Would you eat a dessert that smells like gym socks?
No? Then that’s one dish in this list of the ‘world’s best desserts’ as named by tourists that you’ll take issue with.
Read on to find out if there are any more in the round-up, which comes courtesy of a discussion on Reddit kick-started by user ‘coffeewalnut05’, who asked: ‘What’s the best dessert you’ve tried on your travels?’
Let us know in the comments which dish is your favourite… or most hated.
Cornish pudding, UK
Conversation starter ‘coffeewalnut05’ says: ‘In England, there’s something called a Cornish pudding which is “just so good”.’
Although they explain that the recipe is ‘hard to find’ online, they reveal: ‘It’s apparently pastry, custard, various fruits and chocolate, [and] layered and baked until brown.’
The Cornish pudding was created by The Cornish Bakery and has a completely ‘secret recipe’ according to the team there.
Mango sticky rice, Thailand
Thailand’s sticky mango rice dessert ‘melts in your mouth’ according to one user
Thailand’s mango and sticky rice concoction is ‘heaven’, according to Reddit user ‘NerdyDan’.
The popular dessert is made from glutinous rice, fresh mango and coconut milk.
While ‘Jazzy-Bee’ claims the dessert is ‘way too sweet for my taste’, ‘money_mase19’ says: ‘The condensed milk is pretty sweet, but the rice and mango… melts in your mouth.’
Pasteis de nata, Portugal
Portugal’s pasteis de nata is described as the ‘world’s most delicious custard tart’
Portugal’s pasteis de nata custard tarts are egg-cellent, according to several tourists.
‘Atreeofnight’ describes them as the ‘world’s most delicious custard tart’, especially ‘served warm’.
‘Acabxox’ reveals: ‘My brother and I got obsessed with these in Portugal. Even the ones from petrol stations tasted amazing! Though Mediterranean Europe generally has much better “gas station” food than the rest of it.’
But for ‘ZaphodG’, it’s the originals from the Pasteis de Belem bakery in Lisbon that are the real deal. They say: ‘[It] does so much turnover that they’re always warm out of the oven.’
‘Not-vichyssoise’ adds: ‘That place might be a tourist trap, but it’s a place I love to be trapped in.’
Basque burnt cheesecake, Spain
‘CandyQueen95’ says: ‘I need to go to northern Spain purely to eat some Basque burnt cheesecake and nothing else’
Northern Spain’s burnt cheesecake is on fire, according to a couple of tourists.
‘CandyQueen95’ says: ‘I need to go to northern Spain purely to eat some Basque burnt cheesecake and nothing else.’
‘Cleverusername0822’ adds that they ate an ‘incredible’ one in San Sebastian.
Sticky date pudding or sticky toffee pudding, Australia/UK
Australia’s sticky date pudding is a dessert you’ll want a date with, according to ‘Platoniclesbiandate’, who recommends it with ‘caramel sauce’ and describes it as an ‘Australian masterpiece’.
British people will likely know the dessert as sticky toffee pudding.
‘Coffeewalnut05’ explains: ‘We call that sticky toffee pudding in England. Absolute classic!
‘Kind of surprised that English-inspired cuisine is still a thing in Australia. It’s a cuisine better suited to cold, wet climates than Australian dryness and heat.’
Papanasi, Romania/Moldova
Romania’s papanasi are ‘always delicious’ according to ‘Naive-Melody’, who ate them every day on a week-long road trip
Papanasi are Romanian fried pastries made from fresh-cheese dough and topped with cream and fruit confit.
‘Naive-Melody’ reveals: ‘I did a week-long road trip across [Romania] and every day I had it for dessert in a different restaurant and, although some were better than others, it was always delicious.’
Kaiserschmarnn, Austria/Germany
Kaiserschmarnn are shredded sweet pancakes, often served with apple sauce and raisins. ‘Haku-Taku’ explains that they became ‘obsessed’ with the sweet treat while ‘travelling around Germany and Austria’ with their mum.
They explain: ‘Ate it in Vienna and we got hooked. We went on a trip to Munich and Berlin a few months later and ordered kaiserschmarnn after nearly every dinner we had out.’
Pandan desserts, Malaysia
Pandan is a tropical plant that’s often used for flavouring in Asian cuisine. It turns products green and is ‘fabulous’ according to ‘Bimblekitty’.
They say in response to the question: ‘Anything with pandan, especially kaya [coconut jam]. Had a fabulous cold custard thing in Penang, like a creme brulee but with kaya and coconut sugar.’
Gelato, Italy
Italy’s brioche con gelato is ‘absolutely heavenly’ according to one Reddit user
Is an Italian holiday complete without gelato? The world-famous ice cream came up several times on the thread.
‘Lamaravis’ raves about ‘fig and walnut gelato’ while ‘Infinite_Sector2459’ says: ‘The best dessert I had was a cup of lemon gelato on a warm summer day after doing some shopping.’
‘Thisistheperfectname’ adds: ‘Italy’s dessert game is on point. I remember being similarly enthralled with amaretto gelato. Never a bad time for amaretto or things that taste like amaretto.’
For ‘Deathisfatal’, it’s Sicily’s riff on traditional gelato that’s a winner. The Italian island serves gelato inside a brioche, as a sort of ice-cream sandwich called ‘brioche con gelato’.
‘Deathisfatal’ says: ‘Warm bread with creamy gelato is absolutely heavenly.’
Malva pudding, South Africa
A sweet pudding filled with apricot jam and caramelised and topped with cream, malva pudding is ‘Tall_Girl_97’s’ top recommendation.
‘SheiB123’ agrees, adding: ‘With that cream sauce on top! So good.’
Durian pancakes, Hong Kong
Durian is a tropical fruit with a spiky husk that’s so stinky (some liken it to gym socks, some to raw sewage) that it’s banned from public transport in Singapore.
But the controversial aroma isn’t enough to put off ‘BigBadAl’ from enjoying durian pancakes, which originate in Hong Kong.
They say: ‘Durian is amazing anywhere, especially fresh. But a durian pancake is even nicer. Best eaten cold on a warm, humid evening.’
A sweet pudding filled with apricot jam and caramelised and topped with cream, South Africa’s malva pudding is ‘Tall_Girl_97’s’ top recommendation
One user said they enjoyed a pandan-flavoured custard dessert in Malaysia
Durian pancakes originate in Hong Kong and are ‘best eaten cold on a warm, humid evening’
