Cheng tng

01 / ABOUT THE DISH

About the dish

Cheng tng, meaning clear soup , is a traditional sweet treat that is commonly enjoyed as a dessert. Although the ingredients may vary, the dish is typically made by combining dried longan, white fungus, gingko nuts, red dates, pearl barley, large sago pearls, lotus seeds, and candied winter melon. The ingredients are simmered in water with sugar and pandan leaves until they become soft. Once cooked, the soup is usually enhanced with dried persimmon and pang da hai ( Sterculia lychnophora ), and it can be consumed either warm or chilled. In the past, people who worked at the quay used to quench their thirst by having a bowl of this sweet and refreshing dessert. Cheng tng is available at numerous local dessert stalls in the country.