Shanghai’s Best Places to Try Authentic Chinese Desserts
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The electric pulse of The Bund at night, the serene whispers of the Yu Garden, the futuristic skyline of Pudong—Shanghai is a city that captivates all senses. But beyond the dazzling lights and rich history lies a sweeter, more subtle narrative waiting to be tasted. For the traveler seeking to understand the soul of this metropolis, a journey into its world of authentic Chinese desserts is not just a culinary detour; it is an essential chapter of the Shanghai story. This is not about overly sweet pastries or heavy cakes; it's a realm of delicate textures, subtle fragrances, and desserts that often blur the line between a sweet treat and a wellness tonic, rooted in centuries of tradition.
While the city boasts countless international patisseries, the real magic is found in the steaming bowls, chilled cups, and delicate pastries served in hidden lanes, bustling markets, and century-old establishments. Let's embark on a delicious tour to discover Shanghai's best places to try authentic Chinese desserts, where every bite is a connection to the city's cultural heartbeat.
To truly appreciate these treats, one must first shed Western expectations of dessert. In Chinese cuisine, sweetness is not a finale but a harmonious note within a larger culinary symphony.
Traditional Chinese desserts are often less sugary, focusing instead on natural flavors from ingredients like red beans, black sesame, nuts, and various roots. Many desserts are believed to have health benefits according to Traditional Chinese Medicine concepts. A sweet soup might be designed to "cool" the body in summer, while a walnut paste is consumed to "warm" it in winter. This philosophy of food as medicine is deeply embedded in these sweet creations, making them both a pleasure and a ritual.
Where Western desserts might prioritize richness and sweetness, Chinese desserts celebrate texture. The chewiness of tangyuan (sweet glutinous rice balls), the silky smoothness of doufuhua (soft tofu pudding), the gelatinous bounce of herbal jellies, and the crumbly tenderness of certain pastries create a complex and satisfying sensory experience that goes beyond mere taste.
Here is your curated guide to navigating Shanghai's delightful dessert scene, from iconic dishes to hidden gems.
The Dessert: Hong Dou Tang & Hei Zhi Ma Hu On a chilly Shanghai evening, nothing comforts the soul quite like a bowl of warm sweet soup. Two classics stand out: Hong Dou Tang (Red Bean Soup) and Hei Zhi Ma Hu (Black Sesame Paste). The red bean soup is slow-cooked until the beans disintegrate into a creamy, mildly sweet, and earthy broth, sometimes with lotus seeds or tapioca pearls. The black sesame paste is a marvel—roasted sesame seeds are ground into a fine powder and simmered into a thick, aromatic, and nutty paste that is both warming and deeply satisfying.
The Experience: Lao Di Fang Tucked away in the Old City near the Yu Garden, Lao Di Fang is a legendary establishment that feels like a step back in time. The no-frills decor, the hurried waitstaff, and the constant hum of local chatter are all part of its charm. Here, you can order a steaming bowl of their impeccable black sesame paste. It’s a ritual for Shanghainese families and a must for any visitor wanting to taste a piece of living history. The texture is flawlessly smooth, and the flavor is intensely pure, a testament to their traditional preparation methods.
The Dessert: Tangyuan While you might know Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant for its legendary xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), your meal here isn't complete without their dessert offering: Tangyuan. These are glutinous rice flour balls, soft and delightfully chewy, typically served in a warm, mild syrup. They can be filled with a sweet black sesame paste that oozes out with your first bite, or with un-filled, smaller ones bobbing in the soup alongside fermented rice berries for a slightly tangy, alcoholic note.
The Experience: Yu Garden Bazaar The original Nanxiang restaurant is located in the heart of the Yu Garden Bazaar, a major tourist hotspot for a reason. After marveling at the classical Chinese architecture and zigzag bridge, join the queue (often long, but moving quickly) for a taste of their famous buns. Cap off the savory experience with a small bowl of tangyuan. Enjoying this classic dessert amidst the traditional surroundings connects you directly to the snack culture of old Shanghai.
The Dessert: Aisijimo & Chuanbei Pangda Hai As Shanghai's summer humidity sets in, locals turn to cooling desserts. Aisijimo is a vibrant green, chewy cake made from mugwort and glutinous rice, often filled with sweet red bean paste. It has a unique, herbaceous flavor that is surprisingly refreshing. For a drinkable treat, Chuanbei Pangda Hai is a cooling jelly made from the seeds of the sterculia plant, often mixed with rock sugar and drunk to soothe the throat. It has a subtle, slightly floral taste and a fascinating gelatinous, yet crunchy, texture.
The Experience: Qiaojiashan Lane Markets To try these, venture into the local snack streets or traditional medicine shops that also sell food. While not as common in every restaurant, dedicated dessert shops and certain market stalls, especially in areas like the former French Concession's smaller lanes, will offer Aisijimo during the season. For Chuanbein Pangda Hai, look for traditional "liang cha" (cooling tea) shops. The experience is about discovery, trying something that is as much a part of local daily life as it is a treat.
The Dessert: Doufuhua This is a dessert of beautiful simplicity and debate: sweet or savory? For our purposes, we seek the sweet Doufuhua, or tofu pudding. It is an incredibly soft, silken tofu served in a light, clear ginger or syrup. The texture is the star—it should be so delicate that it slides down your throat with minimal effort, leaving behind a gentle sweetness and the warm tingle of ginger.
The Experience: A Breakfast Stall or Yonghe King The beauty of doufuhua is its accessibility. The most authentic version might be from a humble breakfast stall on a local street, where it's served from a large wooden bucket. For a more comfortable and consistent introduction, the chain restaurant Yonghe King is a fantastic option. Known for its Taiwanese-style soy milk and breakfast items, their sweet doufuhua is a perfect, reliable way to experience this classic. It’s a glimpse into the everyday breakfast culture of the city.
The Dessert: Su Bing While not a dessert in the conventional sense, no discussion of Shanghai's food scene is complete without mentioning the flaky, layered pastry that defines many of its sweet and savory snacks. The technique for creating this incredibly thin, crispy pastry is a culinary art form. While it encases savory fillings like the famous "Shanghai smushed cucumber" is a hyperbole for a savory dish, the same pastry is used for sweet treats like Suzhou-style mooncakes filled with sweet bean paste or crispy turnage pastries.
The Experience: Guangming Cun This is a famed restaurant that specializes in traditional Shanghainese and Jiangnan cuisine. While you go for their comprehensive menu, make sure to order a pastry dish. Watching the servers carefully handle these delicate, multi-layered creations is part of the experience. The sheer technical skill required to make the pastry, which shatters into a thousand buttery flakes with each bite, is a dessert-worthy spectacle in itself.
From the warm, comforting bowls that have soothed generations to the chilled, inventive treats that combat the summer heat, Shanghai's authentic desserts offer a unique and intimate window into the city's culture. They are a testament to a culinary tradition that values balance, texture, and history. So, on your next visit, go beyond the skyline and dive into the sweet, soulful undercurrent of Shanghai. Your taste buds—and your understanding of this incredible city—will be forever grateful.
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Author: Shanghai Travel
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