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If desserts can have a “temple,” then QM Dessert Lab (Qingmu) is one of the rare places in Flushing that deserves this name. I would not recommend "grab and go" if you visit there. Between the calm, tea house atmosphere and the way the desserts are presented, it feels like a true little sanctuary for modern Chinese dessert culture.
I love desserts, and honestly, most “pretty” pastries are predictable before the first bite. QM surprised me. Their desserts do not win by being flashy. They win through layers. The fruit is fresh. The dairy is rich but never heavy. Everything is about balance, so each bite has a clear beginning, middle, and finish.
If you have been to Lysée, you will understand why I am saying this. Flushing has a place that will not disappoint you. It carries the same respect for refinement, but with a more Eastern sensibility. For instance, flavors you rarely find in Western desserts include jasmine, yuzu, and persimmon.
My strongest recommendation is their Mochi, especially the following two. (I forgot the third one I tried, but I will talk about these in my review)
Yuzu Cream Cheese and Matcha Nama Chocolate Mochi. The mochi skin has that perfect bounce. First comes the calm bitterness of matcha. Then the deep, silky richness of nama chocolate. Finally, a bright lift of yuzu cuts through the creaminess like a clean beam of light.
Jasmine Cream Cheese and Guava Mochi. The jasmine flavor arrives fragrant but not perfumey. The guava is gentle, and when it meets the slight saltiness of the cream cheese, the flavor becomes layered and surprisingly addictive. It is subtle at first, then it keeps unfolding as you chew.
In short, at QM, the “wow” is not just for your eyes. The flavors actually match the beauty.