Yummy nostalgia: Singaporean snacks we love

Yummy Nostalgia: 10 Singaporean snacks we love

MF editorial team

27 May 2015

updated the 6 October 2015 à 23:07

1/10
Kaya Toast
We could have crisp kaya toast with a thick slab of butter all day, everyday. The quintessential Singaporean all day breakfast usually comes in a set of two eggs, toast and a cup of coffee or tea in whatever combination you like. Teh C Siu Dai Peng?
Photo credit: Ya Kun Kaya Toast
2/10
Tau Sar Piah
Ah the humble tau sar piah. What is tau sar piah, you ask? It is a Teochew flaky pastry that encases either savoury mung bean paste or sweet lotus seed paste.

Photo credit: Thye Moh Chan
3/10
Youtiao
We remember the excitement we felt whenever white paper bags filled with fried doughsticks, bread and sesame crullers would arrive at the table for brunch or tea. If you ever need an excuse to eat fried dough, this is one you should have.
Photo credit: Xi De Li
4/10
Epok Epok
Known by several permutations in Singapore, the epok-epok is the Malay version of the English pastry. The Chinese have egg filled curry puffs and the Indians the flaky orange karipap. Usually filled with sardines or curried potatoes, we'd take these flaky gems over the hard pasty any day.
Photo credit: Epok Epok Delights
5/10
Muruku
The best part of being in a multi-racial society is the access to that culture's yummy snacks too! We love the South Indian muruku crisps for its fragrance, oiliness and satisfying crunch.

Photo credit: Muruku House
6/10
Peanut Pancake
Remember the real local pancakes? The ones made paper thin and crisp? Those yummy pancakes are then slathered in crushed peanuts, sesame seeds and sugar for a energy filled snack.
7/10
Chwee Kueh
Super greasy and oily rice cakes topped with preserved radish and a side of chilli. What's not to like? Back in the day, this was the breakfast of the coolies who built this city.
8/10
Doughnuts
Before there was Krispy Kreme, Donut Factory or J Cos, we've been enjoying the simple baked leavened doughnut from small bread shops coated with a dusting of caster sugar.
9/10
Gem Biscuits
This used to delight us to no end when we were children. Although the biscuits were generally as hard as rocks while the icing 'cream' on top was just hardened sugar, this rock solid treats were great with our cup of hot Milo.
10/10
Kueh
It doesn't even matter what type of kueh. This typical Nonya and Malay snack of chewy cakes filled our tummies with ease. From the gula melaka filled kueh dardar to the buttery kueh lapis, we've yet to meet a kueh we didn't like.

Being the melting pot that we are, our island nation is filled with yummy traditional snacks from all four corners of the globe. Here are some of our favourite munchies.

Singaporeans may be apathetic to a lot of things, but the one thing we definitely are completely enthusiastic about is glorious food.

We are lucky enough to have the best of both the Western and Asian worlds due to our diverse melting pot of ethnicities and colonial history. Even though now, our snacks and food stuff seem to be assaulted by the Koreans, the Japanese and the French – not that we are complaining – there are just some local snacks that cannot be beat.

From the humble tau sar piah to the sweet Nonya kuehs, these are truly Singaporean (or Malaysian, if you want to argue) items that locals have grown up with and will never turn our backs on them. Not even for a macaron from Laduree.

To celebrate SG50, here are 10 of our favourite local snacks for teatime.

Cheryl Lee

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Yummy Nostalgia: 10 Singaporean snacks we love

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