Ice Kachang 
From Singapore Hotels & Singapore Lifestyle
|
Ice Kachang (Chinese:红豆冰 literally means red bean ice, Malay:ais kacang literal translation is ice beans) is one of the favourite dessert of Singaporeans whose popularity could be explained by the hot and humid weather of Singapore.
In the past, it really consist of shaved ice and red beans, but with the improved taste of Singaporeans, other ingredients are added into it. Today's ice kacang is now with most ingredients found in the bowl and a mountain of shaved ice is put on top of it. Syrups of at least 3 different colors (Green, Yellow and Red) and a generous dose of condensed milk is drizzled onto the ice to excite diners' visuals.
You can, like an explorer, actually dig a 'cave' into the high ice moutain and start looking for the 'treasures' or ingredients in it. Ingredients inside the ice kachang includes sweet corn, red beans, diced chin chow, green strips made of rice flour and cooked to springy texture , one or two attap chee and many others, depending on the stall you patronize. For some stalls, especially those found in the food court, you can request to have mango or durian paste added on top of the ice.
A good ice kachang is one where the ice are very cleanly shaven to small bits. When you put a spoonful of the ice with the syrup in your mouth, the ice should just melt in your mouth together with the sweet tasting syrup. As for ingredients, of course the more variety it is the better giving you a new texture everytime you take a mouthful.
