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Food in
Singapore
Food In Singapore
You will be surprised to learn about what to buy in Singapore, as this Asian country perfectly combines modernity and tradition. Its multi-ethnic community and its vertiginous race towards the future make this country’s traditional products unique.
You can find a great variety of products to buy in Singapore, from the most up to date electronic devices such as computers, smartphones, and tablets to the most traditional handcrafted items. However, the country’s artisan crafts are being lost due to the intensity of its technological development, and for this reason, the government has developed the Trades Tour to raise awareness and promote the work of artisans.
Nonetheless, let’s see what the traditional products of Singapore are that you might want to take with you as souvenirs of your trip.
Peranakan porcelain
Originally from China, Peranakan porcelain is one of the most sophisticated pieces of art to buy in Singapore. Although it may not be suitable for all budgets, you can negotiate with the seller to reach a more affordable price. If you can, you will be taking home a real handmade treasure with a thousand-year-old tradition. If you are interested in this type of artisan crafts you should visit the Antiques of the Orient and Rumah Bebe, two of the businesses with the best reputations in the country.
Textiles
As in almost all other Asian countries, as well as the African countries, batik textiles are also traditionally made in Singapore. Here, they are used in their traditional dress by ethnic Malays, Indians, and Peranakans. The colorful shades and floral and geometric designs turn these textiles into the perfect items of clothing to buy as souvenirs of Singapore.
Merlion statues
If there is an object par excellence to buy in Singapore it is a statuette of the Merlion fish. This fish with a lion’s head is a mythical creature which has become the country’s icon. It was designed in 1964 as an emblem for tourism and refers to the country’s past fishing tradition and it goes back in history, as Singapore was once known as the country of the lion. Today it is used as an emblem for sports teams and in many cultural representations of the country.
RISIS orchids
If you want to surprise someone special with a truly original gift, apart from being something extraordinary to buy in Singapore, the RISIS orchid is a very unique piece of jewelry. It is a fresh orchid which is covered in nickel, copper and pure gold. In this way, all the beauty of the flower is preserved, as well as the value of the gold. They are sold at various prices and you can find them in the main shopping centers.
Ethnic Peranakan beads
The use of beads in clothing or in shoes originates mostly from the ethnic Perankan, who still maintain this tradition. The Perankan continue to manufacture beautiful beads by hand as a means of preserving their culture and traditional customs. You can find them in the small shops in Arab Street, as well as in the Rumah Bebe shop. Without a doubt, they are one of the most charming traditional products of Singapore, not only because of their beauty but also because of the tradition they represent.
Ethnic Malay jewelry
Malay women use accessories such as brooches, pins, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, etc. in their traditional dress. This jewelry is traditionally made in Singapore and you can find it in the shops of Arab Street as well as in shopping centers. If you haggle with the sellers you may get a good price, although they are not excessively priced.
Traditional clothing
The multicultural nature of the country means that you can buy good quality traditional clothing from Malaysia, China and even from India. Both in China Town and in Arab Street, you will find shops with traditional dresses of different colors, designs and at different prices, of course, depending on the textiles used to make them.
Bespoke perfumes
Singapore culture holds perfume in high esteem. Not just any perfume, but one made from essential oils and which is used for special occasions. The ability to mix the different essential oils in a personalized manner is a complete art. You can order your own personal perfume in the shops which sell the JR Fragrances brand.
Ya kun kaya
If you want to take home an authentic Singaporean souvenir, don’t hesitate in getting the Ya kun Kaya breakfast set. It is the most traditional item you can find in this country. Since 1900, the breakfast of choice for businessmen has been toast, coffee, and a boiled egg. The tradition originated from this and continues to the present day. It has given rise to these souvenirs, and you can buy them in any of the coffee stalls in Singapore.
This is just an example of the traditional products you can buy in Singapore and that you will want to bring home with you as gifts. There are many more waiting for you.
Bak Chor Mee
This dish that can be found in many of Singapore's restaurants has its origin in China. It is composed of mee pok, a flat yellow noodle whose thickness and width can vary. It can be served with sauce, meat and vegetables; or in soup. It is also common to find them mixed with another type of Chinese noodles and it is common to find them being sold on street stalls.
Carrot Cake
Unlike the popular cake we know in the UK, this dish is neither a cake nor does it contain any carrot. Actually, this popular dish is made up of rice flour, fried radish, scrambled eggs and different spices. It can be found in two versions: the so-called white carrot cake, which is the most popular; or the black carrot cake, which is accompanied by a sauce and is somewhat sweeter.
Cendol
This Indian dessert is one of the most popular and tasty in Singapore. Made with green rice noodles flavoured with pandan and mixed with crushed ice, it also incorporates coconut milk and palm sugar. Depending on the region it can also include red beans, rice, gelatin, sweet corn and durian. It is common to find it on roadside stalls, street stalls or in large restaurants.
Char Kway Teow
One of the most popular dishes in Singapore is char kway teow, fried flat noodles that are served with prawns, cockles, eggs, chilli, Chinese garlic and soy sauce. It’s a high calorie and nutritious dish as it originated from the ancient farmers who, without many resources, needed a filling dish. It can be found both on the menus of restaurants and on many street stalls.
Chilli Crab
One of the icons of the cuisine of Singapore is a whole cooked crab served with a spicy chilli sauce. It is very typical to end up dipping bread in your sauce once after the crab is finished. Although this is the star dish of the country, in most restaurants you can also find other dishes with crab such as Crab Bee Hoon, with noodles; butter crab; or salted egg yolk crab, in a rich sauce similar to hollandaise.
Durian
This typical Asian fruit is characterized by its strong, foul smell, being considered the most nauseating in the world. Those who dare to try it, however, agree that their taste is actually very delicious. Its popularity in Singapore is such that even the theatre-opera building is built in the shape of this fruit. It can be found in many of the markets of the city, although in some hotels, on public transport and in other public places it is common to find a sign that prohibits eating durians.
Laksa
Although its origin is uncertain, it is believed that this dish comes from the Chinese and Malay culture settled in certain regions of Malaysia and Singapore. Laksa is made up of rice noodles that are served with fish stock or seafood. In general, it is quite spicy, seasoned with coconut milk and chilli, which gives it a spicy aftertaste. Some of its variants include ingredients such as chopped chicken, egg, bean sprouts and prawns.
Rice with Chicken Hainanese
Although the name refers to Hainan, a province of China, this dish is part of the cuisine of Singapore, which has many variations. The most traditional is composed of white rice, roasted chicken and chilli sauce and seasoned with herbs, ginger and garlic. To flavour the rice, in addition to being prepared with chicken stock, in some restaurants they also include coconut milk.
Roti Prata
This dish of Indian origin was introduced to Singapore by Hindu immigrants who settled in the city. It is a pancake made of very fine wheat dough that is cooked on the grill and whose interior can be filled with cheese, onion, mushrooms or, for sweet versions, banana or chocolate. Generally, the roti prata is accompanied by a bowl of curry with spicy lentils or a coffee or tea with condensed milk.
Satay
These skewers of meat, bamboo and coconut thorns that are cooked on the grill originate from the island of Java, in Indonesia. However, over the years it has been gaining popularity in other Asian countries such as Malaysia or Singapore, where it can be found on most street food stalls or restaurant menus. Although the type of meat may vary, it is usually beef, pork, venison, chicken, fish or prawns. It can also be accompanied by different sauces.
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