Connect with us

Food

Get to Know the 10 Delicious Cendols of South East Asia!

Published

collage 48
Source: Asian Inspirations & The Viet Vegan & Foxy Folksy

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.

Here’s some quick local and Southeast Asian culinary facts for all you foodies out there! Did you know that our beloved Cendol actually shares many similarities to other variations of the dessert across Southeast Asia (SEA)? It’s pretty unique how this 1 dessert has managed to blur borders!

Ask any Malaysian to list down some of our local desserts and surely Cendol will be mentioned.

This popular shaved ice treat (or drink) is also just as famously loved by surrounding countries, probably due to the fact that it’s main ingredients like rice, palm sugar, coconut milk and pandan leaves are commonly used.

C35BNQEBTA2ZSAMUSSUJIHRJUU 1024x768 1

Scroll further to discover the uncanny similarities and different twists found among the many SEA variations of the Cendol!

 

1.Indonesia: Es Cendol

First up we have the Es Cendol from Indonesia. Many have debated the origins of this dessert and it seems that Indonesia gets to claim it, folks!

photo

Research found that the first ever mentions of this dessert dates back to the 12th century of the Kediri Kingdom of Java. The Javanese name for the Cendol is actually Dawet and it’s served as a traditional drink during weddings.

Indonesian cendol usually comes in a thick drink form that only comprises of pandan jelly (made from rice flour), coconut milk and palm sugar. Another famous variation of Es Cendol is the one that has jackfruits on top for a more aromatic flavour.

 

2. Malaysia: Cendol

R00389 Cendol 1920x1280 1

Malaysia’s cendol has the most topping options with red bean, sweet corn, durian, sticky rice, pandan jelly, jackfruit roasted nuts, tapioca pearls and of course durian as well!

Now the Malaysian cendol and the Singaporean one are basically the same, plus the Brunei version also shares the same name!

 

3. Singapore: Chendol

Cendol Header 1090x818 1

The biggest distinction between Singapore’s cendol and Malaysia’s is just that of the spelling… Singaporeans sometimes spell it as chendol. Singapore’s chendol also uses the signature gula melaka palm sugar just like we Malaysians love it!

 

4. Brunei: Cendol

16508484 1867200646870524 1388493337832387580 n

There’s really not much difference between Singapore and Malaysia’s cendol compared to Brunei’s version. Though out of all the countries only Brunei has a cendol version that incorporates yams.

 

5. Cambodia: Noum Lot

Cambodia’s Noum Lot is more of a rice pudding texture that also uses rice flour, water, pandan leaf extract, palm sugar and coconut milk. It has a thick consistency that’s achieved by cooking rice flour with water, pandan leaf extract, and white lime.

63e8b805ae719

The resulting pudding-like mixture is strained, placed to a serving bowl, and then frequently drizzled with a sweet liquid made of hot coconut milk, palm sugar, and salty water! The use of lime definitely makes this one the more unique variation.

 

6. Laos: Nam Vahn Khao Lod Chong

maxresdefault 1

The Laos version shares heavy similarities with Cambodia’s version but in more equal amounts of ingredients making it more light and refreshing. The focus of this version of the dish is the thick jelly with coconut milk, palm sugar and a little bit of salt and lime for taste.

 

7. Myanmar: Mont Lat Saung

20160714 124723

This Burmese dessert has a brown colour to it due to it’s heavy use of palm sugar. The colour of the jelly and sauces vary depending on the regions in Myanmar, those from Southern Myanmar prefer to eat white jelly and a jaggery caramel sauce, whereas those from the region around Yangon and Mandalay prefer to consume green jelly with ice cold coconut milk.

The “jelly” in this dessert is actually just tiny pieces of sticky rice that have been pounded and squeezed.

 

8. Philippines: Buko Pandan Salad

buko pandan 1

Gulaman cubes (a form of agar-agar), tropical palm fruits, and shredded young coconut are combined with sweetened cream to make Buko Pandan Salad (although it’s not actually a salad).

This traditional Filipino dessert is loved by many for it’s rich, creamy and chewy pandan flavours. It’s a dessert best served cold and is packed with fun textures with it’s many additions of jelly cubes, tapioca pearls, nata de coco. Guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth!

 

9. Thailand: Lod Chong

lod chong traditional thai desserts in thailand that made with pandan syrup in coconut milk and thai melon the taste is fragrant sweet cold free photo

Next up we have Thailand’s version of Cendol which is called the Lod Chong in reference to the how the green pandan jelly is made. Lod means “through” and Chong means “hole” in Thai. The “lodchong press” is used to create the jelly by forcing a pandan custard through a hole.

This Thai dessert is made from pandan water, limestone water, rice flour, and mungbean flour and is commonly topped off with melons.

 

10. Vietnam: Che Ba Mau

Che Ba Mau Vietnamese Three Bean Dessert 720x720 1

The Vietnamese dessert known as “chè ba màu” translates to 3 colour dessert. It’s a cool treat topped with ice slush, contrasted with layers of red beans, mung beans, pandan jelly, and coconut sauce. That sounds sooo good!

 

Given the heatwave we hope everyone in SEA at some point can enjoy a nice sip of this ever popular traditional Cendol to cool down. This common dessert deserves the appreciation, people! 

Do you know of any other shared dishes that can be found across SEA? Comment below!

 

Also Read: CNN Lists Cendol in World’s Top 50 Best Desserts But Says It’s From Singapore

Cnn Lists Cendol In World'S Best Desserts But Says It'S From Singapore - World Of Buzz 3

Source: Saveur
Source: Cookpad
Source: Foxy Folksy
Source: Vecteezy

Follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest stories and updates daily.



Just In

izzahft izzahft
News4 hours ago

Nurul Izzah Elected as PKR Deputy President, Defeating Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli

Nurul Izzah Anwar has shown that the support is clearly behind her, after being announced the winner in the race...

My Post 1 2025 05 23T171229.682 My Post 1 2025 05 23T171229.682
News11 hours ago

58yo M’sian Fined RM3,000 for Making Lewd Comments Online About Dr Amalina’s Baby Girl

An oil palm worker was fined RM3,000 by the Sessions Court in Sepang, Selangor, on charges of posting obscene comments...

chloe FT 39 chloe FT 39
News12 hours ago

Chinese Woman Has Nearly 100 Gallstones Removed After Years of Skipping Breakfast & Snacking at Night

Doctors at a hospital in China were shocked when a 40-year-old woman came in and had to get almost 100...

chloe FT 38 1 chloe FT 38 1
News13 hours ago

Program Manager & Engineer in Penang Arrested for Allegedly Locking 12yo Daughter in Dog Cage

A married couple have been arrested after they were suspected of abusing their 12-year-old daughter at a condominium in Sungai...

collage 77 collage 77
News14 hours ago

“Everyone is invited except the police” – Invitation to Basikal Lajak Event in PJ Goes Viral on TikTok

Everyone is cordially invited to this event, except the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM). A TikTok video recently circulated online, which...

collage 76 collage 76
News15 hours ago

Trump Bans Harvard from Enrolling Foreigners, Accuses Them of Violence & Working with Chinese Communists

US President Donald Trump has recently banned Harvard University in Massachusetts from enrolling international students. In an official statement by...

chloe FT 36 1 chloe FT 36 1
News16 hours ago

“Drivers must have an assistant” – Johor Govt Sets SOPs for School Transports Following Death of 5yo in Van

A 5-year-old boy was found dead on April 30 after getting trapped in a school van and suffocating in Taman...

My Post 1 2025 05 23T114524.810 My Post 1 2025 05 23T114524.810
News16 hours ago

Foreigner Tells Immigration Officers He’s a M’sian Citizen, Kena Kantoi When Asked to Sing ‘Negaraku’

A foreign man’s attempt to trick immigration officers was foiled when he was asked to sing the Malaysian national anthem,...

Announcement

Latest Videos



TRENDING TODAY