Cendol is an iced sweet dessert that contains droplets of green
rice flour jelly,
coconut milk
Coconut milk is an opaque, milky-white liquid extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of coconut milk are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food i ...
and
palm sugar
Palm sugar is a sweetener derived from any variety of palm tree. Palm sugar is sometimes qualified by the type of palm, as in coconut palm sugar. While sugars from different palms may have slightly different compositions, all are processed s ...
syrup. It is commonly found in Southeast Asia and is popular in
Indonesia,
Malaysia,
Brunei,
Cambodia,
East Timor,
Laos
Laos (, ''Lāo'' )), officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic ( Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ, French: République démocratique populaire lao), is a socialist ...
,
Vietnam,
Thailand,
Singapore, and
Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
. Next to the green jelly, additional toppings might be added, including diced
jackfruit, sweetened red
azuki beans
''Vigna angularis'', also known as the adzuki bean , azuki bean, aduki bean, red bean, or red mung bean, is an annual vine widely cultivated throughout East Asia for its small (approximately long) bean. The cultivars most familiar in East Asia ...
,
or
durian
The durian (, ) is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus ''Durio''. There are 30 recognised ''Durio'' species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. ''Durio zibethinus'', native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the onl ...
.
Etymology
Earliest written records of the word ''cendol'' or ''tjendol'' (Dutch spelling) can be traced to dictionaries and books of the 19th century in the
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...
(now Indonesia). One of the oldest known records of the word ''tjendol'' is listed in the 1866 ''Oost-Indisch kookboek'' or East Indies recipe book. This book includes a cendol recipe with the title "Tjendol of Dawet" which indicates that cendol and
dawet were already used synonymously at that time. In the dictionary ''Supplement op het Maleisch-Nederduitsch Woordenboek'' (1869) by Jan Pijnappel (Gz.), tjendol is described as a kind of drink or watery paste made from sago, coconut milk, sugar and salt.
In Malaya, the word "chendol" was first mentioned in 1932 as one of the foodstuffs available in
Kuala Lumpur as recorded in the Malay Concordance Project that collects Malay writings.
There is a popular belief that the name "cendol" is related to, or originated from, the word ''jendol'', in reference to the swollen green worm-like rice flour jelly;
in
Javanese,
Sundanese
Sundanese may refer to:
* Sundanese people
* Sundanese language
* Sundanese script
Standard Sundanese script (''Aksara Sunda Baku'', ) is a writing system which is used by the Sundanese people. It is built based on Old Sundanese script (' ...
,
Indonesian, and
Malay
Malay may refer to:
Languages
* Malay language or Bahasa Melayu, a major Austronesian language spoken in Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore
** History of the Malay language, the Malay language from the 4th to the 14th century
** Indonesi ...
, ''jendol'' means "bump," "bulge,"
or "swollen." In most parts of Indonesia, ''cendol'' refer to the green rice flour jelly; while the concoction of that green rice flour jellies with coconut milk, shaved ice, areca palm sugar and sometimes diced
jackfruit is called ''es cendol'' (in West Java) or ''dawet'' (in Central and East Java).
The Indonesian dictionary
''Kamus Besar'' describes ''cendol'' as a snack made from
rice flour and other ingredients that are formed by filters, then mixed with palm sugar and coconut milk (for beverage). The Malay dictionary ''
Kamus Dewan'' similarly defines it as a porridge-like drink with long strands made of rice flour in coconut milk and sugar syrup.
In Vietnam, this worm-like rice flour concoction is called ''
bánh lọt
Bánh lọt () is sweet rice pasta dessert in southern Vietnamese cuisine. It is made with rice, salt, tapioca flour, coconut milk, sugar and water. ''Bánh lọt'' is also used to make two types of chè: ''chè bánh lọt ''and ''chè đậu đ ...
'' or "secreted jellies". ''
Bánh lọt
Bánh lọt () is sweet rice pasta dessert in southern Vietnamese cuisine. It is made with rice, salt, tapioca flour, coconut milk, sugar and water. ''Bánh lọt'' is also used to make two types of chè: ''chè bánh lọt ''and ''chè đậu đ ...
'' is a common ingredient in a Vietnamese dessert drink called ''
chè''. In Thailand it is called ''lot chong'' ( th,
ลอดช่อง, ) which can be translated as "gone through a hole", indicating the way it is made by pressing the warm
dough through a sieve into a container of cold water. In Burma, it is known as ''mont let saung'' or . In Cambodia, it is known as ''lot'' (លត /lɔːt/), ''bang-aem lot'' (បង្អែមលត /bɑŋʔaɛm lɔːt/), ''nom lot'' (នំលត /nɷm lɔːt/), and ''banh lot'' (បាញ់លត /baɲ lɔːt/).
History
The origin of cendol is not clear, and this sweet drink is widely spread across Southeast Asia. However, one suggestion is that cendol originated in
Java, Indonesia as ''dawet''.
The
Javanese name of "dawet" was recorded in early 19th century Javanese manuscript of
Serat Centhini
''Serat Centhini'' is a twelve volume compilation of Javanese tales and teachings, written in verse and published in 1814. The work was commissioned, directed and partially written by Crown Prince Mangkunegoro, later enthroned as Pakubuwono V of ...
, composed between 1814 and 1823 in
Surakarta
Surakarta ( jv, ꦯꦸꦫꦏꦂꦠ), known colloquially as Solo ( jv, ꦱꦭ; ), is a city in Central Java, Indonesia. The 44 km2 (16.2 sq mi) city adjoins Karanganyar Regency and Boyolali Regency to the north, Karanganyar Regency and Sukoh ...
, Central Java. An Indonesian academic suggests that a ''dawet'' sweet drink may have been recorded in the Kresnayana manuscript, dated from
Kediri Kingdom circa 12th century Java.
In Java, ''dawet'' refer to the whole concoction of ''cendol'' green jellies, usually made from ''
aren'' sagoo or rice flour, coconut milk and liquid ''gula jawa'' (palm sugar syrup). An Indonesian historian argues that sagoo or rice flour might have been used as sweet beverage ingredient in the rice agriculture society of ancient Java. Indeed, cendol jellies and its variations are rural agricultural product, still traditionally produced in Javanese villages.
In Banjarnegara, Central Java, ''dawet'' is traditionally served without ice. Today, however additional ice cubes or shaved ice is commonly added into this dessert drink.
Cendol, however, has developed differently in different countries. In Indonesia, cendol only refers to the green "pandan jelly served in coconut milk", where sometimes
pandanus
''Pandanus'' is a genus of monocots with some 750 accepted species. They are palm-like, dioecious trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics and subtropics. The greatest number of species are found in Madagascar and Malaysia. Common names ...
leaves or pieces of
jackfruit may be added.
[ This is different to the cendol in Malaysia and Singapore where various ingredients such as sweetened red beans and sweet corn may be mixed in like an es campur.][
Cendol is typically served with ice, and this may have developed when ice became readily available. It may have originated in Malayan port cities such as ]Malacca
Malacca ( ms, Melaka) is a state in Malaysia located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Strait of Malacca. Its capital is Malacca City, dubbed the Historic City, which has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site si ...
and Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
where British refrigerated ships' technology would provide the required ice.
In Javanese tradition, dawet or cendol is a part of traditional Javanese wedding ceremony. The ''dodol dawet'' ( Javanese for "selling dawet") is performed during Midodareni ceremony, a day before the wedding. After the ''siraman'' bridal shower, the parents would sell dawet to the attending guests and relatives. The guest paid the dawet using terracotta coins that would be given to the bride as a symbol of family earnings. The symbolic meaning was as the parents' hope that the tomorrow wedding would be attended by a lot of guests, "as plenty as the cendol jellies that being sold." In Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...
Java, dawet street hawkers using ''pikulan'' (baskets carried with balancing rod) are commonly found in Javanese cities, as can be seen in the old photograph dated from circa 1935.
In Indonesia five traditions of cendol making has been recognised as the intangible cultural heritage
An intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is a practice, representation, expression, knowledge, or skill considered by UNESCO to be part of a place's cultural heritage. Buildings, historic places, monuments, and artifacts are cultural property. Int ...
by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture. Three dawet (Javanese version of cendol) traditions has been recognised in 2010 and 2018, all registered under Yogyakarta province. They are dawet, dawet camcau, and dawet sambel. Es cendol was recognized in 2016 registered under West Java province, while cendol was recognized in 2020 registered under Riau Islands province. Cendol has been declared a Malaysian heritage food by the Malaysian Department of National Heritage.
Ingredients
The ingredients of cendol relies heavily on ''aren'' (sugar palm) and coconut plants. The dessert's original or basic ingredients are coconut milk
Coconut milk is an opaque, milky-white liquid extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of coconut milk are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food i ...
, jelly noodles made from rice flour with green food colouring (usually derived from the pandan leaf), shaved ice, and palm sugar
Palm sugar is a sweetener derived from any variety of palm tree. Palm sugar is sometimes qualified by the type of palm, as in coconut palm sugar. While sugars from different palms may have slightly different compositions, all are processed s ...
. The cendol in Indonesia is usually served in a tall glass, assembled with liquid '' gula jawa'' or palm sugar syrup in the bottom, followed by green jellies, poured with coconut milk, and topped with shaved ice.[
The Singaporean and Malaysian versions usually have sweetened red beans added, and are served in a bowl instead of a glass. The palm sugar, often added as a dark syrup, is referred to as '' gula melaka''.]
In Sunda Sunda may refer to:
Europe
* Sunda, Faroe Islands
India
* Sunda (asura), an asura brother of Upasunda
* Sunda (clan), a clan (gotra) of Jats in Haryana and Rajasthan, India
Southeast Asia
* Sundanese (disambiguation)
** Sundanese people ...
, Indonesia, cendol is a dark-green pulpy dish of rice (or sago) flour worms with coconut milk and syrup of areca sugar. In Javanese, ''cendol'' refers to the green jelly-like part of the beverage, while the combination of ''cendol'', palm sugar and coconut milk is called ''dawet''. Today, the green ''cendol'' jelly noodles are mainly made from rice flour, since rice is more readily available. However, in Java, a traditional ''cendol'' worm-like jelly noodles was made from ''sagu aren'', or sago starch extracted from the trunk of sugar palm ('' Arenga pinnata'').
In Indonesia, additional ingredients might include tapai (fermented sweet cassava), black grass jelly, and sweetened condensed milk
Condensed milk is cow's milk from which water has been removed (roughly 60% of it). It is most often found with sugar added, in the form of ''sweetened condensed milk'' (SCM), to the extent that the terms "condensed milk" and "sweetened condens ...
. In Indonesia and Thailand, cendol usually served in tall glass, in Malaysia and Singapore however, they usually served in a bowl. To make cendol chewy and not hard, the mixture must contain sago flour and rice flour in the right composition.
In Myanmar, ''mont let saung'' has 2 primary forms, ''htannyet mont let saung'' (ထန်းလျက်မုန့်လက်ဆောင်း), which is served in a caramel-coloured jaggery
Jaggery is a traditional non-centrifugal cane sugar consumed in the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Africa. It is a concentrated product of cane juice and often date or palm sap without separation of the molasses and crystals, and can ...
syrup, and ''onno mont let saung'' (အုန်းနို့မုန့်လက်ဆောင်း), which is served with coconut milk
Coconut milk is an opaque, milky-white liquid extracted from the grated pulp of mature coconuts. The opacity and rich taste of coconut milk are due to its high oil content, most of which is saturated fat. Coconut milk is a traditional food i ...
. The snack is an iconic snack during Thingyan
Thingyan (, ; Arakanese: ; from Sanskrit '' saṁkrānti,'' which means "transit f the Sun from Pisces to Aries) is the Burmese New Year Festival that usually occurs in middle of April. Thingyan is the first ever water festival celebrated in ...
(Burmese New Year), where it is commonly served by ''satuditha
''Satuditha'' ( my, စတုဒိသာ; ) is a traditional Burmese feast and merit-making activity that features prominently in Burmese culture, reinforcing the importance of generosity and almsgiving as a Burmese cultural norm.
Etymology
''S ...
'' donors to revellers. Thai ''lot chong'' is closer to the Javanese original, only consisting of green worm-like jellies, coconut milk, liquid palm sugar, and shaved ice.
File:Cendol.jpg, Cendol in Indonesia refer to the green jellies
File:Jakarta street-side Es Cendol 4.jpg, A glass of Jakarta street-side ''es cendol''
File:Lot chong - Bangkok - 2017-05-12 (001).jpg, A glass of simpler Thai ''lot chong''
File:Chendol in Malaysia - December 2016.jpg, Cendol in Malaysia with red beans
File:Chendol in a bowl.JPG, A bowl of ''chendol'' sold in Singapore
Variants
In Indonesia, the most famous variant is Javanese ''es dawet ayu'' from Banjarnegara, Central Java. Another variant is a black cendol called ''es dawet ireng'' from Purworejo, Central Java. ''Ireng'' is Javanese word for "black". Instead of green pandan leaf, this black cendol acquired its colour from ''merang'' or the ash of burned rice stalk mixed with water.
Other than the basic ingredients of green jelly noodles, palm sugar syrup, and coconut milk, iced cendol might be served with additional toppings. Popular additional toppings in Indonesia include diced jackfruit, tapai (fermented sweet cassava), durian
The durian (, ) is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus ''Durio''. There are 30 recognised ''Durio'' species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. ''Durio zibethinus'', native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the onl ...
flesh, and chocolate condensed milk. In Malaysia, additional toppings such as red beans, glutinous rice
Glutinous rice (''Oryza sativa var. glutinosa''; also called sticky rice, sweet rice or waxy rice) is a type of rice grown mainly in Southeast and East Asia, and the northeastern regions of South Asia, which has opaque grains, very low amylose ...
, grass jelly, creamed corn, durian, glutinous rice tapai and even ice cream might also be included.[Penang Food , Cendol , The Best Penang Hawker Food and Restaurant Guide](_blank)
The influence of Singapore and the West has given rise to different variations of cendol, such as cendol with vanilla ice cream or topped with durian
The durian (, ) is the edible fruit of several tree species belonging to the genus ''Durio''. There are 30 recognised ''Durio'' species, at least nine of which produce edible fruit. ''Durio zibethinus'', native to Borneo and Sumatra, is the onl ...
. Another recent variant in Indonesia is cendol latte, which is a mix between cendol and coffee latte
Caffè latte (), often shortened to just latte () in English, is a coffee beverage of Italian origin made with espresso and steamed milk. Variants include the chocolate-flavored mocha or replacing the coffee with another beverage base such as ma ...
.
Selling
Cendol has become a quintessential part of cuisine in Southeast Asia and is often sold by vendors at roadsides, hawker centres, and food courts. ''Cendol'' vendors are almost ubiquitous in Indonesian cities, especially Jakarta
Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
, Bandung
Bandung ( su, ᮘᮔ᮪ᮓᮥᮀ, Bandung, ; ) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of West Java. It has a population of 2,452,943 within its city limits according to the official estimates as at mid 2021, making it the fourth most ...
, and Yogyakarta. Originally ''cendol'' or ''dawet'' in Java was served without ice, but after the introduction of refrigeration technology, the cold ''cendol'' with shaved ice (''es serut'') was available and widely popular.
In Indonesia and Malaysia, ''cendol'' is commonly sold on the roadside by vendors. It is even dessert fare in Singapore, found in dessert stalls, food centres, coffee shops, and food courts.
File:Cendol Vendor.JPG, Roadside ''cendol'' vendor in Jakarta
Jakarta (; , bew, Jakarte), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta ( id, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta) is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Lying on the northwest coast of Java, the world's most populous island, Jakarta ...
File:Sweet Cendol.jpg, ''Dawet'' seller in Solo, Central Java
File:ChendolPenang.jpg, A stall selling ''cendol'' in Penang
Penang ( ms, Pulau Pinang, is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia, by the Malacca Strait. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay ...
, Malaysia
File:Teochew Chendul (3468803260).jpg, Teochew chendul in Penang
File:AkakaCendol.jpg, Cendol Melaka with Durian selling in JohorBahru, Malaysia Shopping Mall
In popular culture
In colloquial Indonesian, the term "cendol" has become an online rating system originated from Indonesian internet forum KASKUS, which its user accounts rating system represented as green "cendol" for positive and red "bata" (brick
A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry construction. Properly, the term ''brick'' denotes a block composed of dried clay, but is now also used informally to denote other chemically cured cons ...
) for negative. If an online items tweaks interest, a user punch in one or more green commas resembling a cendol.
In December 2018, ''cendol'' became embroiled in a controversy after CNN listed the Singapore version as one of the world's top 50 desserts, triggering a furious response from Malaysians.
See also
* Ais kacang
* Es campur
* Es doger
* Es teler
* Halo-halo
* Kakigōri
* List of desserts
References
External links
Cendol mention in Malaysia writing 1932 – malay concordance project.
{{Burmese cuisine
Frozen desserts
Indonesian desserts
Malaysian cuisine
Non-alcoholic drinks
Singaporean cuisine
Bruneian cuisine
Foods containing coconut
Malay words and phrases
Burmese cuisine
Thai desserts and snacks
Indonesian words and phrases
Street food in Indonesia
Burmese desserts and snacks
Vietnamese desserts
Cambodian desserts
Laotian desserts
East Timorese cuisine
Rice flour dishes