 Kaya toast | |
| Type | Toast |
|---|---|
| Course | Breakfast |
| Place of origin | Straits Settlements |
| Region or state | Malacca, Penang and Singapore[1][2] |
| Created by | Hainanese cooks during the Straits Settlements period |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | kaya (coconut jam) |
| Glycemic index | 49 (low) |
| Similar dishes | 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 Singapore, 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 café chains such as Ya Kun Kaya Toast, Killiney Kopitiam and Breadtalk's Toast Box.[4]
- ^ "Walking through the tasty history of Singapore's Chinatown". Life: The Philippine Star. June 28, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
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.
- ^ a b "The 3 treasures on Singapore's street food trail". The Nation (Thailand). March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
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.
- ^ Tarulevicz, NT; S, Hudd. "From Natural History to National Kitchen: Food In The Museums Of Singapore, 2006-2017". pp. 18–44. Archived from the original on 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
- ^ a b Chu, Louisa (20 April 2016). "Breakfast quest in Singapore: Looking for history on toast". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
- ^ "A toast to Singapore's traditional breakfast". National Geographic. April 5, 2019. Archived from the original on April 8, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
- ^ "Kaya Toast, Breakfast in Singapore". Visit Singapore. Retrieved 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.
- ^ Lonely Planet Food. Lonely Planet Eat Malaysia & Singapore: The complete companion to Malaysia & Singapore's cuisine and food culture (Lonely Planet Eat). ISBN 1838695184.