Desserts around the World

Customs, Traditions, Geographical boundaries & practical use of local ingredients are all factors that influence the types of sweets and desserts people choose to eat. Popular desserts around the world include cakes, cookies, biscuits, ice cream, pudding, pies, and sweet breads.

In some places, however, fancy, rich desserts are uncommon. In many African and Asian countries, people rarely eat a dessert at the end of a meal. For example, dessert is not part of the traditional meal in sub-Saharan Africa (the countries south of the Sahara Desert). At large gatherings and celebrations, a fruit salad might be served after a meal. While most Africans do not eat dessert, they do enjoy some sweet snacks, such as fresh fruits, raw sugarcane, or cookies made in a pan over an open fire.

In many cultures, especially in warm and tropical climates, fresh fruit is the main dessert. In the Southeast Asian country of Thailand, for example, you may have a choice of assorted fruit, such as papaya, guava, and pineapple, at the end of a meal. But Thais also enjoy a variety of sweet treats for snacking, which are often sold on the street. These include deep-fried bananas, coconut pudding, sweet pancakes, and sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and served with mango or other fruit.

Fruits are common dessert ingredients everywhere along with eggs and sugar. For a long time fruits have been used as a main dessert ingredient for creating a wide variety of recipes.Two other favorite dessert flavorings are vanilla and chocolate. The Maya and Aztec Indians in Mexico were the first people to enjoy chocolate, which was originally served as a beverage.
According to an Aztec legend, the god Quetzalcoatl showed the people how to grow cacao trees, harvest their seed pods, and prepare chocolate from the seeds of the sacred tree.

Desserts may be served not only after lunch or dinner but for an afternoon coffee or tea break. In the British Isles and Australia, many people stop for tea in the late afternoon. Sometimes it can be quite a formal occasion, with a selection of small sandwiches, biscuits, and cakes, both elaborate and plain.

Lamington(small, frosted cubes of cake covered with coconut) are a good choice for tea time, and they are a favorite with Australian children.People in Germany, Austria, the Scandinavian countries, and some Latin American countries may also take a break in the afternoon to linger over coffee and pastries.