Those Were The Days Part I: Snacks from Singapore’s Past

Singapore celebrates its 50th year of independence in 2015. Over the last half-century, this island nation has transformed rapidly. Through far-sighted policies and measures, Singapore has modernised from the sleepy trading port of the post-colonial era to the thriving Asian metropolis of today. 

Having seen the nation develop through the years, many Singaporeans experience a sense of nostalgia for the past. In bygone carefree days, local youth had simpler pleasures: games to while away the time and snacks to feed their growing appetites.

So in part one of this series, let’s take a walk down memory lane and check out some of the snacks from Singapore’s past:

1) Kacang Puteh 

Once a common sight near cinemas, the kacang puteh seller is very much a rare species these days. Kacang puteh originated from India, in the form of chevdo, a seasoned vegetarian snack.

These kacang puteh snacks consist of a variety of sweet and savoury nuts, such as cashews, peanuts, sugar-coated nuts, chick-peas and green peas, amongst others. With each flavour of nuts packed in paper cones, these were the designated “popcorn” for cinema-goers of old. Today, kachang puteh are still found at cinema snack counters but are packed in resealable plastic tubs instead of paper cones.

2) Iced Gem Biscuits

These colourful iced gem biscuits have been around for many years now and have been extremely popular with kids throughout the years. Consisting of a small rich tea biscuit bottom with a dab of coloured icing on top, these sugary treats were usually sold in metal biscuit tins at most provision shops. If you want to try these delightful little treats, you can still find them in most supermarkets.

3) Ice Pops

Another favourite of kids in the past, these ice pops were essentially frozen popsicles in a plastic tube. Sold in a variety of bright colours and sweet flavours, they were an especially welcomed treat for kids on hot days or after running and playing under the heat of the sun. They could easily be broken into half and shared with your best friend, making them a snack of choice for besties. Ice pops are still sold in supermarkets today, but they are usually sold unfrozen in the confectionary aisle so you’ll have to pop them into the freezer yourself.

4) White Rabbit Milk Candy 

These White Rabbit brand milk candies have been around for decades but are still pretty popular even now. Developed in Shanghai in 1943, these candies come wrapped in a thin rice paper which can be consumed together with the sweet. You can still find them sold on the shelves of major supermarkets as well as neighbourhood provision shops in Singapore. Apart from the original flavor, chocolate and matcha (green tea) flavours are also available now.  

5) Haw Flakes

Made from the hawthorn fruit, these are traditional Chinese sweets that have been eaten as treats even by our grandparents. Usually made into wafter-thin discs and packed in rolls, these can be found in both small and large sizes. Haw is also used in other types of candy, and you might come across haw flakes layered with jelly or round balls in a crispy pink shell, liberally coated with sugar for a decadent treat.

Stay tuned for part two, where we show you the games Singaporeans used to play!