Events

Beyond the Usual Souvenirs

There are a bunch of items that come to mind when you think of souvenirs: fridge magnets, cups, keychains, t-shirts and snow globes are run-of-the-mill souvenirs that anyone can get. They’re great if you want to bring a little reminder of Singapore back with you to give to friends and family; but what if you want something with a little more flair? Something a little less, well, obvious? Here are some suggestions for alternative souvenirs that will have your giftees ooh-ing and ahh-ing in delight.


Tea

Tea is a huge part of Singapore food and culture. Everything from the Indian-Muslim sweet, milky teh tarik (pulled tea) to drinking Chinese tea brewed the gong fu way or even specialty blends exclusive to our island can be found in Singapore. And if you want to bring some back with you after tasting these delicious teas for yourself, that’s no problem at all. Any supermarket will carry 3-in-1 teh tarik mix from brands such as Boh, Lipton, Aik Cheong and more. These mixes take nothing more than hot water to brew, though there’s no getting around the arm work needed to create the froth!

Excellent Chinese teas can be found in specialty tea shops such as Pek Sin Choon at Mosque Street, Yixing Xuan Teahouse at Tanjong Pagar and Tea Chapter at Neil Road. That isn’t to say all tea shops are located in esoteric corners of Singapore. Just pop by Wang San Yang Tea Merchant in ION Orchard, or Ten Ren Tea in Liang Court for easy, air-conditioned access to knowledgeable sellers who will help you find something to suit your taste and budget.

For an eye-watering range of straight teas and specialty blends, you can’t miss TWG. With numerous boutiques at ION Orchard, Marina Bay Sands, Takashimaya, Changi Airport and Republic Plaza, you’ll be dazzled by the range of white, green, oolong and black teas available in both flavoured and unflavoured options. If you prefer a more curated selection, Clipper Tea is available at TANGS Orchard, Robinsons The Heeren and the gift shops at Gardens by the Bay, the Singapore Botanic Gardens and Night Safari. If you have more adventurous taste buds, the full range of Gryphon Tea’s Artisan Selection with their unique and experimental Asian-inspired flavours can be found at Isetan Scotts supermarket at Shaw House and Pan Pacific Marketplace at Marina Square.


Bak Kwa

Image from Wikimedia

This is a souvenir that’s most definitely not for vegetarians. A Chinese-style jerky, bak kwa traditionally takes the form of thin squares of meat that have been painstaking seasoned with sugar and spices before being grilled over charcoal. Walk past any bak kwa shop while they’re preparing fresh bak kwa and your nose will be assailed by the delectable sweet and smoky barbeque fragrance of the meat. Although demand for bak kwa typically peaks during Chinese New Year, when Singaporeans will queue for hours to get hold of bak kwa from their favourite stores, it’s sold all year round.

Originally, bak kwa was only available in square slices made from minced or sliced pork, but there are many other variants available now. Nowadays, you can get spicy pork, chicken, beef and even crocodile or turkey versions – and not just squares. “Golden coin” shapes are especially auspicious, conveying good tidings of fortune. Novelty shapes such as hearts and little pigs have been released for Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year, so you might luck into a seasonal release while you’re in Singapore.

You can’t go wrong with crowd pleaser Bee Cheng Hiang. They’ve got gift packaging down to an art, with vacuum sealed options for easy gifting. Lim Chee Guan in People’s Park Complex in Chinatown and recently ION Orchard is another favourite, with ridiculous queues starting weeks before Chinese New Year. Fragrance, of crocodile and turkey meat fame, has plenty of outlets scattered throughout Singapore, including Changi Airport for some last minute gift buying. And if you want to try other traditional Chinese snacks such as Chinese sausages, meat floss and crispy mini rolls, you can generally get them under roof the same roof as bak kwa.


Orchids

As Singapore’s national flower, orchids make great gifts. But bringing a pot of live orchids back may not be the best idea, since the importing of plants can make for additional paperwork, if not additional costs, on your return. One way to safely bring them back without running afoul of your country’s import laws – and also ensuring that they last a long time with no care – is to get a desk ornament that preserves the orchids in resin or glass. Alternatively, silk scarves with beautiful orchid prints by local designers can be found at departmental stores such as TANGS and Takashimaya.

Another uniquely Singaporean gift is the proprietary gold-plated Risis orchids. Available as jewellery, plaques, frames and card and pen holders, real orchid blooms are selected before being plated in 24K gold and palladium, preserving the orchid’s beauty for eternity.


Other Quirky Items

Image from National Museum Singapore

The revival of all things nostalgic, along with the increase in consumer awareness of good design has led to the rise of locally-inspired products that feature tongue-in-cheek references to Singapore culture. Erasers shaped like the most perfect kueh tutu  you have ever laid eyes on, and shopping bags drawing inspiration from the formerly ubiquitous merlion head plastic bags are just some of the items you can find at the National Museum gift shop and Naiise at The Central at Clarke Quay.

The Red Dot Design Museum at Maxwell Road also houses a museum shop that is as carefully curated as their exhibits. If you can swing the timing, the monthly MAAD – Market of Artists And Designers – creative marketplace is a fabulous place to pick up locally-designed and created goods. From hand bound notebooks and silk screened t-shirts to nail decals, perfumes, jewellery, books, food and more, be sure to keep an eye on the museum website or Facebook page for the latest updates.

Search Articles

Log in or create an account

Search