Outside Japanese mochis and coconut rice balls, you are not very familiar with Chinese or Asian pastries. And we must say Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and more desserts are not really the same in France. As a matter of fact, it often involves liquid desserts like Vietnamese Che based on tapioca and coconut milk, or even rice cakes or sticky rice balls. Far from the French pastries, then.

But as we are in France, we can obviously enjoy a fusion of cultures. Therefore, in Paris, you can enjoy patisseries and tearooms wonderfully mixing French pastries and Asian flavors. Between tradition and modernity, there are great discoveries to make, without forgetting exclusive creations for the Lunar New Year. Here is what to enjoy on the occasion.

 

 

 

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Une publication partagée par sᴏʀᴛɪʀᴀᴘᴀʀɪs.ᴄᴏᴍ (@sortiraparis.officiel)

For the Chinese New Year, some people think of the Mooncake, undoubtedly because this is one of the rare and iconic desserts of the Chinese gastronomy. Yet, this is no New Year cake, but a pastry enjoyed during the mid-Fall festival, also named Moon Festival. Therefore, you can ditch it for now.

Among classics available in Paris, there are fried sesame balls. A very popular dish found in several Asian countries: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, China… Picture this: the outside is crispy, sprinkled with sesame, and the inside if fluffy stuffed with moist yellow mungo bean paste. Based on rice flour, this dish is best when enjoyed warm and nicely baked. It can be found on gourmet tables, or even in Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Shang Palace and their Chinese New Year menu, or at Asian caterers like the Cantine Chinoise, or even to Paris 13^th street hawkers like in China or elsewhere. Hereunder, discover the Vietnamese sesame fritters called Bánh Tiêu, delicious fluffy and moist fritters to enjoy in the afternoon or even at breakfast.

Among desserts available in the 13^th arrondissement and Chinese patisseries, there famous whipped cream cake. A very moist cake filled with kidney beans, mango, strawberry or even the most famous one, Durian (this famous fruit with a very special smell whether one loves or hates). Find one at the Pâtisserie Saison, the Pâtisserie de Choisy or even at Fu Castella for a version based on their fluffy sponge cake.

Among our favorite gourmet venues in Paris, some have decided to play the Lunar / Chinese New Year card. Therefore, this year, you can enjoy Asian donuts at Nonette. On the occasion, doughnuts are filled with exclusive flavors of caramel, glazed, kaya or even Lilikoi passion.

At Edwart, the chocolate-maker arousing out taste buds have teamed up with traditional Chinese liquor specialist, Maison du Baijiu to create a box as beautiful as tasty. We love the red chocolates synonym of luck in Asia. Here is an original box to gift on this occasion.

Bakery-tearoom Fu Castella has come up with a version of their famous cake as light as fluffy with pandan for the year of the Tiger. A temporary creation to discover for about a week. For your information, pandan is an aromatic plant often found in Asian pastries that gives a nice green color. The most unadventurous people will yet be able to (re)discover the classic and plain version adorning the sign of the tiger.

• To be read
• Lunar New Year 2022 in Paris and Île-de-France
• Lunar New Year 2022 in restaurants in Paris

Last but not least, if you feel like discovering a nice mix of delicate pastries and Asian flavors, here are a few locations worth the trip. Head to the new Molle bakery-tearoom set Avenue d’Ivry in the 13^th arrondissement, and its first store set rue au Maire in the 3^rd arrondissement. Mango, rose-lychee or durian crêpe cakes, matcha revisited Opera cakes, slices of mango or matcha/bean version cakes, or even varied cheesecakes are available.

We love the beautiful creations as tasty as indulging by @unrêve, this café-brunch and bakery serving great fusion creations. Lychee Nuage, red berry Fleur, Lemon Mont Blanc, and pineapple Earl Grey are some of the surprising creations you can enjoy on site or take away.

Let us wrap with the L’Osmanthe serving a nice fusion selection. We love the Symphonie, the Matcha Opera, and the Blueberry-sesame tartlet. For the Lunar New Year, a temporary pastry paying tribute to the Tiger and based on milk chocolate, passion fruit, mandarin jelly and citrus fruit cake is available.

Last but not least, here is a good deal for Asian people looking for the red envelops to gift, note Xing Fu Tang specialized in Boba tea has decided to give packages of 5 red envelops to fill with money for children for 2 boba teas purchased (available until depletion of stocks).

Happy Lunar New Year to all!