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Chè Thưng

Table of Contents
  1. What is Chè Thưng?
  2. Ingredients in Chè Thưng Côn Đảo
  4. How It's Made
  5. Taste and Texture
  7. Why You Should Try It in Côn Đảo

What is Chè Thưng?

Chè Thưng is a type of sweet, warm dessert soup made with a mixture of legumes and jellies simmered in coconut milk, creating a creamy, slightly sweet, and fragrant treat. It’s typically served warm, though it can also be enjoyed chilled.

In Côn Đảo, the dish is often served as a homemade dessert in local eateries or during family gatherings, reflecting the island's emphasis on natural ingredients and traditional cooking.

Ingredients in Chè Thưng Côn Đảo

The recipe can vary slightly, but common ingredients include:

  • Coconut milk – the rich, creamy base of the dessert

  • Pandan leaves – for fragrance (optional)

  • Sugar – usually palm sugar or rock sugar

  • Taro or cassava – boiled and diced

  • Red beans or black-eyed peas

  • Green mung beans

  • Tapioca pearls (bột báng)

  • Jelly strips or lotus seeds (optional)

How It's Made

  1. Cook the beans and taro: The beans are boiled separately until soft. Taro or cassava is peeled, diced, and steamed or boiled until tender.

  2. Make the coconut base: Coconut milk is simmered gently with sugar and a pinch of salt for balance. Pandan leaves may be added for aroma.

  3. Combine ingredients: The beans, taro, and tapioca pearls are added to the coconut mixture and simmered until the flavors blend and the texture becomes thick and slightly starchy.

  4. Serve: Chè thưng can be served warm for comfort, or cold with crushed ice on a hot day.

Taste and Texture

  • Creamy and smooth: From the coconut milk

  • Nutty and earthy: From the mung beans and taro

  • Slightly chewy: From the tapioca pearls

  • Fragrant and sweet: With pandan and palm sugar creating a distinct southern flavor profile

Why You Should Try It in Côn Đảo

  • Fresh coconut milk from local coconuts enhances the taste naturally

  • Often made in small batches by locals, giving it a more authentic, homemade flavor

  • A perfect dessert to cool down after a seafood meal

  • Vegan-friendly and naturally gluten-free

Chè Thưng Côn Đảo is a humble yet heartwarming dessert that reflects the island’s gentle pace of life and traditional Vietnamese hospitality. Whether you're enjoying it at a market stall or as a treat after dinner, this sweet soup is sure to leave a lasting impression with its comforting richness and tropical flavors.

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