Cendol @ Cendol Jam Besar, Bandar Hilir, Malacca

 

If you ever go online and search for "cendol in Malacca", chances are that you might have stumbled upon this amazing gem. And its legendary status is pretty much justified. 

Still here after all these years. 

Named after the iconic clock tower that stands tall in the center of the city, Cendol Jam Besar, has been around for many generations. Despite its simple facade by the river, it has a deep legacy, In fact, they have been selling this frosty treat way before I was born. So when the word "generations" is used here, it is no exaggeration. So going here after many years felt like a reunion with an old friend. And this time, I brought some new friends with me. 

Its time for something frosty!

Being a cendol stall, it is a no-brainer that cendol would be the thing that we would order. There is their base set "cendol kacang" standing at RM3. You can also select from a series of variations like with corn, or ice-cream, or even durian if that is your jazz. If that does not pique your interest, then the ais kacang will be a good alternative. This frosty dessert stood for RM 4. Regardless of what your order, both will still be incredible and solace from the unforgiving tropical heat.

The legend

The cendol dessert itself was just what we needed to get re-energized.  Loaded with sweet and rich coconut, laced with sweetened adzuki beans, it was some serious heat buster. The cendol noodles were chewy and had floral afternotes to them too. Finally topped off with gula melaka, and you get a dessert that could satisfy any palate. For the uninitiated, "kacang" actually refers to the adzuki beans, even though a direct translation of the word means nuts. 

Glucose levels rising

If you want something with a more solid texture, then the ais kacang standing at RM4 would be your best bet. Loaded with various types of flavoured syrups and toppings, it gives a more varied experience than the cendol. In addition, it starts off as shaved ice, thus giving a more textural experience as well. If you like Japanese kakigori, you will love this. But in the end, you cannot go wrong with either one. 

If you are interested in mixing things up, there are actually variations to choose from.

It has been many years since I had this frosty treat and the flavours still stayed the same. Although the price did not. I even remembered a time when cendol was RM1.50 only. Well, you can fight time, but you may not be able to fight inflation I guess. Still, this is a place still worth the visit. So if you would like to have a sit down with a good dessert, it is literally next to the clock tower. You can't miss it. 

The one and only