Malaysia
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Sometimes, I really love my job. That was the thought going through my head as I walked into the grand, airy lobby of PLQ1, or PLQ Office Tower 1. Nestled in one corner of the high-ceilinged space is Jin Hor Desserts, the current object of my affection.
‘Serving over 60 unique hot and cold dessert items’, the company proclaims. When it comes to desserts, it’s definitely a case of the more, the merrier for me. The quicker, the better, too— so, Jin Hor Desserts even has its own Lazada shopfront but pfffft! I ain’t waitin’ for dessert delivery, bro.
The very friendly gentleman behind the counter, Francis was a delight to speak with. He went through the trouble of explaining all the different categories of desserts and helped us pick the ones that we would like best.
What I tried at Jin Hor Desserts
A few minutes after I had salivated at the counter (over the dessert, not Mr. Francis), this was the sight that greeted me at our table.
From kid in a candy store, I became bull in a china shop. Try and stop me, kiddos.
First up, naturally, was the DF3 D24 Durian Booster (S$8.20).
This is D24 durian puree topped with durian paste and then drizzled with a dusting of crushed peanuts.
Ordinarily, this would be the hands-down winner simply for being durian. Unfortunately, I think the cold interferes with a true appreciation of our majestic King of Fruits. Because of its obvious numbing effect, you don’t get to appreciate the full extent of durian’s gorgeous texture and flavour.
Worse, the low temperature stifles its aroma, too. Sure, you get whiffs of it when you get up close, but it’s nothing like the radius of olfactory ecstasy that you would expect to get from this much high-quality durian.
Second on my attack list was the WCO8 Coconut Jelly+Coconut Ice Cream+Mango Cubes+Peanuts (S$11.80). Visually, though, it was the clear numero uno. Presented in a real coconut shell, it comes brimming with the coconut ice-cream and mango cubes.
Not listed in the ingredients but definitely there was this clear jelly that had a very nice texture and bite, making every mouthful really interesting. Also not listed is the small mug of chilled coconut juice that this dessert comes with, and the gula melaka syrup. They really should re-write this entry in the menu.
My one complaint would be that the coconut is already stripped of its soft, white flesh inside the shell. I have always enjoyed doing the scraping myself, imagining I’m shipwrecked on some desert island, scrounging for sustenance. And then Jason Momoa rescues me.
The WMS2 Mango Sago Poping Ball (S$6.30) pulled me out of my sweet reverie in the nicest way possible— with a sweet mango dessert. The tropical fruit is front and centre in this bowl, visually and taste-wise. However, bad spelling aside, the Poping Balls make it especially fun.
Their name is self-descriptive, sure, but if you have never had one, you have no idea how much you’re missing out on!
For a change, I also picked a hot dessert, the WCT3 Cheng Teng w/Taro Balls (S$6.60) (it is also available cold). It was stuffed full of ingredients, including atap seeds, which I really like. However, it’s official: I’m not a fan of hot desserts.
WAJ2 Almond Jelly Longan + Chin Chow (S$5.80) came sitting on a bed of crushed ice. The igloo-shaped Almond Jelly looked very pretty but I think it’s an acquired taste (which I have yet to acquire). No way to fault the Longan, though— each piece was fresh and very sweet.
Final thoughts
The location of Jin Hor Desserts away from the hustle and bustle of PLQ Mall makes it the perfect place to wind down after a few hours of shopping hard. The tall ceilings, casual setting and quiet murmur of the crowd is a calming backdrop for an episode of indulgence.
They have expanded their menu from traditional desserts and now also have freshly-made waffles on the menu. You can get your Gelato in flavours such as Cookies & Cream, After 8, Pistachio, Yuzu and Nutella at the ice-cream counter as well.
Expected damage: S$4.30 – S$15 per pax
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