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Showing posts from November, 2019

Cheng teng - cooling, refreshing dessert drink

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Cheng teng is a uniquely sweet local dessert or comfort drink that has been around for generations. This icy cold dessert drinks are popular especially given our local weather that are hot and humid. You can also have your cheng teng (also spelled as cheng tng ) warm or hot. Bedok Corner cheng-teng Cheng teng can be served either hot or cold. It is a potpourri of ingredients that include longan , ginko nuts , lily bulbs , white fungus , red dates , lianzi , barley, etc. Cold cheng teng is added with shaved ice. It is a sweet ‘cooling’ tasting dessert, like most desserts here. Cheng teng is believed to be able to get rid of heatiness in the hot and humid Singapore weather due to the tonic effect of some of the ingredients, which are herbal in nature. Some ingredients are used as part of traditional Chinese medicine, which have been used for centuries. But with so many ingredients in a bowl, cheng teng tastes very refreshing and sweet instead of herbal-ish. The hot or warm version is ev...

Singapore's Public libraries - More than just books

Free air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, books, and a quiet place to escape the tropical heat — one of the city's best-kept secrets. Public libraries in Singapore are everywhere — tucked into housing estates, hidden on the top floors of shopping malls, and even perched inside arts venues. You can shop, eat, then wander upstairs to read, study, or simply cool down. And yes, you can even nap. All for free. Whether you're a student hunting for a study spot, a remote worker needing reliable Wi-Fi, or a traveller looking to escape the midday sun, this guide covers everything you need to know about Singapore's public library system in 2026.  What You Can Do (All Free) Read books, magazines, and daily newspapers Watch audio-visual materials at dedicated computer stations Browse the internet on your own device via Wireless@SG Wi-Fi Borrow physical books, magazines, and DVDs Download eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines via the...

Kaya Toast Set: Singapore's Iconic Breakfast — and How to Order It Like a Local

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Singapore Food & Culture The kaya toast set is Singapore's quintessential breakfast: two slices of crisp toast slathered with coconut jam and cold butter, a pair of wobbly half-boiled eggs drizzled with dark soy sauce and white pepper, and a cup of thick, fragrant kopi or teh . It is comfort food at its simplest and best — eaten in kopitiams (local coffee shops) from dawn till dusk, and increasingly recognised around the world. So iconic are these dishes that "kaya toast" and "half-boiled eggs" have both made their way into the Oxford English Dictionary . 📋 Quick Facts What it is Toasted bread + kaya jam + butter + half-boiled eggs + kopi/teh Origin Hainanese kopitiams in colonial Singapore Price (2025–2026) $2.50 (school canteen) – $6.30 (Ya Kun) – $7.40+ (Toast Box, tourist areas) Best time to eat Breakfast, but served all day at most chains Where to find Kopitiams, hawker centres, food courts, a...