Traditional Dried Cake (higashi) 干菓子とベトナムのベインハオウ

31 January 2010 (Sun): Last year Chị M came to Singapore and brought me several packets of Vietnamese coffee from both brands, Trung Nguyên and Highlands. I like both, but my preference is tilted to the latter due to the proximity of taste to European coffees.
Along with the best produce of Vietnam, Chị M. also brought me some sweets and snack. One of them is bánh khảo. .
Although bánh khảo is not new to me, I haven't eaten it for ages. It's a moisture-less traditional cake enjoyed by the Chinese as well. Its ingredients consist of rice flour, sugar, and sometimes, in Singapore's version, sesame seeds (both black and white) may be added. In traditional Chinese engagements, it's one of the many varieties of sweets presented by the bridegroom to the bride's family. However this tradition has vanished in Singapore, though still alive in China and Vietnam. It is now sold at more traditional cake shops in Singapore such as the one found in Upper Bukit Timah, and is either eaten like a cake or offered on the altar for the gods before being enjoyed by the mortals.
In Vietnam those that are used for prayers are very tough and should not be put in the mouth. Those that Chị M. bought for me are insipid, unfortunately.

The version that I'd recommend are those made in Japan, called higashi meaning literally 'dried confectionary'. They melt in the mouth, are very elegantly fragrant, but even more pleasing to look at. Colourful and moulded in traditional Japanese designs, the paper boxes in which they are contained are deservingly collector's items. I remember using one of the boxes for a decade to keep my knick-knacks as a young teenager.
C san was the first to introduce this dried cake to me when I taught her English. The higashi she gave me came in white dices, but were contained in a box more attractive than those in the picture above.
If one thinks that this was a Chinese 'gastronomic import' in Japan, then one shouldn't forget that a great deal of effort had been put into perfecting the entire experience of enjoying it by the importers.