Hong Kong people love different types of food, so many traditional desserts have been created, such as turnip cake, sesame rolls, white sugar cake, and brown sugar cake, which are familiar traditional pastries to everyone. However, with the development of the city and the progress of the times, many traditional small eateries specializing in unique snacks are gradually declining, being forced to transform to cater to the market or disappearing altogether, causing many traditional pastries to gradually become lost. Therefore, the following will recommend a delicious daan go, to rediscover the taste of memories.
The History of Da Cai Gao
Tremella dessert, also known as agar or jelly, is a popular dessert in Malaysia, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. It is shaped like a gelatinous block, made by boiling gelatinous tremella extracted from seaweed, adding sugar, and cooling. The method is simple, and it is cool and refreshing to eat, making it a popular summer snack.
The main ingredient for making agar agar is agar, also known as “kanten” or “amakusa” in Japan. It often grows attached to rocks near the coast, but because it grows at a depth of about 0.5 meters in seawater, it is usually harvested by diving. Freshly harvested agar agar has a strong fishy smell and cannot be eaten directly. It needs to be repeatedly washed with fresh water, then placed in the sun to remove impurities, salt, and fishy smell, causing the dark red color of agar agar to fade to ivory.
In the past in Hong Kong, shops would sometimes add milk, coconut milk, fruit, etc., to create different variations. However, the most common is still adding egg flowers to enhance visual effects and improve taste.
How to Make Da Cai Gao
Although the production of Da Cai Gao seems complicated, we can actually make it at home by ourselves. Not only can we customize it according to our own taste, but we can also experience the traditional culture of Hong Kong.
First, there are already processed large kelp shreds on the market, you only need to buy one, you don’t have to collect and process like people used to do in the past. Prepare 700 milliliters of water, one egg, 50-100 grams of rock sugar, and cut 10 grams of large kelp shreds according to personal preference. These are all the ingredients.
The production method is also super simple, first soak the seaweed until soft, pour out the water, add rock sugar and 700 ml of water to melt, then beat in the eggs to make egg flowers, and finally refrigerate.
Da Ji Pastries
The featured famous dessert shop is located in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, specializing in various traditional Hong Kong pastries. It has even received praise from Chua Lam, who finds the traditional pastries at Tai Kei Dessert very delicious. Of course, the famous turnip cake is also available, with a cool and firm texture, filled with egg flowers, very satisfying.
The large-scale pastries are also available for sale, including different traditional pastries such as white sugar cake, brown sugar cake, and pudding cake, which are also worth a try.
Address: Shop 33, G/F, Lee Kwan Commercial Building, 223 Aberdeen Main Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
Business hours: 09:00 – 20:00
Phone: 28153837
