Sweets to Try From Around the World
Most people have a sweet tooth and enjoy having something delicious to snack on, indulge in as a pick-me-up, or share with friends. It can be easy to stick to childhood favorites or what’s local to you – to grab something when shopping so that you know you have a treat in for later. However, the world is becoming more connected than ever, and one of the great advantages is the ability to sample food and drink from countries all around the globe. You might be used to eating a curry or familiar with grabbing some yakitori, but trying the sweets of another culture is still less common than it should be. So if you want to explore or show off at your next party, here are some sweets from around the world that you should really try.
Melomakarona Cookies
These are fantastic cookies to have at Christmas time as they’re flavored with cinnamon and orange – flavors we’re very used to in the winter. They’re a honey cookie from Greece and were originally made around religious ceremonies and blessed. There are many different recipes, but they’re all incredibly moreish.
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight is an old favorite of many, but it gets forgotten about when faced with the endless rows of shelves of tasty goodies. A similar type of sweet was made by many in the area, but the people of Turkey do eat and make large quantities of Turkish Delight, or Lokum, as they call it. There are many different flavors that this sweet could be, which is fantastic if you want to have a mixed platter. It’s deliciously decadent, and the great thing about Turkish Delight is that it can even be an amazing wedding favor.
Paçoca (Brazilian Peanut Candy)
This is an incredibly popular sweet from Brazil, particularly at the Festas Juninas, but frankly enjoyed any time of the year; a must-try for any peanut lover out there. Its proper name is paçoca de amendoim, and it is crumbly sweetie goodness. Certainly not to be confused with paçoca nordestina, which is a savory beef dish. Traditionally this sweet was used with a mortar and pestle with all the ingredients ground up and mashed together – but there are loads of recipes to make it at home or get yourself to an online sweet shop or a Brazilian supermarket; they’re bound to have some.
Dango
Wagashi is incredibly popular in Japan – a wonderful sweet treat to enjoy. There are many different kinds (or you might be able to find a Wagashi selection to try!), but Dango is a great one to try that you might not have come across (mochi is quite well known now, but definitely give that a go if you haven’t!). Dango is a rice dumpling made sweet. The dumpling itself is colorless, but coloring and flavors are added to make this a great sweet treat with lots of variety.
Honorable Mention – Danish Liquorice
Black liquorice is a dividing factor – some people love it and consider it sweet, while others think it’s vile and shouldn’t exist. Well, there’s something else to try, Salmiak Liquorice or Danish Liquorice. This sweet is common across many Nordic countries, and it has a huge following. It’s salted liquorice and has a distinct flavor. If you’re expecting something sweet tasting, you’re in for a nasty shock. However, the saltiness appeals to many. Just keep in mind that it’s called ‘adult liquorice in some countries for a reason; this is not something to give to a child. Aside from the high salt content, they’ll probably just spit it right out.
