Chateraise had been one of our guilty pleasures for a while now; their desserts and pastries are something which we would find ourselves savouring on-and-off whenever we are craving for something sweet, but not quite in the mood to shell out too much cash and won’t looking for somewhere to take a seat to enjoy a sit-down dessert affair. One thing that had caught our attention for quite a while at Chateraise was the Vietnam Coffee Cream Puff; the launch of the item was announced on social media for quite a while, though the item proved to be quite a hard find — not sure if this is due to the stock of the item running low, or if this is supposed to be a seasonal item that is available on a limited time-only basis. Nonetheless, we finally came across the Isetan Scotts outlet carrying it — and decided to go straight for it.

The Vietnam Coffee Cream Puff is actually mentioned in the description card in the display chiller to be an item that is made in their factory in Vietnam — probably something added to somewhat “legitimise” the mention of “Vietnam Coffee” in the item’s namesake. On the exterior, the Vietnam Coffee Cream Puff looks no different from their Double Fantasy series, though the omission of “Double Fantasy” in its naming is due to the single type of cream being featured in the cream puff rather than the “milky fresh cream” that is paired with a custard of the intended flavour of the cream puff. Considering how the pastry bears everything that it should have in common with the Double Fantasy line-up, the pastry is soft, spongy and airy — a texture that we aren’t too much of a fan of considering how we prefer crispier puffs like those served up at Beard Papa, though definitely reminiscent to that of their Double Fantasy offerings. The notes of the coffee-infused cream is punchy — definitely hits the spot for those whom are into coffee-flavoured desserts; was actually impressed by the detail placed in replicating the characteristics of Vietnamese Milk Coffee with its chocolate-y, rich and aromatic notes here especially considering its price of $1.60. Overall, an item which definitely hits the spot where “Vietnamese Coffee” is being mentioned, though probably only one to go for if one chances upon a freshly-made batch that has not been sitting in the display chiller for too long.