At Cheng's, we use only the finest Nanyang ingredients. Here are some well-known ones.
Gula Melaka
Sap that is extracted from the budding flower of a date, coconut or sago palm. it is used as a sweetener in baking and desserts in Southeast Asia. It is found the in dry section of local wet markets.
Pandan Leaves
Leaves from a Southeast Asian herbaceous tropical plant. It is known by the chinese as a 'fragrant plant' because of its unique and sweet aroma and is used in cooking some savory dishes and certain desserts. It can be purchased fresh or frozen at some Asian food stores.
Tapioca
Starch extracted from the cassava root. It is commonly used as a thickening agent in many foods but makes a great standalone dessert food. They can be found in supermarkets.
Coconut
A fruit grown in abundance in Malaysia, Polynesia and southern Asia. All parts can be used in cooking - the water, milk, flesh, sugar and oil. Even the husks and leaves can be used as decoration of a dish.