Singapore's TidbiTs

The calories rich but tasty teh tarik (or teh tarek) or pulled tea is a unique milk or 'sarabat' tea found in Malaysia and Singapore. It is made of black tea in combination with condensed milk (or evaporated milk for less sweetness), and tossing or dragging (tarik) the tea from one container to another at a height. This tea is usually drank while having roti prata . Well you can drink it with about any snacks or dishes or you can just sip it on its own. There is also teh masala or spice tea, but for the locals here we tend to stick with either teh tarik or teh halia. These teh tarek stalls are traditionally owned or operated by Indians. A glass or a cup of teh tarik usually cost between $1.20 to $2.00 depending if you get them at hawker centres or air-conditioned food-courts. Teh tarik seller You can get a fix of teh-tarik not only in Little India but all over Singapore. Obviously it is cheaper and tastes better at the road-side stalls or at hawker centres . We locals like to...

Kaya toast set. Usually eaten for breakfast that can be found in many kopitiams . That ubiquitous pair of soft half-boiled or semi-boiled (not fully boiled or hardened) eggs served with slices of toasted bread or buns spread with kaya jam and thin slabs of butter, and complete with a cup of tea of coffee. All for between $2.30 to $5, depending which cafes, hawker centres or food-courts that you go to. At many school canteens you can get a set for only $2. You can find kaya toast at many local cafes here which are more commonly known as coffee shops, at the hawker or food centres , food-courts or in kopitiams (the local lingo for breakfast joints) Islandwide. This iconic breakfast set is originally served in Hainanese kopitiams . And while it is best or traditionally eaten for breakfast, this breakfast set is served all day long at many chain cafes. Kaya is a coconut based pandan flavoured jam. Though traditionally it was simply coconut-based jam. The half-boiled eggs (the softness of...

Many associated Little India with Mustafa Centre, the huge 24-hour department store that sells almost anything. Yes, they practically sell everything including electronics, jewellery, shoes and fresh produce. And we all know of someone who would dash to Mustafa Centre to get that last-minute travel luggage. Other than Mustafa Centre, another well-known landmark in Little India is without doubt Tekka Centre or Market and the Arcade. Although not part of the original Raffles Town or Jackson Plan, like the ethnic areas of Kampong Glam and Chinatown , the well-preserved Little India in Singapore evolved through trade-related activities and remain a magnet of all things that represent the Indian culture and heritage of Singapore. The area was developed around agriculture and cattle trading in the 19th century. Common traditional trades include garland-making, goldsmithing, and fortune-telling. Indian goldsmiths are prominent, as gold jewelry is culturally significant. Walk along Serangoon ...

Tau huay or beancurd is a whitish soft tofu usually added with liquid sugar. The sugar can be normal or brown sugar. One can also request for less sugar. Tau huay is a dessert sold at many soya bean chains such as Mr Bean and Jollibean. You can also find them at many drinks stalls in housing estates or at food centres. Tau huay is usually sold and eaten while still warm. Soya bean milk drink can be either hot or cold depending on preference. Tau huay and soya bean milk are typically sold for around $1.20 to $1.50 at chain soya bean stores. But if you go to hawker centre you can get beancurd for only 60 cents a bowl and soya bean milk for only 50 cents a cup. You can also find soya milk in packet or can drinks sold in many supermarkets islandwide but it is not the same as buying the original tau huay or a cup of freshly made soya bean milk at a hawker or food centre . Tau huay is delicious, relatively cheap and it's filling too. Bean curd Tau huay and soya bean milk from chain st...