Lowell has a sweet array of specialty sweet treats to be found in the canalway cultural district. From lychee cupcakes to a sugary-filled s’mores bouquet, there are various cultural treats that make the district a melting pot of diversity and flavors. Here’s a list of locations to check out:
Photo courtesy of Little Delights Bakery.
Asian Treats
The city has such a rich blend of cultural diversity, so it’s a given that some of the sweets and treats destinations would follow suit. The roots of Little Delights Bakery are found in Many Lee Pho’s home kitchen in 2011. After friends and family fell in love with these decadent creations, the bakery snowballed into a business that could create custom designs for all customer needs. Their motto of “you dream it; we’ll create it” led to the creation of some unusually delicious flavors for cupcakes. During the spring season, you have the chance to try their lychee and durian cupcakes. The light, sweet taste of the Chinese lychee fruit cupcake will melt in your mouth. And, while the durian fruit has a reputation for its off-putting smell, you’ll have to let Little Delights change this opinion for you.
At Sweet Journey, you can find more traditional Asian treats with their creamy macchiato cheese, foam teas and bingsu milk snow ice. The macchiato cheese is topped on drinks to allow for an extra kick of sweet (or salty, depending on your preference) to give you superb taste and texture. Customers can also try the many flavors of bingsu milk snow ice, which is a Korean shaved ice milk dessert. In addition to the delicious drinks and pastries, both sites offer specialty bubble teas and boba options. Little Delights is open Monday to Saturday from 11am-5pm, and Sweet Journey operates Monday to Friday 10am-9pm and Saturdays and Sundays 12-9pm.
Photo courtesy of Sweet Journey.
A Spin on Classics
You’ve heard of the cappuccino, but get ready for the mochachino. At the Coffee Mill, you can get this traditional drink that packs an explosion of chocolaty goodness. The classic cappuccino drink is already a spin on the classic latte drink, as it typically involves steamed cream instead of milk with a shot of espresso. At Coffee Mill, the mochachino takes this drink to another level with the mixture of foamy cream with succulent mocha. While sipping on the mochachino, you can pair this smooth drink with a crunchy Viennese cookie. Coffee Mill is open Monday to Friday 7am to 6pm, or Saturdays 9am-2pm.
Autumn is a while away, but that does not mean you can’t enjoy a good marshmallow or s’more treat in any season. Sweet Lydia’s takes the standard marshmallow and transforms it into a special taste. In addition to flavors like raspberry or chunky toasted coconut marshmallows, there is also s’mores bouquets you can specially order for a special someone (or simply to indulge yourself). Escape into a world where you “let your sweet tooth know no bounds” at Sweet Lydia’s Monday to Friday 11am-6pm, Saturdays 11am-8pm, or Sundays 11am-5pm.
Photo courtesy of Sweet Lydia’s.
A Home-Style Feel
Everyone experiences a certain nostalgia when they bite into a dessert and are instantly taken back to a flavor from home. At locations like Rosie’s Café and Purple Carrot Bread Company, one sip of their coffees and one bite into their pastries will make you feel right at home. At Rosie’s Café, coffee cakes are such a hit for family gatherings that pre-orders are taken well in advance for holidays like Thanksgiving. You can get a classic coffee cake or spice up the flavor with banana coconut. The café stands out as they brew with their very own flavored beans, under the brand of Peak Coffee Roasters. Wake up with a cup of their joe Monday to Friday from 7am-2pm.
The Purple Carrot Bread Company is another shop with homemade delicacies. The company lives up to its name with their exceptional artisan toast selection on the breakfast menu. This toast adds the perfect crunch to a morning meal, and can be paired with whipped butter, house-made strawberry jam, or their natural peanut butter. You can also choose from their maple cinnamon cream cheese or customer-favorite fig or triple berry jam.
Photo courtesy of Purple Carrot Bread Company.
Good and Good For You
Those looking for a filling yet healthy option will have a happy stomach after dining at Brew’d Awakening Coffeehaus. In addition to their wide variety of self-roasted coffee choices, the acai bowl is a sweet and healthy treat for the health conscious customer. The bowl is a delicious blend of Acai, strawberries and bananas. It is also topped with more fresh strawberries, bananas, granola, and chia seeds. At Coffee and Cotton, the increasingly popular kombucha health tea can be enjoyed here. Coffee and Cotton’s hours are Sunday to Wednesday 7am-8pm and Thursday to Saturday 7am-10pm.
For more healthy goodness, there are many “therapeutic” eats at Life Alive. Every day from 10am-9pm, you can try their chaga chai caramel smoothie, which is made from medicinal chaga mushrooms, chai, banana, gelato, chia and lucuma caramel. This smoothie will stomp all toothsome cravings while making you feel great too.
Photo courtesy of Coffee and Cotton.