It is the end of sumptuous main course. You are satiated, but without a sweet course to follow the main one, the meal would just be incomplete and of course, and you don’t want that! Sure, you could go for the conventional ice cream, but how often have you been muddled by the various new terms spewed across the dessert section of the menu card? This article is about the common dessert beverages that you often come across. Here’s desserts 101, to make it as easy as pie for you to settle on the drinks for the afters!
Smoothies – Called so, due to their consistency and texture, smoothies are made by blending real fruits/vegetables/yogurt with ice and can be referred to as the healthier cousins of milkshakes! They are mostly made of citric fruits like oranges and berries and are an easy solution to tuck in more fruits. While milkshakes are of more somber colours thanks to the cream and milk, the bright, vibrant colours of real fruit are a stark giveaway to a smoothie. A smoothie in itself can be a full course meal, if you’re on a pretty rigid diet. Add oats/grains to the fruit pulp and you have a super healthy, light-on-the-tummy and delicious meal ready!
Milkshakes – As the name suggests, they are dairy based and hence contain milk, cream and may or may not be capped with ice cream. So, all the lactose-intolerant folks, beware! They are usually loaded with sugar and can be topped with whipped cream, syrups, caramel, fruits, candies, cookie crumbles and more. The elevated level of sugar and fat content make milkshakes incline towards the not-so-healthy realm of desserts!
Frappés – Not to be confused with Starbuck’s Frappuccino, Frappé comes from the French word – ‘Frapper’ which means to knock or beat. Frappé can just refer to any drink that has been chilled with ice. However, pop culture has gotten frappé associated with coffee and now anyone talking about frappé is probably referring to iced coffee. A classic trait of the frappé is the substantial foam on the top, which is produced by thoroughly beating and blending the drink and hence the name! Also, it is this foam that distinguishes frappé from smoothies and milkshakes.
The Frappuccino, on the other hand can only be sold by Starbucks as it is a trademark of Starbucks. Frappuccino is a portmanteau of the words frappé and cappuccino, which is a coffee drink prepared with espresso. Though named after a type of coffee, there are quite a bit of Frappuccinos don’t contain coffee. This star of Starbucks is more like a frappé, mixed with various flavours and depending on the type, contain different types of cream, syrups and sauces.
Slushies – This is yet another frozen dessert. Also spelt slushy, it is another name given to flavoured, sugary, iced liquid, that is made by freezing carbonated beverages. Common flavours include strawberry, grape, lemon and cotton candy. The frozen ice makes it a popular summer dessert!
Parfait – In French, parfait means perfect and a parfait, when prepared with precision, sure does stand tall to its meaning. A frozen dessert, parfait is made from a base of sugar syrup, egg and cream, served in a tall glass. The most striking feature of parfait is its different layers, composed of its different ingredients. These ingredients could include some or all of the following: whipped cream, yogurt, fresh fruits (commonly strawberries, peaches and blueberries), ice cream, chocolates, granola, nuts, meringues, crumbled cookies and sometimes alcohol. You can’t drink a parfait, however, we included it in here as it is served in a tall glass! When made to perfection, parfaits are not only a treat to the taste buds, but also a treat to one’s eyes!
Falooda – An Indian dessert that has gained popularity all over the world, owing to its sweet, refreshing and crunchy effect that just leaves you craving for more. It is made by mixing vermicelli, basil seeds and rose essence with milk, often topped with ice cream. Almonds, cashews, pistachios and fruits maybe be included, depending on the recipe.
And that brings us to the end of the class! Now ordering beverages in dessert would be like taking like taking candy from a baby! :D Is there any other beverage that we might have missed out? Let us know in the comments blow!