Malaysian/Indonesian/Singaporean
Beverages (and kinda desserts, too....)
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ABC (Air Batu Campur)
- Malaysian a.k.a. Ais Kakang, Ice Kacang - Malaysian a.k.a. Halo-Halo - Philippines, Es Teler - Indonesia a.k.a. Ruam Mit - Thailand, Three Bean Drink/Rainbow Ice - Vietnamese I'm not sure how to explain this drink/dessert. It's the "everything" topping of Asian drinks. OK: don't be horrified, and keep an open mind: shaved ice, cane syrup, red bean, corn, some form of jello (agar agar?) and a number of other ingredients. And a straw and spoon. And yeah, it's really, really yummy. ABC - wow. If you have a Malalysian or Vietnamese restaurant (an authentic one) near your area, you really need to try this. It's sweet, and really is a thirst quencher. 3.75 Stars! Would I try again? Yep. |
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Cendol (a.k.a
Chendor) - Malaysian Coconut cream, palm sugar, green pea flour and pandan leaves. I've heard much about this drink, both in the book "Secrets of Indonesian Street Food" and recently seen it at Jaya. I had really high hopes for it - a sugar drink with green noodles swimming throughout. It wasn't bad. It was sweet, with shaved ice, but the green noodles were nothing special - bland and not all that. Although it's possible I just didn't get anough sugar in my version. Give me an ABC over this any day. But worth a try if you've never had one. Would I try again? No. Give me an ABC. Where I found it: Jaya |
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Es Campur
- Indonesian An iced dessert drink, made with chopped pieces of fruit, syrup and coconut milk. A sweet, enjoyable drink - with probably the best part being the small, chewy bits of agar mixed in at the bottom. Colorful, too.... Would I try again? Yes, someday. Where I found it: Minangasli |
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Es
Pokat/Es Avocad/Alpukat - Indonesian A thick, creamy shake made from avocado, condensed milk, sugar and a drizzle of chocolate milk - poured over a ball of shaved ice (with a bubble tea sized straw inserted for drinking.) This particular drink was colorful, pretty... tasty. My only objection, that the chocolate didn't last longer - but then, I didn't stir it, and sipped it straight off the top. This is one neat drink - not quite as good as the first ABC I ever had, but a good topper to a satisfactory Indonesian meal. Would I try again? Oh yeah....solid 3.6 stars. Where I found it: Upi |
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Iced Coffee -
Malaysian Really good coffee, that's what this is. Its coffee sweetened, with just a touch of cinnamon spice. It's a rich sensation, and a very nice end to a good meal. If you're having Malaysian, you owe it to yourself to finish off the meal with one of these. Would I try again? Yes, at my next visit to Jaya. Where I found it: Jaya, of course. |
| Milo (Nestle) -
Australian/Malaysian Okay - it's a hot chocolate drink made by Nestle, with supposedly alot of vitamins and nutrients that make it healthy. And it sells like gangbusters in Asia - it's hugely popular in Malaysia. Tastes like tepid hot chocolate, with almost no sugar or taste. Oh well. Would I try again? Nope. Where I found it: Sanur |
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Plum Drink
(Sour) - Malaysian This is one drink that I wouldn't even try to ask my husband to try. Not that I didn't like it (in very small doses.) But it's extremely salty-sour, like a sour injection with every sip (with a slight plum aftertaste.) As I said, in very small doses, this was strangely satisfying, especially when paired with a Malaysian meal. But I wouldn't subject anyone else to it. Would I try again? Maybe once or twice in my life. Where I found it: Nyonya. |
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Sugar Cane
Juice - Malaysian Take a piece of sugar cane, grind it against a mill, filter out some of the pulp, add water and ice. Drink. This simple Malaysian drink was just the thing for the hot summer day in June that I tried it. It hits the spot. It has the taste of sugar, with a hint of a secondary taste, which I assume is standard for cane sugar. Very good. Have one. 3.75 stars! Would I try again? Yes, it's the perfect summer drink. Where I found it: Fresh ground sugar
cane juice,
which I found in only one place in Chinatown: Jaya,
on Baxter. |
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