In our Dessert Detectives Series, El Estoque takes on a new case to decipher the quality and cost of its most popular items. Continuing the alphabetical trend, we visited Tong Sui in Sunnyvale, a Bay Area dessert chain specializing in coconut pudding.
Tong Sui’s features include a display case showcasing various coconut puddings, ordering kiosks, and a small number of customer tables.Mango Sticky Rice Coconut Pudding ($10.95)
Considering the pudding’s price and reputation, we had high hopes. It consists of a layer of sweet purple sticky rice and a layer of coconut pudding, topped with mango puree. The portion is perfect for a small treat, and it’s easy to see why the coconut pudding is a signature item. While the texture of the pudding is smooth, akin to a silken tofu, the coconut flavor is extremely subtle. There is usually condensed milk in mango sticky rice, which Tong Sui excludes to mixed effect. The pudding is less sweet than its namesake dish, which helps prevent it from being too sugary, but when every ingredient is understated, the end result is a little underwhelming. The mango is more fibrous than most smooth purees, and less sweet than expected. It’s difficult to get a balanced spoonful of all three ingredients, but it is a light dessert that may be worth trying for people seeking to experience a unique dessert.
Rating: 7/10
Brown Sugar Chestnut Tea Latte ($8.95)
We didn’t expect much out of this overwhelming mash of keywords, but this drink was a welcome surprise. Unlike other contemporary tea places, Tong Sui understands what a 50% sugar level is, and the blend of tea, milk and chestnut flavors is well-served by this balance. The chestnut bits at the bottom interrupted the smoothness for us, although they do deepen the chestnut flavor and could be appealing to some. As a whole, the drink is well-crafted and cozy.
Rating: 8.5/10
Milky Persimmon ($9.95)
Between the persimmon fruit and the chewy crystal boba, the texture of this drink is unparalleled. Just like in the latte, the sweetness level is perfect at 50%, and the fruit, milk and toppings are seamlessly paired. The persimmon flavor dominates, making the drink a genuine commitment for people who aren’t completely invested. The drink itself resembles a smoothie more than a conventional fruit tea, and we tired a little of the thickness towards the end, but it is a satisfying drink for any persimmon fan.
Rating: 8/10
OVERALL: 7/10
$$$/$$$
Tong Sui’s offerings are cute and thoughtful, and the storefront reflects this—there’s a rack of fresh persimmons labeled “Not for sell, Display only !!!” and a themed snack cart covered in postcards. While the price and distance are certainly prohibitive, the unique desserts are enough to make one seriously consider going back. As one customer wrote on a postcard,“I didn’t know Tong Sui is so addictive… wallet goes purrrr.”
