On a hot, sweltering day, some shaved ice with drizzles of syrup and toppings is one of life's little pleasures. With the heat throughout Asia it’s no surprise that each country has its own variation of a shaved ice dessert. These treats are refreshing and perfect to indulge in, a bit of sweetness and some creaminess, all kinds of jellies, nuts and fruits like buried treasure and topped with delicious things like ice cream and sprinkles. And there you have it, the perfect dessert! Here are some of our favourites:

Ice Kacang



Of course this would be the first on our list! Who can resist the delicious shaved ice topped with red beans, sweet corn, grass jelly, agar-agar, cendol, nata de coco, condensed milk, and syrup! This has evolved however, and now there are varieties with ice cream, durian and more. We especially love it when the stalls use the old school machine that requires it be churned by hand instead of the motorized ones; something about it being cranked out by hand just makes it taste better.

Two spots we like: ABC at Medan Selera No. 41, Medan Selera SS2, (Glutton Square), Jalan SS2/63 Petaling Jaya. Recently we got to know Swee Kang on Jalan Haji Taha in Kuching that makes superb shaved ice desserts including their fabulous ais kacang special. They also make a yummy milo ice treat that tastes like a malty snowstorm.

Cendol



With the right balance of ice, coconut milk, and gula Melaka this is a winning treat. The creaminess of the coconut milk is the perfect balance for the rich sweetness of the syrupy gula Melaka, when added to ice this is sublime. It is especially fun to suck up the cendol jelly, like little green squiggly worms. Sluuurp!

Try these joints: Cendol at SS15 Subang Jaya located in front of Restoran Abang Hassan and KFC. If you find yourself in Melaka, hop over to Donald and Lily on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock where the gula Melaka is top notch. Cool down from the heat and join us as we go on an ice capade in the Klang Valley as we list out the top 5 places where you can enjoy a worthy bowl of cendol.

"Nothing beats the heat like an icy treat! "

Halo-Halo



This Filipino icy treat is a popular teatime snack. The word halo is Tagalog for mix which describes this mixture perfectly. The ice is topped with a variety of beans, fruits, nata de coco, caramelised plantains, tapioca, pureed taro, sweet potato, leche flan, and ice cream. It is then sprinkled with sugar and then evaporated milk is poured onto it. These days the popular way to enjoy it is with a scoop of taro ice cream. Yummy!

Take a flight: Chowking is a popular chain that claims to have the best Halo-halo in town. They are located throughout the city so visit http://www.chowking.com to find convenient to you.

Korean Snow Ice



The texture of this Korean dessert will blow your mind! It is unlike the traditional shaved ice dishes where the ice has a fine crushed grainy texture. This one looks and feels like candy floss. It is soft and smooth yet doesn’t melt immediately allowing you to enjoy it before it becomes a bowl of slush. It is topped with a flavoured syrup of your choice and then you can add your own toppings ranging from cookies to chocolate and more. The fun is all in the way this feels melting on your tongue.

Check it out: 32F at Desa ParkCity. Lot GF26A, Waterfront@Parkcity, No.5, Persiaran Residen Desa ParkCity.

Es Teler



This popular Indonesian dessert came about when Murniati Widjaja won a competition in 1982 to come up with a national drink for the country. Her special concoction is a mixture of fruit, avocado, young coconut, and jackfruit with cincau, coconut milk, condensed milk, pandan leaf, and just a tiny pinch of salt to balance it out and bring the flavours together.

This is our pick: Dapoer Bandung in SS5 Kelana Jaya near TM Point and Maybank. Check out our review for Dapoer Bandung.

Latest Comments