Not many family businesses survive into the third generation, but the owners of Kim Choo Kueh Chang, a traditional rice dumpling and snacks specialist, have beaten the odds to continue the legacy. We dive deep into the Peranakan culture with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) director.
The story of Kim Choo Kueh Chang…
began with my grandmother, Lee Kim Choo, who first sold Nyonya (Straits-Chinese Peranakan woman) rice dumplings under a banyan tree along Joo Chiat Place. My father, the eldest in his family, later took over the helm of the business together with my mother. My brothers and I are now continuing the family’s legacy.
Kim Choo Kueh Chang today…
isn’t just a place for rice dumplings and Peranakan snacks. We do customisations of sarong kebaya and batik (traditional Peranakan costumes), wholesaling of Peranakan porcelain, and hold guided tours, talks, and workshops to promote our Nanyang-Peranakan heritage.
Contrary to popular belief…
Peranakans are not linked to a particular race, nor are they people who inherited the bloodline. The word “Peranakan” literally means “locally-born descendants of foreigners”. It is very much about the marriage of different cultures, and not about the marriage of two different races.
Did you know…
that pineapple tarts are also eaten and shared during Hari Raya, Diwali, Easter, and Christmas – not just during Chinese New Year? These sweet, bite-sized pastries are a distinctive Peranakan snack.
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in Katong and Joo Chiat my whole life. I have fond memories of my childhood, where I would play in mud, climb trees, and shoot marbles with my neighbours in the kampong (village).
I love that…
the Katong-Joo Chiat neighbourhood has a harmonious charm. Here, different religious buildings are located in close proximity. You’ll also find narrow roads with no names. It’s also where you can find Mempat trees, a Southeast Asian plant that bears small pink flowers that resemble cherry blossoms sometime in February and August.
Singapore has plenty of…
cultural hidden gems. Bukit Brown tells much of our untold story; and Jalan Bahar is home to the last two dragon kilns in Singapore. These places in our Little Red Dot give us a glimpse into our past, and how different cultures come together in a rapid and harmonious manner for prosperity.
Kim Choo Kueh Chang, 109 East Coast Road, p. 6741 2125.
This article was published in Singapore Insider, a series of quarterly print guides produced in partnership with Singapore Tourism Board. Pick up the printed edition for free at Singapore Visitor Centres island-wide, including Orchard (junction of Cairnhill Road and Orchard Road), orchardgateway, ION Orchard (Level 1 Concierge), and Chinatown Visitor Centre (2 Banda Street), or download the digital version.