Glossary › Food & Drinks › Gula melaka
🍰 Food & Drinks term
Gula melaka
Palm sugar with a deep, caramel-like flavour, used in kueh, desserts such as chendol and ondeh ondeh, and drinks.
Why it matters
Gula melaka adds a deep, smoky sweetness that ordinary sugar cannot match, and is a key flavour in many local desserts.
🇸🇬 In Singapore
Gula melaka is a key flavour in many Peranakan and Malay desserts in Singapore, including ondeh ondeh, chendol and kueh kosui, where it adds a smoky caramel sweetness.
Tips before you buy
- Look for it in ondeh ondeh, chendol and kueh.
- Its flavour can vary between producers.
- Store solid blocks in a cool, dry place.