Singapore 12October2025: Exploring Peranakan Heritage
Singapore’s Peranakan heritage refers to the rich and unique culture of the Peranakans, also known as the Straits Chinese. The community has a distinctive heritage combining elements of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian cultures. The term Peranakan refers to the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malay Archipelago, including Singapore between the 15th and 17th century. They intermarried with local Malays and Indonesians creating a unique hybrid culture. The Peranakan enclave in Singapore is the Katong area where shophouses showcase a unique architectural style, featuring colourful facades, intricate tiles and ornate carvings reflecting their heritage’s wealth and cultural identity.
Our visit included visiting a family business/museum noted for Peranakan cuisine where we listened to a lecture on Peranakan culture and with tea sampled various pastries made with glutinized rice. The greenish coloured one topped with caramelized coconut giving it a delightful smoky flavour was stellar.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 