Singapore is known for its hot and humid weather, and long before air-conditioning and modern cafes, people found their own ways to cool down.
One of them was Cheng Tng, a light and refreshing Chinese dessert soup that has become part of Singapore’s food heritage.
A Refreshing Treat for Hardworking Coolies
First brought to Singapore by Teochew immigrants, Cheng Tng has its roots in a traditional southern Chinese nourishing soup sometimes known as “five flowers and fruits soup.”
The original dessert featured a dried longan-flavoured broth with ingredients such as ginkgo nuts, pearl barley, lotus root and lily root—ingredients traditionally enjoyed to help combat the long, humid summers in southern China. During the cooler autumn months, dried persimmon and gorgon euryale seeds (qian shi) could also be added.
When it arrived in Singapore, the recipe took on a local touch. Pandan was introduced to the broth, adding a fragrant Singaporean accent to the dessert.
In the early days of Singapore, these street hawkers would peddle Cheng Tng to coolies working by the quayside, offering them a refreshing treat after long hours of backbreaking work under the tropical sun.
Light, sweet and served chilled, Cheng Tng was perfectly suited to Singapore’s hot and humid climate.
It was more than just a dessert—it was a small moment of refreshment during a hard day’s work.
“Chinese workmen at Tiffin.” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1908.
Cheng Tng Today
Today, you can still find Cheng Tng in Singapore’s hawker centres, kopitiams and dessert stalls. What began as humble street food has become part of our island’s culinary heritage.
At Tea Language, we wanted to capture a little of that story in our Kopitiam Tales collection.
Our Cheng Tng Tea reimagines the familiar flavours of this refreshing Singapore dessert into a cup of tea. It is our way of bringing an old Singapore favourite into a new generation—so you can enjoy a taste of our heritage wherever you are.
From the streets where hardworking coolies once sought relief from the heat to today’s bustling hawker centres, Cheng Tng remains a taste of Singapore’s simple, refreshing food culture.
Bring a Taste of Singapore Home
Curious to try Cheng Tng in a new way? Brew yourself a cup of Cheng Tng Tea and experience this familiar Singapore favourite, reimagined as tea. Perfect for enjoying at home or bringing along as a little taste of Singapore, it is part of our Kopitiam Tales: Heritage Reimagined collection.
