JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<script src="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2012.1.515/js/kendo.all.min.js"></script>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2012.1.322/styles/kendo.common.min.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="http://cdn.kendostatic.com/2012.1.322/styles/kendo.default.min.css">
<select id="testDrpDown">
    <option value="1">One</option>
    <option value="2">Two</option>
    <option value="3">Three</option>
    <option value="1231231">and so on</option>
</select>
</br>
</br>
<button onclick="MethOne()">Method one</button>
</br>
</br>
<button onclick="Methtwo()">Method two</button>

JavaScript

$("#testDrpDown").kendoDropDownList();

var dropdown = $("#testDrpDown").data("kendoDropDownList");

function MethOne() {
    alert($("#testDrpDown").data("kendoDropDownList").text());
}

function Methtwo() {
    alert(dropdown.text());
}