Dedicated to those With a Sweet Tooth

Welcome back to my food adventures! Today I will introduce and recommend local desserts, snacks and drinks. If you have not read part one, click here. If you have, part two's format will be a little different. Because the following recommendations are common and can be found in almost every food stall, I will not be recommending a particular stall. 


As I said, people are constantly eating in Singapore, with a large variety of snacks and dessert, there is more eating right after eating. Tea time and desserts are mandatory!  So without further ado, let's get started!


Delicious Thirst-Quenching Drinks 

Bandung (source)

Bandung: This drink is always in demand at Indian and Malay restaurants or hawker stalls. Soothing and cooling, this milk-based drink is perfect for a hot and humid day (everyday in Singapore.) It also makes an ideal partner to spicy food. The drink is light, sweet and fragrant with a traditional essence of rose. And if you ever wondered what pink would taste like, you will definitely find your answer in a cup of bandung. 

 Milo Dinosaur (source)

Milo Dinosaur: Milo is a chocolate malt powder that is mixed with hot or cold milk. Milo dinosaur is a cup of Milo with an extra spoonful of undissolved powdered Milo added on top of it. You can either scoop it directly into your mouth, or let it clump together as it makes contact with the fluids before eating it. The second method is a lot more fun. Believe it or not, there is another level above Milo Dinosaur, called Milo Godzilla. (I have no idea why they are so ridiculously named.) Milo Godzilla simply has a topping of ice cream or whipped cream on top of the Milo Dinosaur combination. Both drinks are very filling, so I would recommend it as a snack or even dessert.  


Teh Tarik: If you prefer a warm drink, Teh Tarik is a local specialty. Teh Tarik literally translates as "pulled tea. It is made with powered tea, condensed milk and sugar. Though the ingredients seem plain and ordinary, the method of mixing the tea is not. The mixture is poured back and forth repeatedly between two cups from a height, giving it a thick frothy top. This process cools the tea to optimal drinking temperatures, and helps to mix it thoroughly. This method gives the tea a better flavor, and adds a whole lot of fun to tea time. This short YouTube video shows you how the tea is "pulled."

(source)   

Sweet Snacks and Treats 

Goreng Pisang (source)

Goreng Pisang (Banana Fritter): This is probably the most common of all sweet snacks found in Singapore. Goreng Pisang is simply battered bananas that are deep fried. It is often munched on their own, or sprinkled with sugar. I love the texture of this snack. It's crisp on the outside, yet soft and mushy on the inside. I absolutely savor the moment when the hot banana melts in my mouth. This is a heavy snack, so I would recommend eating this after a light lunch or dinner. 

Kueh Lapis (source)

Kueh Lapis (Nine layer Kueh): This Peranakan snack is similar to a western cake, but they are steamed instead of baked. It is mainly made of rice flour and coconut milk. The snack doesn't taste like anything in particular, just sweet with a subtle taste of coconut. The special feature about the cake is (if you haven't guessed already) that it is made of nine layers and each layer is in a different color. My favorite way of eating this is by pealing off each layer and slurping it like noodles. 

   


Delectable Desserts


Ice Kachang: The dish is pretty much the Singaporean take on a snow cone.  It is a bowl of shaved ice topped with condensed milk and different types of syrups (your choice of rose, coconut or pandan flavored.) The only difference is that below the shaved ice, you will find a sweet mixture of red beans, sweet corn, jelly and palm seeds (attap chee.) It is refreshing and perfect for cooling down on a hot day.

Ice Kachang with a generous serving of sweet corn and syrup (source)

Tau Suan (pronounced as dao-S-one): This is a basically a bowl of boiled mung beans. I know it is hard to grasp the concept of eating boiled beans for dessert, much less find it appetizing, but this is slightly different. My general rule for desserts is that it only qualifies as desserts only if it is sweet. So by my "definition" tau suan is definitely a dessert. The beans are boiled in a sugary stock till they are completely soft and thickened with potato flour. Fried dough fritters are often added to give the dish a crisp texture and a hint of saltiness. Trust me, this dish is sweet and tasty and you should definitely try it in Singapore. You can get the recipe of this dish by clicking the word "source" on the caption of the picture below. 

Tau Suan (source) 

Posting pictures and writing about all this food is making my mouth water. I hope that these dessert and snacks satisfy your sweet tooth and make you crave for more. Singapore's food scene has so much more to offer and if you would like more recommendations for food, I will definitely write another post upon request.

The next topic will be about places of interests and shopping (my favorite topic.) Should my focus be on museums and historical landmarks, or modern attractions? Leave your suggestions on the comment section below. For now, I am going to make myself a cup of Milo Dinosaur and end the night with a bowl of Tau Suan. See you guys next week!