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Tembleque Is Officially One of the World’s Best Desserts
Puerto Rico’s beloved tembleque just got major recognition on the global stage. According to TasteAtlas, one of the most well-known food guides in the world, this creamy coconut dessert has been ranked as the second-best dessert on the planet. That’s right, our grandmas have been making one of the top desserts in the world all along.
For decades, tembleque has been a beloved element of Puerto Rican culture, especially during the holiday season. Its white, jiggly, coconutty goodness is a must-have at Christmas tables on the island, and now people all over the world are starting to appreciate it.
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What Makes Tembleque So Special?
TasteAtlas described tembleque as a “creamy pudding” made by cooking coconut milk, cornstarch, and sugar, then topping it with cinnamon. The name itself comes from the Spanish word temblar, meaning “to tremble,” highlighting the dessert’s smooth and wobbly texture.
While the traditional recipe is straightforward, some variations include ingredients like vanilla, nutmeg, rum, or even a fruit syrup drizzled on top. Some folks also get creative by adding chocolate, orange blossom water, or even cream cheese for extra richness.
But tembleque also holds deep cultural significance. According to the Encyclopedia of Puerto Rico, dishes like tembleque are a powerful reminder of home for Puerto Ricans living abroad. It’s not just about the taste, it’s about family, tradition, and identity.
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Tembleque may have come close to taking the crown, but it was beaten out by Pastel de Belém, the famous Portuguese custard tart, which took first place. Still, a second-place ranking is a huge achievement for Puerto Rico’s culinary scene.
Other Latin Desserts That Made the List
Of course, tembleque wasn’t the only Latin dessert that made an impact. Several other classic sweets from across the region also ranked among the best:
– Dulce de leche (Argentina) – #11: This rich, caramelized milk spread is used in cakes, ice creams, alfajores, and even eaten straight out of the jar with a spoon. It’s like Argentina’s version of liquid gold.
– Biónico (Mexico) – #23: A fresh and fruity street food favorite from Guadalajara, this dessert includes chopped fruit like papaya, strawberries, melon, and bananas, all topped with a sweet cream mixture, granola, nuts, raisins, and shredded coconut.
– Alfajores (Argentina) – #32: These buttery cookies filled with dulce de leche and often coated in chocolate or powdered sugar are a beloved classic in Argentina and beyond.
– Pudín de leche condensada (Brazil) – #36: This sweet, creamy flan-like pudding is a Brazilian favorite that originally required hours of slow cooking, until condensed milk arrived and changed the game.
– Mousse de maracuyá (Brazil) – #41: This passion fruit mousse has been a tropical favorite since the 1960s, treasured for its sweet, tangy flavor and ultra-light texture.
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Further on the list, there were other desserts like Pavé from Brazil, Carlota de limón from México, Ágil from Puerto Rico, Cubierto from Colombia, Crema de Leche from Brazil, Brigadeiro also from Brazil and at a surprising 100th spot, Torta de tres leches from Nicaragua.
Puerto Rico’s tembleque being ranked as the second-best dessert in the world is a huge accolade, and it’s also a victory for Latin American cuisine as a whole. From Mexico to Argentina, Latin America boasts some of the most delicious and varied sweets around. And with desserts like dulce de leche, alfajores, and biónico getting recognized, the world is finally catching on to what we’ve known all along: Latin desserts are unbeatable.
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