Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu

Chè sương sa hạt lựu is a Vietnamese drink dessert with jelly, tapioca-based pomegranate seeds as two main components.

Lastest Updated May 27, 2024
Verified by A-Z Cuisines Team
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  • Traditional
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Fact: Chè sương sa hạt lựu is more prominent in the Southern region of Vietnam since it is typically served with ice, suitable for hot weather in this area.

Basic Information

Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu: Basic Information

Pronunciation

chay soong sa haht loo

Alternative Name(s)

Chè sương sa hột lựu

Dish Type

Desserts, Drink Desserts

Course

Dessert

Mealtime

Lunch, Dinner

Popular Variations

No
Origin and Region

Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Southern Vietnam

Associated Region

Unspecified
Vietnam Map
Ingredients and Preparation

Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu: Ingredients and Preparation

Main Ingredients

Jelly powder (for making jelly) and tapioca flour (for making imitated pomegranate seeds)

Main Cooking Method

Boiling

Preparation Process

Preparing jelly, tapioca seeds, mashed mung beans, and coconut milk mixture, then layering them in a glass.
A Deep Dive

Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu: A Deep Dive

Cultural Significance

A classic and colorful Vietnamese dessert

Taste

Sweet

Texture

A mix of soft, chewy, and jelly-like textures from different components

Aroma

Fragrant with notes of coconut and pandan

Color

Vibrant with various colors

Serving Style

In a bowl or a glass

Serving Temperature

Cold

Accompaniment

Typically enjoyed on its own

Occasions

On any occasions

Seasons

Year-round

Special Diets

Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free

Calories

Unspecified

Popularity

Vietnam

Popular Similar Dishes

  1. Chè Đậu Xanh
  2. Chè Ba Màu
  3. Chè Bánh Lọt
  4. Sâm Bổ Lượng

Popular Dining Area

Dessert shops, street vendors, and restaurants in Vietnam

Chè sương sa hạt lưu is an attractive dessert in Vietnam, primarily composed of white jelly made from seaweeds and imitated pomegranate seeds. It is normally served cold and is more popular in Vietnam’s Southern part.

Che Suong Sa Hat Luu Overview

Chè is a big term for sweet dessert soup, but chè sương sa hạt lựu is akin to a drink dessert that diners can enjoy as a treat with the drinkability of a beverage.

Therefore, this sweet Vietnamese dessert is ideal for pleasing a sweet tooth while also providing refreshment and hydration.

Keep reading to know more about the ingredients in chè sương sa hạt lựu, its preparation steps, and other fascinating facts, including benefits, limitations, and questions often asked.

Plus, I’ll recommend other related “chè” treats of Vietnamese.

Key Points

  • Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu is a unique Vietnamese dessert soup that can be enjoyed as a drink dessert.
  • It features seaweed-based white jelly and small pink tapioca pearls that look like pomegranate seeds.
  • It often includes coconut milk, fresh milk, mashed mung beans, and pandan leaves for flavor and aroma.
  • This dessert enjoys greater popularity in the southern regions of Vietnam.

What Are the Key Components in Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu?

As mentioned above, there are two key ingredients in chè sương sa hạt lựu, which is also in the name of this sweet dessert. Let’s dig deeper to understand more about it.

  • Sương Sa: This is a type of jelly made from certain seaweeds or algae. It’s usually white with a soft, gelatinous texture. Sương sa is often mixed with other similar jellies like sương sâm (in green color) and served in a sweet syrup.
  • Hạt Lựu: These are small, chewy balls resembling pomegranate seeds. They are typically made from tapioca starch or another similar starchy substance. Their chewy texture adds a contrasting mouthfeel to the smooth jelly of sương sa.

Other components like coconut milk, fresh milk, mashed mung beans, tapioca starch, and pandan leaves are also commonly added in chè sương sa hạt lựu. Some versions also include jelly-like rice flour jellies (called bánh lọt in Vietnamese).

FYI, to add texture to imitated pomegranate seeds, some recipes for this sweet dessert add small pieces of arrowroot inside the starchy seeds. Next, let’s find out its making methods.

How To Prepare Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu?

What follows are five typical steps for crafting Vietnamese with jelly and tapioca pomegranate seeds.

Step 1: Preparing Sương Sa

Dissolve jelly powder in water and let it expand, then cook the mixture and stir continuously until thickened. Pour the cooked mixture into molds or containers so it can set. Transfer it to the fridge to firm up quickly. Once done, cut the jelly into small square pieces.

Step 2: Preparing Pomegranate Seeds

Mix the tapioca starch, water, and pink color to create a dough. Cut the dough into very small pieces resembling the size of pomegranate seeds. After that, cook them in a boiled pot of water. Strain cooked pieces and soak them in ice water or cold water to make the seeds more translucent.

Step 3: Preparing Mashed Mung Beans

Cook the soaked beans until tender, add sugar, then mash them for a smoother texture.

Step 4: Making a Coconut Milk Mixture

Mix coconut milk, fresh milk, and sugar, and heat the mixture. Add a bit of tapioca starch to thicken the mixture. Keep the heat low and stir continuously, adding a few pandan leaves for aroma.

Step 5: Assembling and Serving

Layer the tapioca-based pomegranate seeds, mung beans, and jelly, and pour the coconut mixture over them. Add crushed ice and serve.

In the subsequent part, I’ll briefly explore the beneficial and less favorable aspects of chè sương sa hạt lựu.

Pros and Cons of Eating Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu

Here are a few points detailing the pluses and minuses of Vietnamese sweet soup including jelly and imitated pomegranate seeds.

Pros

  • Hydration: Chè sương sa hạt lựu’s high water content, especially when served with ice, can be refreshing in hot weather.
  • Variety of Textures: This dessert offers a delightful sensory experience with its combination of soft, chewy, and creamy textures.

Cons

  • Time-Consuming Preparation: The process of making this dessert, including soaking and boiling, can take a certain time.

Next, let’s tackle some common questions about this Vietnamese sweet dessert.

Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu FAQs

The tapioca pearls are typically colored naturally by soaking them in vegetable juices like beetroot for a pink-reddish color. You can use food coloring as well.

Preparation time varies, but it generally takes a couple of hours, including the time needed to prepare the tapioca seeds, cook the jelly, and chill it.

It is ideal for storing its components, tapioca pearls, jelly, coconut milk mixture, and mung beans, separately and assembling them just before serving for extended freshness and retaining their texture.

It can be vegan-friendly if you ensure that all ingredients, particularly the sweeteners and the jelly base, are free from animal derivatives. The main components like tapioca, coconut milk, and mung beans are plant-based.

Since it can be high in sugar, particularly if additional sweeteners are used, it’s advisable for individuals with diabetes to consume it in moderation or adjust the recipe to lower the amount of sugar.

Similar Dishes of Chè Sương Sa Hạt Lựu

Che Dau Xanh

Chè đậu xanh is a sweet Vietnamese dessert soup made with mung beans and sugar, often served with coconut milk.

Che Ba Mau

Chè ba màu is a Vietnamese sweet soup made with adzuki beans, mung beans, pandan jelly, and coconut milk.

Che Banh Lot

Chè bánh lọt is a Vietnamese dessert based on cendol, often made with strips of green rice flour jelly and coconut milk.

Sam Bo Luong

Sâm bổ lượng is a Vietnamese herbal and fruit dessert soup, known for its sweet taste and healthful properties.

Truc Tran (Kris)

Truc Tran (Kris)

Senior Food Editor

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Recipe Development, Baking and Pastry, Food Editor, Cooking-video Maker, Vietnamese Food Evaluation Expert

Education

  • Hospitality (Commercial Cookery) at TasTAFE
  • Culinary Arts at Kendall College (Australia Branch in Sydney)
  • Vietnamese Cuisine Head Chef at HNAAu School (Vietnam, International Joint Training Program)

Truc Tran (Kris), an experienced food writer and editor, is great at exploring and describing global cuisines, from simple street food to fancy dining. In her writing, she skillfully mixes different flavors, cooking methods, and culinary traditions, showing the unique character of various cultures through their food and drinks. On azcuisines.com, Kris highlights her knowledge, especially in Asian cuisine and worldwide traditional dishes.

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