Cendol, a beloved Malaysian dessert, is traditionally made with pandan-flavoured rice flour jellies, coconut milk, and palm sugar syrup, often served with shaved ice.
This refreshing treat is a staple of Malaysian cuisine and a nostalgic favourite for many who grew up in the country.
Photo via TikTok (@sora_fula)
Recently, a Japanese content creator living in Malaysia went viral for her creative, albeit misguided, take on cendol. In a TikTok video posted on June 18, Sora Fula shared her journey of making ramen using cendol.
In the 41-second clip, Sora is seen shopping for ingredients, cooking her dish, and tasting the final product. She begins the video with playful curiosity, asking, "Malaysia, what is this?" before declaring, "I want to try Malaysian ramen."
Sora buys a packet of cendol from a hypermarket and returns home to cook it with aromatics and ramen soup stock. Referring to the cendol as "noodles," she prepares them along with beansprouts. As she cooks, she starts to question her method, wondering if she has "boiled” the cendol too much." In Japanese, she notes that the "noodles" are very soft.
The video concludes with Sora asking her viewers how to properly eat cendol.
Her culinary misstep amused thousands, who found her confusion endearing and entertaining. One TikTok user commented, "It is my first time seeing cendol cooked in a soup with bean sprouts." Another added, "That is cendol, sis! No one has ever prepared it in a soup."
Another viewer humorously remarked, "It's painful to watch."
Despite the mix-up, the video highlights the humorous side of cultural exchanges!
Hopefully, Sora will get to experience cendol in its traditional form—a cherished dessert that is a unique part of Malaysian culture, enjoyed by generations since childhood.
