buying the drink from street vendors on a scorching hot day.

3. Chè Bắp

@asiagourmetclub / Via instagram.com

"Chè" is the Vietnamese word for puddings, sweet beverages, and coconut milk soups. Chè bắp is a pudding that draws its natural sweetness from the corn, and can be served either hot or cold. It is made of fresh, (usually) locally-grown sweet corn, glutinous rice, thick coconut milk, and topped with toasted sesame seeds. It's perfect if you're looking for something refreshing, yet comforting and filling at the same time.

Where: Che Mam Khanh Vy is a small shop in Saigon which serves a variety of chès. Customers eat their dessert on low plastic tables by the street—a true Vietnamese dining experience.

4. Leng Chee Kang

Evelyn Khoo / Via instagram.com

Leng chee kang is a Malaysian-Chinese dessert that was made for the summer. This mix of ingredients is said to help cool down the body. The cool broth is made by boiling lo han kuo, dried longans, lotus seeds, and is sweetened by rock sugar. The toppings may include barley, basil seeds, dried persimmon slices, gingko and malva nuts, agar-agar strips, longans, and tapioca pearls.

Where: Leng chee kang can be found in most food courts around Malaysia, but in Kuala Lumpur Soon Kee Lin Chee Kang Sejuk Dan Panas is a hawker cart that specializes in the dessert—in fact, that's all it serves.

5. Itim Kati

@coupleinthekitchen / Via instagram.com

Thailand's coconut ice cream is the best coconut ice cream you will have in your life. It's made with rich young coconut cream, and is served in a coconut shell. You can also toss in some nuts, sticky rice, condensed milk, red beans, and corn as toppings. Aside from itim kati, Thailand also serves coconut ice cream in sliced bread buns as a treat called itim khanom pang.

Where: The Chatuchak Weekend Market in Bangkok has a number of ice cream stalls that serve itim kati. You can never go wrong with any of them.

6. Pudim de Coco

Riverbank & Badger / Via riverbankandbadger.wordpress.com

East Timor was once a colony of Portugal, and so much of its cuisine was influenced by the country. Pudim de coco is a custard-based dessert that is popular among Portugese colonies including Brazil. It is made with the same ingredients that go into making flan, but with the addition of coconut milk.

Where: People usually go to Timor Leste for its beaches and beautiful nature. The country's capital, Dili, is the largest city and has numerous restaurants that serve the treat.

7. Kyauk Kaw

instagram.com

Kyauk kaw is Burmese seaweed jelly made out of agar-agar. It is simple, smooth in texture, and is said to be cooling after a long day walking in cities like Bagan. It uses coconut milk, rose flavoring, and sugar for its sweet, refreshing taste.

Where: In Yangon, you can find snack and dessert stalls selling seaweed jelly at Bogyoke Aung San Market.

8. Khao Lod Chong

@spatzli / Via instagram.com

Lod chong is a dessert served in Laos, Thailand, and Singapore made of rice flour, mung bean flour, limestone water, and pandan water. "Lod" means "through," and "chong" means "hole" because the pandan rice flour "droplets" are made by putting the custard through a "lod chong press." It is then served with crushed ice, coconut cream, palm sugar, and Thai jasmine essence.

Where: This dessert is sold by street vendors at the Luang Prabang Morning Market.

9. Singaporean Ice Cream Sandwich

@jasminepting / Via instagram.com

This ice cream sandwich literally uses a sweet, rainbow-colored slice of white bread. A block of ice cream of your flavor of choice is folded in, and it's as simple as that! Flavors include the usual chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, but vendors also have sweet corn and durian flavors, too.

Where: Many street vendors just pedal their carts throughout the city. Orchard Road is a safe bet.

10. Rujak Brunei

SBS Australia / Via sbs.com.au

Rujak Brunei is a spiced fruit salad that includes a variety of fruits. Everything from papaya, mango, and star apple to lychee, pomelo and grapefruit. The spicy sauce poured over the fruit is made of roasted peanuts, red chili, brown sugar, tamarind paste, water, and green banana.

Where: This zesty and spicy dessert is sold at street markets in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

11. Num Chet Chien

@mary_s_sok / Via instagram.com

Num chet chien are fried banana sesame fritters made of under-ripe bananas, palm sugar, rice flour, and egg whites. It is usually served with a passionfruit sauce. In some versions of this Khmer dessert uses spring roll wrappers and powdered sugar.

Where: Street vendors in Siem Reap sell the fried banana fritters, along with fried potato fritters, and other deep fried goodies.