Surinamese Dawet Ice (Es Dawet) (Iced Coconut Drink with Cendol)

  • Cendol/Dawet Prep - 30 minutes
  • Chilling/Serving - 10 minutes
  • Servings: 4
  • Country: Suriname
A refreshing Dawet Ice drink in a tall glass with thick coconut milk and green cendol pieces.

Dawet (or Cendol in Indonesia) is ideal for cooling down in the hot Caribbean climate. The key components are homemade palm sugar syrup and rice flour jelly flavored with pandan (which gives it its characteristic green color and aroma).

The drink consists of three layers: palm syrup, Dawet pieces, and chilled, slightly salty coconut milk. The Surinamese version often also includes pink syrup to enhance the color and flavor.

Ingredients

I. Dawet (Cendol) Jelly

  • 100 g Hunkwe Flour (Mung Bean Flour) or Rice Flour
  • 300 ml Water
  • 1 tsp Pandan Essence (or liquid green food coloring)
  • 1 pinch Salt

II. Palm Sugar Syrup

  • 200 g Palm Sugar (Gula Djawa), grated
  • 150 ml Water
  • 1 pc Pandan Leaf (optional)

III. Coconut Milk

  • 400 ml Coconut Milk (full-fat)
  • 0.5 tsp Salt
  • 1 sufficient amount Ice, crushed

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Palm Sugar Syrup

Place palm sugar, water, and pandan leaf in a small pot.

Cook over low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved. Let it simmer for 5 minutes until the syrup slightly thickens. Remove the pandan leaf and let the syrup cool.

Step 2: Preparing the Dawet (Cendol)

In a pot, mix Hunkwe flour (or rice flour), water, pandan essence, and a pinch of salt.

Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until a thick, translucent paste forms that pulls away from the sides of the pot. This takes about 5-7 minutes.

Prepare a bowl of ice water. Press the hot paste through a special cendol sieve or a colander with holes directly into the ice water. The coldness will turn the paste into jelly noodles/pieces. Let them drain and store in the refrigerator.

Step 3: Preparing the Coconut Milk

In a bowl, mix the coconut milk with ½ tsp of salt. Chill.

Step 4: Assembling the Drink

Pour 2-3 tbsp of palm syrup into the bottom of a tall glass.

Add crushed ice, then the Dawet jelly.

Pour over the chilled coconut milk.

Serve immediately. For a Surinamese flavor, you can also add a tablespoon of condensed milk.