Toxic is everywhere, it might sound surprising to your ears. However, red beans are considered as one of the best antioxidants worldwide. Apples, blueberries, pecans and others may also be heard as a source of antioxidants, yet the red beans are most practical.

Other than the health benefits of herbal jelly and sesame seeds, study found out that small red beads have high value of antioxidants that other so called “super foods” (like wild blueberries). Besides more affordable, a half cup of red beans has much more antioxidant than a whole cup of blueberries. Singapore, being a multi-racial country has some of the best desserts that you would not want to miss out!

Other red beans

You have three choices for red beans.

• First, the small red bean which is also termed as red Mexican beans. These beans contain the highest amount of antioxidants.
• Second, the red kidney beans. This kind of beans are like other beans that are high in fiber, iron and protein and most familiar to the crowd. Although may not often consumed.
• Third, the adzuki beans are common in Asia and is used as main ingredient for red bean paste. The adzuki beans are rich in other minerals like iron, potassium, zinc and magnesium.

Today, these beans can be bought in typical supermarkets, but easily bought in oriental stores.

Other healthy welfare from red beans

Red beans are proven to reduce the level of cholesterol, since it has a soluble fiber. Eating red beans will surely give you a heavy and satisfying feeling due to its low calorie content. Which makes it an absolute favourite for red beans to be a part of Chinese desserts.

 Get to know better with adzuki beans

Adzuki Beans have numerous health benefits including the following: reduce blood pressure, help with weight loss, improve digestion, strengthen bones, give energy, decrease birth defects among infants, avoid and cope diabetes, support the  repair and growth of body cells and of course, cleanse the body by detoxification. The nutrients found in these beans are dietary fibers, carbohydrates, proteins and calories. Adzuki beans have the vitamins like Folate, Thiamin, Vit. B6 and Pantothenic acid. And lastly, the mineral components found in these beans are manganese, copper, phosphorous and potassium.

These beans are mostly located in East Asia and in widespread in China, Japan, Korea and the rest of some Asian countries. These types of beans have a lot of uses, even more than you can imagine. This can be applied in tasty dishes, sushi, waffles, bread, biscuits and even ice cream. Adzuki bean is also known as a refined ingredient for desserts like candy, cakes and especially the red bean paste.

The conclusion:

Discover it yourself,  the healthy attributes of red beans. They’re satisfying, economical and overloaded with antioxidants.

Bone strength: If you want to prevent osteoporosis and delay the onset of “old age”, adding minerals like zinc, copper, and magnesium to your diet can seriously boost your bone strength and prevent bone demineralization. Adzuki beans also contain these important minerals to keep you feeling young!

A final word of warning: Red bean paste is often an acquired taste, and many people are disgusted by the smell. However, other people find it to be very pleasant. If you are the former, try a different bean, but if you’re the latter, then enjoy! Adzuki beans are not known as an allergenic food.

Black may not appear as appetizing compared to other colors. The same aspect of the color of your food and or in dessert preparation. Yet, there are black treats that will simply change your point of view towards attaining total satisfaction in dessert consumption. Find it hard to believe? Try it for yourself at any dessert place in Singapore!

Herbal Jelly

Initially, herbal jelly which is termed as “tortoise jelly” is created from a powdered turtle shell (yet others may use other ingredients instead of turtle shells), mixed with other herbal substance in order to create a medicinal taste. You should make sure that there is honey alongside in having herbal jelly to adjust the bitterness level, depending on your comfort.
Probably not all people may like this bitter and medicinal taste of herbal jelly, however; the  health benefits of this dessert are something you should not reject. This Chinese dessert can be served both warm and cold; is believed to be a good treat against sore throat and general health concerns. For example, it helps in releasing the body toxins and aids in providing healthier skin.

This healthy and pocket friendly dessert is very easy to prepare with basic ingredients.  Herbal Jelley is also termed as Gui Ling Gao.

Note: You can omit the sugar, and served it as a little bitter  taste, yet you can add some honey to balance the bitterness.

Herbal Jelly Common Ingredients:

• 1 packet of Gui ling gao powder/ tortoise powder (50 grams)
• 250 ml of water to mix with the power mentioned above
• 5 liter of water   (instruction may say 1 liter)
• 250 grams cane/rock sugar or more as you desired  (instruction may say 150 grams)

Black Sesame Soup

Black Sesame dessert is another black, yet great Asian dessert. The primary ingredient is the black sesame seeds crushed. To prepare the sesame seeds is very simple, all you have to do is to boil them and the level of sweetness can be adjusted by adding sugar. This is commonly used as soup, and any other packed instant soups in the store could not simply beat this one.
If you want to have  a healthy black hair, you should regularly consume black sesame soup. According to studies, this soup can nourish your hair as it helps in improving a healthier scalp. Black Sesame seeds are known to have the high contain of protein as well as minerals (magnesium, phosphorous and iron). So, instead of using any black hair dye for your graying hair (especially early gray hair growth), black sesame soup can be your hair dye. It is therefore a perfect hair dye and an amazing snack all at once.
This sweet and nutritious soup can be mixed with shredded coconut and crushed nuts, and Chinese rock sugar instead of the usual granulated sugar.

Black Sesame Soup Usual Ingredients:

• 1 cup of rice (long or short grains)
• 1 cup of black sesame seeds
• 7 cups of water
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar/rock sugar, or adjusted depending on desired sweetness
• Boiling water as highly needed, depending on your soup’s desired thickness

Now, is black truly beautiful? Absolutely, Yes!

Almonds are considered one of the world’s healthiest snack. You can find almonds in almost all recipes. Not only delicious, but it is also very beneficial to your health. The following are the health benefits of almonds.

Raw almonds and almond oil help in boosting up brain power. Having a few bites of almonds everyday aids in developing one’s retention and concentration, especially in children. Not only that, it can also help children have an active and a sharp mind. This is so important to stand out in their studies! Parents no longer have to worry if their children eats desserts with lots of almonds in it. Almonds are suitable in any kind of desserts whether it is a western dessert or Chinese dessert.

For health-conscious people, they are aware of their cholesterol level and how to detect it. But some don’t even have the slightest idea. Cholesterol is a wax-like substance that can be found in the fats (lipids) in your blood. There are two types, the HDL and the LDL. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good cholesterol that benefits your heart, while low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is very detrimental to your cardiovascular system. In connection, almonds help to maintain proper levels of cholesterol by increasing the HDL level and decreasing the LDL level. This helps in the avoidance of majority of heart diseases.

Moreover, almonds are also known for the benefits it can give to the skin. If you incorporate almonds into your diet, it would surely give you a supple skin. In addition, if you apply almond oil directly to your skin, this would help in keeping it smooth and healthy. Having a dry and cracked skin is quite a turn off. Sweet almond oil can help in its treatment and prevention.

Almonds contain monounsaturated fats that are good for heart health. Along with antioxidants, it can help in preventing heart diseases. It is considered a rich source of Vitamin E. So by including even just an ounce of almonds in your daily diet, you can get the fundamental amount of antioxidants in your body and prevent the attack of several chronic diseases. Furthermore,  it assists in maintaining a normal blood pressure and indirectly helps in prevention of diseases due to high blood pressure. Folic acid is present in almonds as well. It is one of the most important nutrients to prevent birth defects in pregnancy.

People who need to lose weight may turn to organic almond milk. It contains very little amount of calories and hence, it can be taken by people on a diet. It is said to have a noticeable effect. These nuts are unquestionably rich in fiber and protein. It helps to keep you feeling fuller for a longer time. Medical experts say that incorporating almonds in your diet are less likely to cause weight gain than one without nuts. There are also numerous benefits of almond oil for hair. It is used to deal with dryness of hair and prevent it from being coarse and thereby stopping hair fall. Interestingly, soaking almonds in water can help in the prevention of cancer, diabetes, inflammation and stomach disorders.

Overall, almonds are such a great source of nutrition. It’s good for both your health and your appetite. So, what are you waiting for? Head down to any best desserts Singapore and savour its crunchiness!

Barley is a part of the grass family. It is one of the major cereal grains grown in temperate climates everywhere.  About 13,000 years ago, barley was specifically one of the first harvested grains, particularly in Eurasia. It has also been used as animal food, as a source of fermentable substance for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods. Barley is a health-giving grain that is attaining interest from health-conscious people. It offers necessary soluble fibers and B vitamins, especially when its edible grain is intact.

The following are some of the types of barley commonly sold in stores today:

Flakes (flaked barley)

Flaked barleys are grains that have been compressed just like the rolled oats they look like. Barley flakes may remind you of oatmeal because they’re created in the same way. First, by steaming kernels, rolling them, and drying them afterwards. This kind of barley is faster to cook because they’ve been lightly steamed and because of their bigger surface area. Most of the time, they are cooked and served as a hot cereal, but they can also be mixed into muesli and baked goods.

Pearl (pearled barley)

Most of the barley found in the usual supermarket is pearl barley. It has been lustered or pearled to remove some parts or the entire outer bran layer along with the hull. To generate these uniform, pearl-colored fragments, the barley grains are polished six times in the milling process to completely remove their double outer husk and their bran layer. Unfortunately, this process also removes nutrients. The thorough milling shortens the grain’s cooking time significantly. It has a dainty nut-like taste that readily absorbs the flavors of its companion ingredients in soups, salads, and side dishes. It’s much healthier than other refined grains because some of its bran may still be present and the fiber in the barley is evenly distributed throughout the kernel, and not just in the outer bran layer.

Hulled Barley

Hulled barley is a covered barley that has been slightly processed to omit only the tough inedible outer hull. It’s quite elaborate to clear away the hull carefully to avoid losing some of the bran. This form of barley is not as broadly available as the other types, but its greater nutrient content makes it worth seeking out. Hulled barley is also rich in dietary fiber. It is also higher in iron and trace minerals than pearl barley. The grains are brown in color and they take longer to cook than pearl barley. Hulled barley is without a doubt a healthier choice of dessert, making it a positive effect whilst indulging in it!

Barley Flour

Flour barley has a mild flavor made from barley grain. It contains a balanced amount of gluten, though it might not be enough to provide structure for most baked foods. It is commonly used in baked goods and serves as a thickener for soups, stews and gravies. The type of gluten in barley flour does not promote enough rising on its own, so it is usually incorporated with wheat flour. The barley flour is commonly used in Chinese desserts.

Barley Grits

Barley grits are barley grains that have been crisp and then cracked. They can be cooked as a substitute for rice or breakfast cereal. Nevertheless, other grains that are cracked to various degrees of fineness can also be sold as grits. When barley kernels are cut into several pieces, they become like  grits.

Try it yourself in any of the best dessert place in Singapore to enjoy the different type of barley in its savory desserts!