Singapore International Foundation

Expats joget down memory lane on Peranakan heritage walk

In July, the Singapore Heritage Festival celebrated things Peranakan, and the SIF joined in the fun with its latest SIF Xpats Connect! event — “A Heritage Walk with the Peranakans” — which took participants on a journey through the colourful culture of the Straits Chinese. Over centuries, the Straits Chinese have evolved into a community of people who observe Chinese traditions, yet show a strong Malay influence in their food, language and dressing.

The participants visited the newly reopened Peranakan Museum which exhibits the most comprehensive collection of Peranakan artefacts in the world. The event guide, Iris, a Peranakan herself, brought to life the richness of the Peranakan culture with lively commentary about the heritage items on display, such as the colourful, embroidered costumes, beadwork, porcelain and most notably, the Peranakan furniture.

The stop was the Clarke Quay Food Street where participants sampled tasty Nonya treats. After the main courses, such as the traditional ‘dry’ laksa, ayam buah keluak (a distinctive Peranakan-style dish), nonya chap chye (stewed cabbage with dried bean curd skin), and kueh pietee (wafer shells filled with yam bean), carrots and fried bean curd. They also had a taste of Peranakan snacks like chendol (finely shaved ice drizzled with coconut milk, palm sugar, and handmade green agar agar bits) and durian pengat (a smooth whipped durian).