Xi Le Ting: $1 desserts with 50-year-old recipes by 82-year-old Ah Ma at Commonwealth
On certain occasions during peaceful mornings, you just have an urgent craving for a nostalgic treat. Well, those cravings can be instantly solved with Xi Le Ting’s goodies, being soupy Chinese desserts well worth the journey to Commonwealth.
I’m sure that many of us are now aware of this hidden gem, considering them being the news of late. My ears perked up when I heard that the desserts are just $1 each! Nosy to see the hype, I headed a long way to Commonwealth Crescent Market and Food Centre for a taste.
Despite it not being peak hours during my visit, it clearly didn’t stop the customer influx. With the rest of the stalls being completely void of queues, this Chinese dessert joint stood out.
Not to worry, the queue moves pretty speedily and I only had to wait 15 minutes. Best to mentally prepare your order, though, as Auntie is known all-around for her grumpy demeanour. Small talk was definitely not present when I ordered, but perhaps the regulars would have better luck.
With only 4 items, ordering cannot be easier. Yet, it was a struggle to order since all of them are famed for being ultra high quality. Auntie has been honing her craft since the opening of Xi Le Ting a whopping 50 years ago.
All the goodies are packed with dedication, with Auntie waking at 4am just to prepare them. And the hard work pays off as most of her goodies sell out by early afternoon. Luckily for me, all the choices were available due to my early arrival, so I happily chose my pickings without any disappointment.
What I tried at Xi Le Ting
Of course, my biased self chose the 2 desserts I adored the most — Green Bean Soup (S$1) and Cheng Tng (S$1). The Red Bean Soup (S$1) tempted me beyond belief, but the green variety was decided on in the end due to the never-ending praises I’ve seen online.
At the first spoonful, I could definitely tell that the Green Bean Soup is special. With an out-of-the-ordinary milkiness from the inclusion of coconut milk, the soup was pleasantly light. Having had heavy ones in the past, the change in mouthfeel was indeed a welcome one.
I adored the textural contrast between the denser green beans and soft sago. Surprisingly, there were no chunky sago pearls, but I was pleased at how easily the mini sago mixed well with its bean companion. No complaints here, that’s for sure.
Taste-wise, I would say the green bean flavour is not on the intense side. Rather than a burst of flavour, the sweetness breezes by your taste buds, leaving you craving for more. I had gobbled down the whole bowl before moving on to my next item.
Having tried the cheng tngs at a couple of famous dessert shops like Ye Lai Xiang’s and No Name Dessert recently, I was curious beyond belief about how this one would be. Would it top them all?
For just a dollar, there were more ingredients than I’d anticipated. A total of 5 ingredients — dried persimmon, a mini scoop of barley, longan, snow fungus and large sago pearls were included in this humble bowl. Don’t expect an avalanche of components though, since S$1 won’t get you much.
It was clear from the get-go that the softer textures were present to cater to her elderly customers, which is an evident choice from her sago pearls. It reminded me of a softer bubble tea pearl, almost disintegrating instantly when bitten into. On the other hand, the snow fungus gave a nice nibble as compared to the softer components.
As a complete longan addict , I thoroughly enjoyed the meaty longans in Xi Le Ting’s Cheng Tng. Personally, the succulence of the longan flesh is truly unbeatable. Soaking up all the syrupy goodness it was soaked in, the fruit had a light sweetness which was superb.
What I loved most had to be the broth. Almost like a delicate tea, it had a hint of sweetness that was not at all overwhelming. If Auntie ever decided to sell it as a beverage, you’d see me at Commonwealth every morning just for it. That’s just how comforting that soupy goodness was.
Final thoughts
With homemade treats perfect as a light snack, it’s no wonder Xi Le Ting is so popular. Despite the distance, I can definitely see myself queuing for these delights again. After all, who can refuse humble bowls of Chinese desserts at just a dollar? I definitely can’t.
During my next visit, I’ll be sure to try the Sweet Wheat Porridge (S$1), which holds many older folks’ seal of approval.
Expected damage: S$1 – S$1.20 per pax
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