Bandung Review : The Battle of Cendol Bandung (BETA VERSION)

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The Battle of Cendol Bandung

Craving for a refreshing dessert here in Bandung? Do not make any further thinking, the only thing that should come to your head is one and only, Cendol. This traditional beverage serves you an endless sensation with sweet temptation and cool soothing aura. Perfect choice to end your meal time or become one of your Iftar menu at Ramadhan month. But it turns out Bandung have two kinds of cendol. Both of them are ready to enter the battle of culinary adventure. Let’s go down to the ring and meet them up!

First, the defending champion, please welcome the green cendol! Widely known as the “real” cendol of Bandung, made of cornflour and it has a slender shape. The greenie comes from natural colors of pandanus or suji leaf. To serve it, put green cendol into the glass, and then respectively pour coconut milk, brown sugar sauce plus ice. Sometimes jackfruit slices are also around to boost up the flavor. The green warrior is available in almost every corner of Bandung, but you can scoop out the most popular one in Otto Iskandar Dinata (Otista) Street, in front of a bag and shoes store to be exact. Its popularity has hit all around Indonesia, and the name of the store became the way people call this green cendol’s name.

Next, let’s meet up with the opponent. The name is white cendol. It is made of sago flour (or “aci” in Sundanese, with a smaller and thinner figure than the green cendol. And the unique side of it, usually the white cendol is kept inside a clay keg (or Indonesian people called it “gentong”), so it is known as “cendol gentong”. The coconut milk is already mixed with it inside the keg, different than the green one that has the coconut milk separated from it. Where to find this yummy whitey? Just stop by to a well-known lotek (Sundanese traditional salad) vendor in town, right down the Alkateri Street. This is where you could prove the unique taste n look of the strong challenger.

Both cendols are sold with a very affordable price, many were offered with the price not more than Rp. 5.000 for a glass of this delicious dessert. Still cannot decide which cendol is the best? Attack those glasses with all cost. An ultimate satisfaction will be drawn across your face and your tummy for sure. (FA/RA)

Indonesian Version