I was looking for a quick fix for my chendol craving by hunting around in the Asian store. Half an hour later, I jubilantly held in my hands a green packet. I found it! Well at least I thought I found it. From the illustration on the packaging, it sure looked like chendol.  Maybe, my memory fails me? Or I was so desperate for chendol anything which vaguely resembled it made my eyes dilate and send the “BUY!” message to my brain.

By the time I cut open the package and took out the contents, what was supposed to be my Chendol fix turned out to be a Thai dessert - definitely not chendol. Sob Sob SOOOOBBB. As I stared aghast at the long green strands and a small white satchet which read coconut powder, another part of me was already trying to console me. We’ll just have to try it. One can never be too sure if it’ll be the next best thing, right? Wrong. It was supposed to be instant but it did take some time for the strands to boil. The coconut syrup was too sweet and there was a certain aftertaste that I wasn’t exactly too thrilled about. I suppose it was an acquired taste which none of us have acquired.That meant 4 bowls of unfinished food.

The verdict? Disappointing. But at least I know that if I want my instant chendol, I’ll have to look harder. Or get it shipped from SG. Hmm…too illogical. Guess that ends my chendol saga. Maybe next time, I’ll get myself all floured and prepare it from scratch. But just so you know what I mistook for chendol, here goes. As an afterthought, since I believe it’s an acquired taste, who knows you might like it. Like the adage goes, ‘One man’s meat, another man’s poison’…or something to that effect.

The packet which fooled me and it’s contents:

Method: Boil the Noodles as instructed and in a separate bowl mix the coconut powder with water:

Either I was really impatient to know what it was supposed to be or it did take quite a while to boil it to the right consistency.

Final Product: Scoop the noodles and serve with the coconut syrup.

Look at the change in the noodles’ appearance - glassy and translucent.