Cheng tng, meaning clear soup, is a traditional Singaporean dessert. While the ingredients may vary, it typically consists of dried longan, white fungus, gingko nuts, sago pearls, lotus seeds, red dates, pearl barley and candied winter melon. The ingredients are simmered together with sugar and pandan leaves until they are cooked and soft. Once done, the soup is usually finished with dried persimmon and pang da hai (sterculia lychnophora), and it can be served warm or chilled! Once popular amongst the coolies who worked in Singapore, this traditional dessert is now a local post-meal favourite. Where are the best cheng tng in Singapore? Read on to find out!
1. Jin Jin Hot/Cold Desserts
Jin Jin Hot/Cold Desserts is a very nostalgic spot for the residents around ABC Food Centre and Market. The humble stall has changed owners to a younger duo, who still retain the integrity of the classic desserts, just reworked with flavourful twists of their own. The cheng tng is cooling and not too sweet, definitely a favourite that checks all the right boxes.
2. Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng
One of those pioneer cheng tng stalls, Yu Lai Xiang’s cheng tng has 11 different ingredients concocted with soups in two different troughs. The combination makes for a very tasty and special cheng tng that has been passed down for three generations. At $3 it is definitely one of the pricier cheng tng, and older fans have also commented on a drop in standard, but it still remains a comforting dessert that we know and love.
3. Mohamed Sultan Road Hot and Cold Cheng Tng
This traditional dessert stall is known for both their bot and cold cheng tng, ginkgo nut longan soup and sweet potato soup. The hot cheng tng has all the usual ingredients like longan soup and dried longan, however the cold one has canned lychee and longans which is different from the traditional types you may be used to. Still, it makes for a refreshing treat, and it definitely has its own legion of fans!
4. No Name Cheng Tng
No Name Cheng Tng uses grade A longan from Thailand and the rest of the ingredients are just as impressive. It is also one of the sweeter cheng tng so folks with a sweet tooth will love this! They are also very generous with their ingredients and the dish is truly the epitome of “cheap and good”.
5. Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert
Located at Adam Road Food Centre, Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert is the perfect endnote after your nasi lemak meal. One of the least traditional cheng tng around, the cold cheng tng here is served with shaved ice. There are both dried longans and canned longans too, and the soup’s sweetness is light without being too cloying.
6. Xi Le Ting
With a history of 60 over years, Xi Le Ting only serves four traditional dessert soups: green bean, red bean, sweet wheats and cheng tng. For those looking for something refreshing, you can’t go wrong with the cheng tng. It is light and sweet, while still flavorful with the taste of the dried longans. Served in a traditional porcelain bowl with white fungus, dried longan, barley and dried persimmon, the cheng tng here is a truly nostalgic taste.
7. Four Seasons Ching Teng
Four Seasons Ching Teng is one of the best spots for some well-deserved comfort food. Prepared using only the freshest and most delicious ingredients, Four Seasons Ching Teng only sells hot or cold cheng tng. It comes with quite a lot of ingredients such as lotus seeds, longans, barley, white fungus, sago and more. We love that the cheng tng here doesn’t just taste one-dimensional and has quite a layered, refreshing flavour.