Tong sui

Originally a Cantonese specialty, tong sui (lit. sugar water) is a type of sweet soup or a custard-like dessert made with a base of either water or coconut milk. Extremely popular throughout the country, these sugary treats are nowadays found in tong sui shops but also at numerous food stalls, freshly prepared by street vendors. Tong sui desserts are available in a myriad of different colors and an unlimited selection of flavors, ranging from the simple fruity varieties and tofu puddings to the gaggingly bizarre ones such as guilinggao - powdered tortoise shell jelly or hasma - a sweet soup made with frogs' fallopian tubes! As an example of some appetizing combinations, Chinese dessert soups are often flavored with mango, pomelo, strawberries, citrus peels, pearl tapioca, or vanilla bean, peanut or black sesame paste, and almond or walnut flour. Most common tong sui toppings include ice cream, fresh fruits, and the bittersweet herbal grass jelly, while the chewy, glutinous rice dough balls called tong yuan are another popular addition to these soups. Depending on the season, tong sui can be enjoyed either hot or cold.