GLOSSARY: CENDOL

Cendol [pronounced 'chen-doll'] or ais cendol ('ais' being the malay spelling of ‘ice’) is a traditional dessert originating from Java, Indonesia, but also very popular in Malaysia, Singapore, and Southern Thailand .The dessert's basic ingredients consist of shaved ice, coconut milk, starch noodles with green food coloring (usually sourced from the pandan leaf), and palm sugar. Sometimes, red beans, grass jelly, palm seed and creamed corn are added. It is often sold by vendors at roadsides, hawker centres and food courts.


In Malaysia, cendol is usually sold on the roadside by Indian Muslim vendors but in Penang, the best cendol is made by Chinese vendors. It is common dessert fare in Singapore, popularly found in dessert stalls, food centres, coffee shops and food courts, and served by vendors of various ethnic backgrounds. The first Indian-Muslim vendors learnt the skills of making cendol from the Javanese in Indonesia and brought the recipe and preparation methods with them to Malaysia, Singapore and Southern Thailand.