Singapore's TidbiTs

Durians are tropical fruits. Considered by many as King of fruits of South-East Asia. Whether durian is the most favourite fruit here, that is a bit subjective given its' famous pungent smell that some find simply overpowering. It has that distinctive special smell or odour, that you can smell a kilometre away :). Some loath it, many love it. Green and thorny outside. Yellow, soft and fleshy inside. Do you know that that there are durian trees in Singapore and durian is indeed native to Singapore? A street named Lorong Lew Lian bears testament to it. Lew Lian is a Hokkien word for durian. There used to be durian plantations in the vicinity of Lorong Lew Lian (Lew Lian Lane). The scientific name for durian is Durio zibethinus. Duri is a Malay word for thorns, hence the name durian which means thorny fruit. And yes you can find durian trees in Pulau Ubin and at Mandai and some odd ones at other parts of Singapore as well. During durian season you can spot the distinctive green-shel...

In hot and humid Singapore icy stuffs are popular. Green and red syrupy ais or ice kacang, with red beans has been in existence since long ago. It was first made popular by itinerant road-side stalls. Now you can find it at almost dessert stalls in hawker centres of food-courts. Kacang is a Malay word for nuts or beans. Under the mountain of shaved ice you can find more red beans, sweet corn, attap chee or palm seeds and jelly. Condensed milk is also poured on the sweet coloured syrups. Syrups drinks with milk. Yummy. Ice kacang In Malaysia ice kacang is more commonly known as ABC or air batu campur , which means mixed shaved ice. Ice kacang typically cost around $2. If you top it up with durian it will cost another 60 cents or so. A sweet, icy cool and wonderful dessert indeed. Chendol (or cendol) is made of coconut milk, sugar and greenish jelly-like rice flour filled with shaved ice similar to ice-kacang. The green jellies may look like wiggly worms to some. Other common ingred...