I hate to be the one saying this, but Artificial Intelligence (AI) is seemingly taking over the world—its impacts have even seeped into the culinary realm. Our recent visit to Yi Pin Zhen Zhu in Aljunied proved this, as they now have an AI-generated cheng tng recipe on the menu. This dessert was created with the help of ChatGPT!
The stall specialises in pork rib soup, but their menu also sees Cheng Tng ($3) as the only dessert item. You can get this either hot or cold for the same price.
Though unassuming in appearance, this bowl of goodness is made with plenty of healthy ingredients that are said to be good for your skin. Some noteworthy ingredients include peach gum, goji berries, white fungus, red dates, and lotus seeds.
But more importantly, there’s a secret ingredient added to their cheng tng for its supposed anti-ageing benefits: a collagen-infused superfood sourced from China.Â
This specific ingredient was included in the dessert after a few rounds of ChatGPT prompts, with questions such as “What ingredients should be included in a cheng tng recipe to maximise collagen content?” and “How can we optimise a cheng tng recipe to enhance its anti-ageing properties?”
Since the same recipe is used to make both the hot and cold cheng tng, there’s not much of a difference in taste. But considering the sweltering heat in Singapore, I recommend getting the cold version! You get a refreshing treat that’s not sugary, so finishing a bowl on your own will be easy-peasy. In terms of flavour, this tastes similar to a regular bowl of cheng tng that many of us are familiar with.
Here’s a tip: pay an additional $1 to takeaway your cheng tng in their stainless steel bowl. Bring this container during subsequent visits and enjoy $0.50 off!
Yi Pin Zhen Zhu is located at Geylang Road, a quick six-minute walk from Aljunied MRT Station.
In related news, read our Within The Walls Dessert Bar review, where we had snow ice desserts in a Hong Kong-inspired cafe with retro vibes. Alternatively, read our guide to the best traditional desserts in Singapore.
Address: 433 Geylang Road, Stall 5, Singapore 389397
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 12pm to 8pm
Yi Pin Zhen Zhu is not a halal-certified eatery.
Photos taken by Casandra Nicholas.
This was a media tasting at Yi Pin Zhen Zhu.