What is Guangzhou Sweet Soup (Tong Sui)

The real name of sweet soup in Guangzhou is tong sui (糖水), meaning "sugar water." This beloved tradition goes far beyond simple sweetness. For generations, locals have savored these simmered, chilled, or creamy concoctions as daily nourishment, cooling summer relief, and a cherished culinary ritual. Exploring these humble, bustling dessert shops is a delicious adventure into the heart of Cantonese culture. Get ready to discover the city's most iconic spots!

Reconmanded spots

Classic Ice Parlors & Milk Specialists

Preserving Guangzhou's dessert heritage with iconic chilled treats and dairy classics

Shun Kee Dessert (顺记冰室)

Location: 85 Baohua Road, Liwan District (Near Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street) | Avg: ¥15-25
Why it's special: Stepping into Shun Kee (est. ~1930s) feels like entering a living museum of Cantonese dessert culture. Famous for decades, it epitomizes the traditional "bing shi" (冰室) – an old-school ice parlor.
Must-Try:
- Fresh Coconut Ice Cream (鲜椰子雪糕, ~¥18): Their undisputed king! Made with fresh coconut water and pulp, churned daily. Intensely aromatic, naturally sweet, with a smooth texture and real coconut shreds.
- Mango Pomelo Sago (杨枝甘露, ~¥20): A vibrant classic. Sweet, ripe mango puree and chunks meet tangy pomelo sacs and chewy sago pearls in a slightly sweetened coconut milk base.

Renxin Lao Pu (仁信老铺甜品)

Location: Multiple locations, incl. 9 Dishipu Road (Near Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street) | Avg: ¥20-35
Why it's special: Hailing from Shunde, Renxin (founded early 20th C) brings authentic Shunde-style desserts to Guangzhou. They specialize in creations using rich, high-butterfat water buffalo milk, prized for its superior creaminess and flavor compared to regular cow's milk.
Must-Try:
- Shunde Double-Skin Milk (仁信双皮奶, ~¥18): The signature. Silky-smooth steamed milk pudding with that distinctive, delicate "double skin" layer on top. The buffalo milk makes it incredibly rich, creamy, and subtly sweet. Served warm or cold (warm recommended first!).
- Steamed Milk with Ginger Juice (姜撞奶, ~¥20): A fascinating warm dessert. Hot buffalo milk is poured over fresh ginger juice, causing it to set softly. The result is a smooth, pudding-like texture with a wonderful warming ginger kick that balances the milk's sweetness.

Nut Paste Masters

Zhimahu Shijia (芝麻糊世家)

Location: Multiple locations, incl. 383 Longjin Road, Liwan | Avg: ¥10-20
Why it's special: As the name suggests ("Sesame Paste Family"), this small chain specializes obsessively in black sesame paste. Their claim to fame is grinding the sesame seeds fresh, on-site, using large stone mills right in the shop window.
Must-Try:
- Hot Stone-Ground Black Sesame Paste (石磨芝麻糊, ~¥12): The star. Unbelievably smooth, velvety, and intensely aromatic due to the fresh grinding. Served piping hot, it's pure, unadulterated nutty bliss. Often considered the benchmark.
- Black Sesame Paste with Walnuts (合桃芝麻糊, ~¥18): The classic paste enriched with finely chopped walnuts, adding a delightful crunch and extra nutty dimension.

Chen Cha Guan (陈茶馆)

Location: 68 Dashiqiao Front Street, Panyu District | Avg: ¥15-25
Why it's special: This is a true hidden gem housed in a beautifully preserved, atmospheric 1930s building in Panyu. Chen Cha Guan feels like stepping back in time, offering a limited but meticulously crafted menu focusing on traditional nut pastes ground fresh daily.
Must-Try:
- Stone-Ground Black Sesame Paste (芝麻糊, ~¥15): Key Distinction: While Zhimahu Shijia is excellent, Chen Cha Guan's version is often hailed as the pinnacle. Ground fresh daily in small batches using traditional stone mills, the texture is supremely velvety, the flavor deep and complex, served at the perfect temperature.
- Almond Paste (杏仁糊, ~¥18): A rarer find. Made from real almonds, it has a distinctive, slightly bitter almond aroma balanced with sweetness, offering a smooth, delicate flavor.
Note: Limited quantities daily, often sells out by afternoon!)

Yongji Shawan Dessert (永记沙湾甜品)

Location: 73 Xihua Road, Liwan District | Avg: ¥12-20
Why it's special: Yongji is a stalwart of Shawan-style desserts (originating from Panyu district), known for robust flavors and traditional techniques. It's a bustling, local favorite, often packed late into the night.
Must-Try:
- Ginger Juice Milk Curd (姜撞奶, ~¥15): Their version is legendary. Fresh, potent ginger juice causes hot milk to coagulate into a delicate, wobbly custard right at your table. Intensely warming ginger flavor balanced by the milk's sweetness – a unique experience.
- Sesame Paste with Tangyuan (芝麻糊汤圆, ~¥18): Thick, velvety, and deeply aromatic black sesame paste, served warm. Topped with soft, chewy glutinous rice balls (tangyuan) filled with sweet sesame paste.

Theme Innovators

Yu Yelin Dessert Shop (玉椰林甜品店)

Location: 42 Dexian Road North, Yuexiu District | Avg: ¥15-30
Why it's special: Yu Yelin has carved its niche with coconut-focused desserts. For decades, it's been a go-to spot for refreshing, tropical flavors, particularly known for utilizing fresh coconut water and pulp.
Must-Try:
- Coconut Jelly with Mango & Sago (芒果椰子冻西米露, ~¥25): Their iconic dish. A base of fresh, wobbly coconut jelly topped with sweet mango chunks, chewy sago pearls, and often a drizzle of coconut milk or condensed milk.
- Fresh Coconut Ice Cream (鲜椰子雪糕, ~¥20): Key Distinction: While Shun Kee's is legendary, Yu Yelin's version emphasizes pure, fresh coconut flavor, often tasting lighter and less creamy, focusing on the natural sweetness of the flesh and water.

Kai Kee Dessert (开记甜品)

Location: Multiple locations, incl. 318 Kangwang Middle Road, Liwan | Avg: ¥15-25
Why it's special: Kai Kee is another long-standing family name in Guangzhou's dessert scene, known for consistent quality across generations. They offer a wide range of both hot and cold classics, focusing on well-executed traditional recipes.
Must-Try:
- Tangerine Peel & Vanilla Mung Bean Soup (香草陈皮绿豆沙, ~¥16): Simmered 4+ hours with 10-year-aged dried tangerine peel and 臭草 (xiāng cǎo), a fragrant vanilla-like herb. Silky-smooth beans infused with citrus depth + herbal sweetness. Served chilled for refreshing relief.
- Mango Sago & Pomelo (芒果西米露, ~¥22): Kai Kee's popular version features plentiful sweet mango chunks and sago pearls in a sweetened coconut milk broth. A reliable, refreshing choice, often less intensely creamy than Renxin's.

Dessert Trail Itineraries

Liwan Heritage Walk

Chen Clan Ancestral Hall → Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street → Lychee Bay 🍧 Dessert Route: ① Shun Kee (coconut ice cream) → ② Renxin (double-skin milk) → ③ Zhimahu (sesame paste) 📍 Walk Times: Shun Kee→Renxin (5min) → Zhimahu (10min)

Old City & Riverside Flavors

Temple of Six Banyan Trees → Beijing Road → Shamian Island 🍧 Dessert Route: ① Yu Yelin (coconut jelly) → ② Kai Kee (red bean soup) → ③ Renxin Shamian Branch (ginger milk curd) 📍 Travel Tip: Yu Yelin→Kai Kee (taxi 10min) → Shamian (walk 15min)

Panyu Cultural Journey

Baomo Garden → Shaxi Ancient Town 🍧 Dessert Route: ① Heung Kee → ② Chen Cha Guan → ③ Yongji 📍 Key Notes:

Chen Cha Guan: Arrive before 2pm
Transport: Taxi between sites (15-20mins)

Sweet Note

Taste Preferences

Cantonese tong sui generally leans towards moderate sweetness compared to Western desserts, aiming to highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients like beans, nuts, and fruits.

Texture Adventure

Be ready for diverse textures – smooth pastes, chewy pearls (sago/tapioca), glutinous rice balls (tangyuan/yu yuan), jellies, and chunks of fruit or root vegetables.

Temperature Matters

Many classics are served warm or hot (sesame/peanut paste, ginger milk curd, red bean soup), especially comforting in cooler weather or for their traditional warming properties. Others are chilled for refreshment (sago soups, coconut desserts, ice cream).

Dive into these bowls of tradition and taste why tong sui is more than just dessert for Guangzhou locals. Happy sweet exploring!

Guangzhou Traditional Sweet Soup Spots Recommendation (2025)

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