TAKE 5: Kidney Bean Sweets

Caffè iI Sole 太阳咖啡

Coffee Nerikiri (煉り切り) is a typical traditional Japanese sweet. The coffee-flavored kidney bean layer is as dense as a brownie, a nice contrast to the snow-white sweet bean paste stuffing. It can be a bit oversweet, but the equally sugary-voiced waitress explains that it was originally paired with green tea in the Japanese tea ceremony.
RMB 18

Tue-Sun, 10am-10pm. 1/F, Longbao Plaza, 36 Maizidian, Chaoyang District (6591 5141) 朝阳区麦子店36号龙宝大厦1楼

7-11

This newly launched Tiramisu Mochi (提拉米苏喧喧大福) is another coffee-flavored treat. The surprisingly delightful bean paste is creatively flavored with cheese and cream, which is rarely seen but fairly harmonious. Adding a dash of salt to highlight the subtle sweetness and creaminess is another masterstroke.
RMB 5

Dao Xiang Cun 稻香村

2010 is the year of the tiger, hence the birth of Golden Tiger Cake（金虎饼）, whose forehead has a王-shaped pattern. (王means “king” both in Chinese and in the forest.) With its rising eyebrows and a turned-up mouth, this tiger is not scary; instead, it smiles as it welcomes your bite: “Eat me and I’ll bring you good luck this year!” The mix of white kidney beans and white lotus seeds is a dual treat, one of Dao Xiang Cun’s enduring recipes that’s never overly sweet.
RMB 18 for 500g

Tian’anmen Fangshan Restaurant 天安门仿膳
饭庄

Many Imperial sweets are not tasty, but yundou juan (芸豆卷) is the only reason I would envy an Emperor’s life. After sampling hundreds of yundou juan, I still believe the ones from Fangshan restaurant remain on top. These little ivory creatures, which embrace red bean paste and twinkling caster sugar, are finely chilled and melt in your mouth like snow. RMB 30 (24 pieces)

Daily 11am-2pm, 5-8pm, 37 Dongjiaomin Xiang (east of Tian'anmen Square), Dongcheng District. (6523 3105) 东城区东交民巷37号(天安门广场东侧)

Yibao Heye Jinggao 伊宝荷叶甑糕

In addition to featuring hot layered sticky rice cake, this Muslim stall also serves chilled square kidney bean cakes (芸豆糕), which are made fresh daily. Enjoy it on the spot or it will quickly go sour – because it contains no additives at all. Unlike the imperial delicacy, these beans have not been skinned and finely filtered; however, they’re rich in texture and flavor and super-cheap.
RMB 2

Daily 8am-9pm. 1/F, Niujie Muslim Supermarket, 1 Niujie, Xicheng District. 西城区牛街北口西侧1号牛街清真超市1楼