Mango pomelo sago was said to have been invented by the Lei Garden restaurant group in 1984.
The dessert is associated with Lei Garden’s first Singapore branch. Former Lei Garden head chef Wong Wing-chee is credited with developing it using local ingredients: mango, pomelo and sago. Its Chinese name, 楊枝甘露, is often translated as “willow branch manna,” a reference to refreshing nectar in Buddhist imagery.
Mango pomelo sago is usually served chilled as a sweet, creamy soup or pudding. Mango supplies the fruitiness, pomelo adds juicy citrus bitterness, and cooked sago pearls provide the characteristic chewy texture. Coconut milk or evaporated milk is common in modern versions, although recipes vary.
A common mix-up is attributing the dessert to Hong Kong simply because it became especially popular there. The better-known origin story places its creation in Singapore in 1984, while acknowledging that the claim is traditionally phrased as “said to have been invented.”