

Mochi cakes, a traditional Japanese delicacy, are made from cooked glutinous rice that is mashed and molded into round shapes. They come with various fillings such as red bean paste, green tea, or cream. Mochi cakes are made and sold year-round, but they are especially popular during the New Year celebration. They are considered a symbol of Japan, commonly used in various occasions from festivals to traditional ceremonies, or simply served as desserts. Almost all traditional Japanese festivals involve offering mochi cakes to the gods, making them renowned throughout the Land of the Rising Sun. Mochi cakes come in various types with different recipes and flavors. However, they all share the commonality of being made from the finest glutinous rice, symbolizing the luck bestowed upon the Japanese people by the divine spirits.
To make a mochi cake, one often utilizes various machinery to expedite the process. However, this method usually compromises the taste compared to handmade mochi cakes crafted by skilled artisans, known as mochi masters. In Japan, mochi cakes are not only reserved for special occasions or festivals but are also enjoyed as desserts by many families and establishments. If you ever visit Japan, be sure to taste this exquisite delicacy. You will undoubtedly be impressed by the meticulous craftsmanship and diverse flavors of these cakes. Regarding the origin of mochi cakes, studies suggest that they were not originally from Japan but were imported from China around 300 BCE due to cultural influences and other factors.


3. Gelato Ice Cream (Italy)
Gelato, often hailed as one of the must-try delicacies when visiting Italy, fills the streets of Italy with gelato shops offering the Italian version of ice cream with a smoother texture than its American counterpart. Gelato, made from high-quality ingredients, primarily fresh fruits with a moderate fat content, boasts distinct flavors. This type of ice cream made from entirely natural ingredients dates back to the Renaissance era. For a long time, it was a food reserved for the wealthy. Creators from the Dolomites in the North and Sicily in the South could not cope with the high demand. They had to migrate to Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and France to sell Gelato. If you visit Rome, don't forget to visit the gelaterias (ice cream parlors), and you won't be surprised to learn that Italian Gelato is as famous as the Leaning Tower of Pisa or the Roman Colosseum.
Authentic Gelato is made from clean, naturally sourced ingredients, without preservatives, additives, or chemicals. Most of the flavor in Gelato is derived from fresh fruits, resulting in a taste and color that are always genuine and natural. Unlike regular ice cream, Gelato does not contain water, so it doesn't freeze and chill like conventional ice cream. Traditional Gelato producers in Italy view ice cream as an art form, and every summer, hundreds of 'ice cream artists' introduce their latest creations to the market. Eating Gelato doesn't give you the icy chill of ice cream; instead, it offers a gradually melting, refreshing sensation. Some Italians disagree with calling Gelato ice cream because it doesn't contain water, so it doesn't freeze and chill like regular ice cream. If you haven't tried this ice cream when in Italy, consider your trip incomplete.


4. Skyr (Iceland)
People often choose Iceland as a travel destination not only to be enchanted by the majestic natural beauty, which few countries in the world can rival, but also because of a long list of exceptional and sometimes peculiar dishes deeply embedded in the culinary traditions and habits of generations of locals. Icelanders have crafted a distinct and captivating culinary culture. Experiencing the culinary culture is truly wonderful when traveling in Iceland. Skyr has been a part of Icelandic cuisine for thousands of years. This yogurt-like dessert is enjoyed cold with milk, sugar, and fruits. You cannot enjoy this dish in Vietnam; you have to go to Iceland to savor it, and you might not want to leave once you do.
Icelanders prefer to eat Skyr with milk, various berries, or other fruits for breakfast or as a snack. Besides being a healthy choice, during your trip to Iceland, you might encounter Skyr being used to make ice cream, smoothies, and especially skyrkaka – a lighter version of cheesecake compared to the American version. Icelandic Skyr is famous worldwide and increasingly popular in North America and Europe. It comes in various flavors like strawberry, banana, vanilla, and blueberry. Skyr has a similar texture to Greek yogurt. It is often consumed as a standalone meal or a quick snack during the day. Skyr is available in both solid and drinkable forms, and it can be eaten directly or mixed with sugar and blueberries. If you're on an extended trip to Iceland, it's advisable to pack some Skyr in your luggage as Skyr is a highly nutritious product (12% protein, 3% carbohydrate, and rich in vitamins).


5. Dragon's Beard Candy or Cotton Candy (China)
Not only a popular street snack, but Dragon's Beard Candy from China also ranks among the world's most delicious desserts. It's all thanks to the artistry behind this candy, which is soft, sticky, and sweet, served with sesame seeds, peanuts, and finely shredded coconut. An iconic treat at famous tourist spots in China, Dragon's Beard Candy is made from maltose syrup, then shaped into large candy chunks. Next, it undergoes a meticulous pulling and stretching process in dry flour to create fine strands without sticking together. The most intricate step in making this candy is the repeated folding and pulling until the strands are as delicate as silk threads. Once the candy reaches the desired consistency, it is cut into bite-sized pieces and coated with a mixture of crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, sugar, or coconut, then pressed into molds to form white clouds. Finally, the candy is packed into plastic boxes for sale. With this method, the candy melts instantly on your tongue, releasing the sweet taste of maltose along with rich fillings in your mouth.
In ancient times, only the Emperor (during the Han Dynasty) and his courtiers could enjoy Dragon's Beard Candy, a favorite dessert of the royal family. Whenever the Emperor indulged, the candy strands would stick around his mouth, prompting jests from his ministers about his growing beard. Thus, it earned the name Dragon's Beard Candy, exclusively savored within the palace. It wasn't until the downfall of the Qing Dynasty in China that this candy became popular among the common people, eventually gaining fame. Dragon's Beard Candy is not merely a dessert; it's also a traditional artisanal craft of China. The process of making Dragon's Beard Candy is somewhat similar to how Vietnamese make Cotton Candy, but Dragon's Beard Candy offers a more visually stunning and enjoyable experience.


6. Makowiec Cake (Poland)
Having weathered many ups and downs in history, Polish culinary culture has now become a fascinating topic in the country's culinary scene. In Polish cuisine, many dishes were lost during wartime and are now being revived. Polish cuisine consists of traditional Slavic dishes and influences from Italian and French cuisine, as the country has experienced cultural cross-pollination since the Middle Ages. Traditional Polish dishes today offer a wide range of flavors, are rich, and are intricately prepared. This Makowiec cake is often made during festivals in Poland, featuring sweet yeast dough with a filling made from poppy seeds, sometimes topped with decorative cream.
Polish desserts are very sweet, with Polish cheesecake or Sernik, apple pie (Szarlotka), Makowiec (a type of fluffy cake with poppy seed filling), or Eklerka. Polish bread is incredibly diverse, with many different types of bread in both flavor and shape, making it difficult to choose from a Polish bakery. But if you can, try them all. Although Makowiec is most commonly served during holidays in Poland, tourists can still find this type of cake in Poland all year round. Makowiec is a sweet yeast roll made with poppy seeds and sometimes topped with cream. It is a Polish specialty, so when you have the opportunity to visit Poland, remember to try this dish.


7. Yogurt
Greek yogurt and yogurt are lactic fermented products from fresh cow's milk, powdered milk, or generally animal milk after removal of fat and sterilization of pathogenic bacteria by pasteurization at 80-90°C. This dish is so common, you can open your fridge and enjoy it at home right away. All types of milk can be used to make yogurt, but in modern manufacturing, cow's milk is most commonly used. Greek yogurt and yogurt are lactic fermented products from fresh cow's milk, powdered milk, or generally animal milk after removal of fat and sterilization of pathogenic bacteria by pasteurization at 80-90°C. Yogurt plays a fundamental role in traditional Bulgarian cuisine, such as tarator, a cold soup made from yogurt, water, cucumber, walnuts, and various herbs, or snezhanka, a salad consisting of yogurt, cucumber, garlic, and herbs. It can be said that yogurt is present everywhere in Bulgaria, whether on the streets or in restaurants.
Yogurt is a food with a long history in Bulgaria. Many people claim that it was discovered by accident 4,000 years ago when nomadic tribes wandered in this land. The nomads stored milk in bags made from animal skin, creating a suitable environment for bacteria to grow, ferment, and then yogurt was born. In other similar cases, yogurt was discovered in the same way at different locations, times, and may have originated from the Middle East and Central Asia. Regardless of where yogurt was discovered, one thing is certain: Bulgaria played an important role in introducing yogurt to the West and turning it into a popular commercial product as it is today.


8. Dadar Gulung
In Indonesian, Dadar means pancake, while gulung means to roll inside. This is one of the enticing, popular cakes in Indonesia. The inside filling is a mixture of grated coconut and brown sugar rolled in a layer of pancake with a green color and a distinctive aroma from pandan leaves. Dadar gulung is a traditional Indonesian dessert consisting of thin rice flour crepes filled with grated coconut. Traditionally, the crepe batter is infused with pandan leaves to enhance flavor and impart a fresh green color to the crepes, but modern versions often use green food coloring instead. When cooked, the pancake is filled with a combination of freshly grated coconut, cinnamon, and dark palm sugar (gula melaka).
Outside Indonesia, this colorful and enticing dessert can be found under various names in Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. The preparation of Dadar gulung is quite simple, involving a filling made from coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir this mixture over low heat. Stir constantly for about 5 minutes or until the mixture thickens. Then remove the cinnamon sticks. Then mix in the grated coconut. Combine flour, eggs, pandan water or pandan paste, coconut milk, and salt water. Beat the batter until smooth. Prepare a non-stick pan, heat the pan. Pour a ladle of batter evenly into the pan, cook for about 2 minutes. When the pancake is cooked, remove it, place it on a tray or plate. Scoop 2 tablespoons of the pancake filling, fold the left and right sides together and roll them into round rolls. Arrange the cakes on a plate, and enjoy.


9. Baklava - Turkey
Baklava is one of Turkey's most famous delicacies. Thin and soft layers of pastry are rolled into many layers enveloping the filling inside consisting of a mixture of nuts and a special syrup unique to Turkey. Traditional Baklava in Turkey is made by 'filling' between the layers of pastry with famous dry fruits of the country including walnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts. In the Black Sea region, Turks use sunflower seeds to 'inflate' Baklava. In the city of Gaziantep, southeast Turkey, they turn this sweet treat into a Pistachio version. But regardless of variations, all regions of Turkey retain the basic ingredients of Filo pastry, nuts, and syrup. The nuts and syrup are often varied by Turks to adapt to the Baklava recipe of different nations to satisfy the taste buds of locals and tourists visiting Turkey for sightseeing, and culinary experiences.
Turkish Baklava is baked at 329°C, cooked for 3 hours, and after 45 minutes, it is usually taken out to be drizzled with boiling sugar syrup. This syrup helps the surface of the pastry shine, making it more attractive and flavorful. Baklava has a very sweet taste, and if eaten alone, it may feel overly sweet, lacking in flavor. However, when enjoyed with Turkish tea, black tea, the two flavors blend together, offering just the right amount of sweetness. The combination of tea and pastry creates a surprisingly delicious and harmonious sensation. If you have the opportunity to visit Turkey, remember to taste the sweet Baklava pastry with traditional Turkish tea; you'll instantly fall in love with the perfect flavor your taste buds 'encounter'.


10. Syrniki Pancakes (Russia)
Desserts play a significant role in shaping Russia's distinctive culinary scene. Contrary to their seemingly rugged exterior, Russians are known for their gentle, friendly, and sweet nature, much like these desserts. Russian people particularly enjoy soft, honey-soaked treats and chocolates. A popular breakfast type in Russia, Syrniki essentially are cheese pancake cakes. Although as fluffy as regular pancakes, the cheese adds a bit more 'firmness' to the cake and a different, unique flavor. To make Syrniki, pancake batter is often supplemented with dry Cottage cheese or Ricotta cheese. Served as a dessert, the cakes are eaten with jam, fresh strawberries, and sour cream.
Syrniki are also known as 'tvorozhniki'. Typical ingredients for Russian Syrniki include eggs, white sugar, flour, all-purpose flour, oil, and cheese. Cottage cheese not only provides plenty of protein—it also contains essential nutrients. For these reasons, Cottage cheese is widely used by athletes and those planning to lose weight. Cottage cheese is soft, white, and smooth like cream. It is considered fresh cheese, so it undergoes no processing or thorough cooking to enhance flavor. Therefore, it has a very mild taste compared to processed cheeses. You can enjoy this versatile cheese on its own or use it as an ingredient in cooking recipes. If you have the opportunity to visit Russia, be sure to try this Syrniki pancake dish.


