At the next Istana open house on Sunday (Jul 30), expect something a little different. Besides celebrating National Day, the event will also see President Tony Tan Keng Yam and his wife Mary Tan launch a new sorbet in honor of Singapore’s 52nd birthday. Called Istana Harvest, the sorbet is based on the Istana’s signature drink of the same name, which was created in 2016 with a blend of roselle, lemongrass, ginger and other ingredients from the spice garden.
Apparently, the Istana Harvest drink is only served to foreign dignitaries and guests of the Istana. But with this new sorbet, more Singaporeans (at least those who turn up at the open house) can try the unique flavors of the concoction.
Working with the President’s Office, Udders Ice Cream came up with the sorbet recipe — it’ll be available at the local brand’s booths during the open house, and all proceeds will go to the President’s Challenge. According to Channel NewsAsia, Udders founder Wong Peck Lin explained that they painstakingly went through at least eight tries before getting the texture and color of the sorbet right.
“Fresh lemongrass was literally hand-pounded with a mallet to extract its juice, leaving blisters on our poor chef’s hands!” she said.
Besides this frozen treat, you can also look forward to the annual Istana Art Event, with an art competition for the young ones and craft activities like batik painting and calligraphy. There will be music and dance performances as well, plus paid guided tours of the main building and the flora and fauna in the area. If you’d like to bring home a souvenir, small trinkets and red/white roses will be available for purchase, and all proceeds will be donated to charity.
Istana Open House is on Jul 30, 8:30am-6pm. Free for Singaporeans and PRs; foreigners $2.
