Che – The Vietnamese Sweet Soup That You Must Try

Che is one of the most popular desserts in Vietnam, and you can find it everywhere, from street vendors to restaurants. It is also very affordable, usually costing less than a dollar per serving. Che is not only tasty, but also healthy, as it is made with natural ingredients that are rich in fiber, protein, antioxidants, and vitamins. That’s why Vietnamese people love che so much. But how much do you know about this Vietnamese sweet soup?

The History and Origin of Che

Che is believed to have originated from China, where it is known as tong sui or sweet water. Tong sui is a type of dessert soup that is usually served hot or warm, and can be made with various ingredients such as red beans, lotus seeds, barley, sesame seeds, glutinous rice balls, or fruits.

However, over time, the Vietnamese people adapted tong sui to their own culture and taste, creating new versions of che that are more suitable for the tropical climate and local ingredients. They put in some ice to give it a nice chilled and refreshing touch. To make it creamy and indulgent, they added coconut milk. They used delicious tropical fruits such as mangoes, bananas, jackfruits, or durians to give it that fruity and aromatic flavor.

As a result, che became a distinct dessert that reflects the diversity and creativity of Vietnamese cuisine.

The Diversity and Variety of Che

One of the most amazing things about che is that it can be made with almost any ingredient that you can think of. There are hundreds of types and varieties of che in Vietnam.

To give you an idea of how diverse and varied che is, I will introduce you to some examples of famous che in different regions of Vietnam. Of course, this is not a complete list, as there are many more types of che that you can discover and enjoy. But I hope this will give you a glimpse of the wonderful world of che, and inspire you to try some of them yourself.

Che in the North

The che in the north is usually simple and delicate, with subtle flavors and natural colors. The most common ingredients are beans, seeds, rice, and fruits. Here are some examples of famous che in the north:

Young rice sweet soup (che com): This is a specialty of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, made with young rice (com), which is harvested in the early autumn and has a fresh and fragrant aroma. The young rice is pounded into a paste, mixed with sugar and tapioca starch, and cooked until thick and smooth. It is then served with coconut milk and shredded young coconut.
Sweet lotus seed soup (che hat sen): Another specialty of Hanoi, which is often served on special occasions such as weddings or festivals. It is made with lotus seeds (hat sen), which are soaked, peeled, and cooked with sugar until soft and tender. It is then served with coconut milk and some other ingredients such as longan fruits, water chestnuts, or agar jelly.
Rice ball sweet soup (che troi nuoc): This is a popular dessert that is eaten on the Lantern Festival (Tet Nguyen Tieu), which falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month. This che has a yellow color and a spicy and sweet taste.

Che in the south

Che in the south is very diverse and varied, as it is influenced by the tropical climate and the multicultural influences of Cambodia, Thailand. The che in the south is usually sweet and rich, with many flavors and textures with the most common ingredients are fruits, jelly, tapioca, coconut milk, and condensed milk. Here are some examples of famous che in the south:

Three-color sweet soup (che ba mau): This is a popular dessert that is eaten on Valentine’s Day (Ngay Tinh Yeu) or any other day when you want to express your love. It is made with three layers of ingredients: green mung bean paste (dau xanh), yellow corn pudding (che bap), and red kidney bean paste (dau do). It is then topped with coconut milk and crushed ice.
Mixed fruit sweet soup: a specialty of Saigon, that can be found in any street vendor or market. It is made with a variety of fruits such as mangoes (xoai), pineapples (dua), papayas (du du), watermelons (dua hau), jackfruits (mit), lychees (vai), rambutans (chom chom), or longans (nhan). It is then mixed with coconut milk, condensed milk, sugar syrup, and ice.

Conclusion

Che, the Vietnamese sweet soup, is a wonderful dessert that you must try if you visit Vietnam. From the rustic and sophisticated Hanoi sweet soup to the diverse and eye-catching Saigon sweet soup, each regional variant has its own unique characteristics. These tasty treats have become a popular snack enjoyed by people from all walks of life.