Kaya toast explained

Kaya toast
Place Of Origin:Straits Settlements
Region:Malacca, Penang and Singapore[1] [2]
Creator:Hainanese cooks during the Straits Settlements period
Course:Breakfast
Type:Toast
Served:Hot
Main Ingredient:kaya (coconut jam)
Serving Size:100 g
Glycemic Index:49
Similar Dish:Roti bakar

Kaya toast is a dish consisting of two slices of toast with butter and kaya (coconut jam), commonly served alongside kopi and soft-boiled eggs.[3] [4] The dish was believed to be created by Hainanese immigrants to the Straits Settlements in the 19th century while serving on British ships.[2]

In Malaysia, the dish is commonly consumed for breakfast[5] or as a late afternoon snack.[6] It became integrated into coffeeshop culture, being widely available in eating establishments[7] such as kopi tiams, hawker centres, food courts and Singaporean café chains such as Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Killiney Kopitiam and Breadtalk's Toast Box.[4]

History

It is believed that Hainanese immigrants created the kaya toast by adapting what they had previously prepared while serving on British ships docked at ports during the Straits Settlements period.[8] The kaya spread was considered a replacement for Western fruit jams.[9] [10] The Hainanese eventually settled in Malaysia[11] and opened kopitiams (coffee shops).[12] In Singapore coffee shops such as Kheng Hoe Heng Coffeeshop and Killiney Kopitiam are one of the oldest coffee shops in Singapore specialising in the dish.[13] Kopitiams started becoming a common sight in Singapore after the Japanese occupation around 1945, when rental for commericial spaces were affordable.[12] Mostly set up by the Hainanese, these kopitiams specialised in selling coffee, tea, cakes as well as making their own kaya.[14]

In the past, traditional snack shops could only be found in a few locations such as Chinatown and Balestier Road. However, Singapore started actively promoting its street food or hawker fare via the Singapore Tourism Board (STB). In 1994, it held a month-long event to advertise traditional foods called the Singaporean Food Festival, which is hosted every year. Particularly in 2004, Kaya toast was featured by the Singapore Tourism Board in its "Uniquely Singapore Shop & Eat Tours", serving as the symbol for a local snack.[15]

Government efforts of placing coffee carts situated on the streets into hawker centres also significantly assisted the kaya toast business. As of December 2005, the Singapore foodscape houses an estimate of over 70 outlets selling kaya toast, excluding small coffee-shops that are not listed on the internet or does not have a website. Since then, kaya toast has become a regular item in café and can be found at almost every hawker centre.[16]

Preparation

The preparation method and appearance of kaya toast has changed. Sellers use electric grills instead of the traditional charcoal grills. Previously, hawker workers would use homemade bread but have now opted to order bread supplies from factories. While the methods and ingredients have been simplified, one thing that has yet to change drastically is the kaya spread itself. The kaya spreads used in renowned retailers, such as Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Killiney Kopitiam, are still produced from traditional recipes. It is also worth noting that changes in the method, menu, and economy have not necessarily led to a decline in traditional food sellers. Singapore itself does not prevent the rise of micro-entrepreneurs in the department of traditional food.[17]

Variations

One slice of kaya toast is usually accompanied by another with butter, to make a sandwich, alongside coffee and two runny soft-boiled eggs, paired with dark soy sauce and white pepper.

In Malaysia, roti bakar or toast which is prepared with butter and kaya, is sometimes referred to as "kaya toast" in English.[18] [19] [20]

Nutrition

One portion of kaya toast (108.7 gram) is categorized as a low Glycemic Index (GI) food with an average score of 49 on the scale.

Cultural impact

Kaya toast is generally associated with the Singaporean cuisine,only due to the active promotion of the dish by the Singapore Tourism Board.[22] [23] [6]

In June 2021, South Korean convenience store chain CU announced that it has begun selling kaya toast at all of their stores as part of their "Singapore Gourmet Trip series".[24] In October 2021, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) unveiled commemorative coins that features kaya toast as well as other local dishes, as part of its commemoration over the inscription of hawker culture into the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists that previous year.[25]

In March 2024, kaya toast was listed as Singaporean at number 42 in the '100 Best Rated Breads in the World', by TasteAtlas.[26] [27]

See also

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Walking through the tasty history of Singapore's Chinatown. A classic with coffee or tea that the Hainanese immigrants had created, adapting meals served on British ships docked at ports back during the Straits Settlements period.. Life: The Philippine Star. June 28, 2022. March 15, 2024.
  2. Web site: The 3 treasures on Singapore's street food trail. Its origins date back to the 19th century, when Hainanese immigrants who worked as cooks on British ships and homes, adapted what they had served at work during the Straits Settlement Period. British breakfasts with western-style fruit-based jams morphed into kaya toasts in the early 20th century.. The Nation (Thailand). March 15, 2024. March 15, 2024.
  3. Book: Tarulevicz . NT . S . Hudd . "From Natural History to National Kitchen: Food In The Museums Of Singapore, 2006-2017". . 18–44 . 2020-11-02 . 2021-06-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210613001901/http://digest.champlain.edu/article6_2.html . dead .
  4. News: Chu . Louisa . Breakfast quest in Singapore: Looking for history on toast . 29 November 2020 . Chicago Tribune . 20 April 2016.
  5. Web site: A toast to Singapore's traditional breakfast. https://web.archive.org/web/20190408183056/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/asia/singapore/things-to-eat-kaya-kopi/. dead. April 8, 2019. National Geographic. April 5, 2019. July 16, 2020.
  6. Web site: Kaya Toast, Breakfast in Singapore. Visit Singapore. March 15, 2024. "Some eat this toasted sandwich for breakfast, others prefer it for tea. More often than not, it is accompanied by two soft-boiled eggs with runny yolks and translucent whites with a dash of dark soya and white pepper.".
  7. Book: Lonely Planet Food . Lonely Planet Eat Malaysia & Singapore: The complete companion to Malaysia & Singapore's cuisine and food culture (Lonely Planet Eat) . 1838695184.
  8. Web site: Kaya Toast . TasteAtlas. July 16, 2020.
  9. News: Zaccheus . Melody . Take a culture trip with luoli, kaya and toast . 29 November 2020 . The Straits Times . 1 March 2020.
  10. Book: Planet, L. . Food Lover's Guide to the World: Experience the Great Global Cuisines . Lonely Planet Publications . Lonely Planet Food and Drink . 2014 . 978-1-74360-581-3 . 2 September 2021 . 236.
  11. Web site: Kaya Toast . TasteAtlas. July 16, 2020.
  12. Web site: The Hainanese started S'pore's kopitiam culture & created fusion food. MothershipSG. July 10, 2019. March 3, 2024.
  13. Web site: About Us. Killiney Singapore. March 13, 2024.
  14. Web site: The Last Hainanese Stronghold. Makansutra. November 21, 2013. March 13, 2024.
  15. Web site: Singapore Tourism Board . "STB to Launch 'Uniquely Singapore Shop & Eat Tours'" .
  16. Stone, George W. "Obsessions Breakfast." National Geographic Traveler, 2016.
  17. Leong, S. "Toast to toast". The Straits Times, 16 April 2006.
  18. Web site: Kaya Toast. New York Times. Kyo Pang. April 24, 2022.
  19. Web site: 10 Traditional & Hipster Kopitiams In Klang Valley To Satisfy Your Roti Bakar Cravings. Says. May 10, 2021. April 24, 2022.
  20. Web site: Kaya Toast: The Story of One of Malaysia's Best Breakfasts. Katherine Sacks. Epicurious. February 28, 2017. April 24, 2022.
  21. Sun L, Lee DE, Tan WJ, Ranawana DV, Quek YC, Goh HJ, Henry CJ . Glycaemic index and glycaemic load of selected popular foods consumed in Southeast Asia . Br J Nutr . 113 . 5 . 843–8 . March 2015 . 25716365 . 10.1017/S0007114514004425 . free .
  22. Web site: A TASTE OF SINGAPORE. Tourism Information and Services Hub (Singapore). August 21, 2020. March 15, 2024.
  23. Web site: From kaya toast to laksa: UK-based content creator only eats Singapore food for a day. Asia One. November 18, 2023. March 15, 2024.
  24. Web site: 이재은. CU에서 떠나는 '싱가포르 미식여행'…칠리크랩·카야토스트 판매 - 머니투데이 . news.mt.co.kr . 27 October 2021 . ko . 29 June 2021.
  25. Web site: Ganesan . Natasha . Kaya toast, nasi lemak featured on commemorative coins to mark UNESCO hawker culture inscription . CNA . 20 October 2021 . en.
  26. Web site:
    1. trending: 'Singapore's kaya toast' in world's top 50 sandwiches list, Malaysians say it was 'stolen' from them
    . Today. March 13, 2024. March 15, 2024.
  27. Web site: 'Singapore kaya toast' is among world's 100 best sandwiches. Malaysians say it's 'stolen' from them. Today. March 13, 2024. March 15, 2024.