
Meet the family that sparked Singapore's pandan cake craze
A fluorescent green cake has become a daily staple in Singapore. Locals grab a slice of the ring-shaped pandan chiffon cake on their way to work or pick up an entire one for friends' birthday celebrations.
The light, fluffy cake gets its color and subtle grassy vanilla taste from the tropical pandan plant, which is believed to have originated in Indonesia's Moluccas Islands, and has been used in cooking for hundreds of years.
In Singapore, pandan chiffon cakes started appearing in the 1970s, says local food historian Khir Johari. Today, the dessert is ubiquitous in the city, appearing everywhere from mom-and-pop bakeries to upscale restaurants.
One particular family-owned bakery helped take the cakes citywide, Johari adds.
'I made it popular in Singapore,' says Anastasia Liew, who in 1979 founded the first Bengawan Solo cake shop, a small neighborhood store. 'Sorry, we're not very modest,' chimes in her son Henry, a company director, with a chuckle.
Anastasia initially sold cakes she baked at home but had to open a shop to meet the licensing requirements to sell to department stores. Today, Bengawan Solo has more than 40 shops across the city of six million people.
Henry says the bakery's popularity comes down to word of mouth, with a little help from celebrity fans. For example, eight years ago Singaporean Mandopop star JJ Lin gifted a Bengawan Solo cake to fellow judges on a Chinese singing show. In 2022, Taiwanese music superstar Jay Chou posted on Instagram about being gifted the cakes when he performed in Singapore.
The company sells other products like kueh lapis, a layer cake, ondeh ondeh, glutinous rice balls filled with palm sugar, and pineapple tarts, pastries filled with fruity jam. But pandan chiffon cake is its best-known product.
Last year, the bakery sold about 85,000 whole pandan chiffon cakes, which cost 22 Singapore dollars ($17) – achieving sales revenue of about 76 million Singapore dollars ($57 million) across its products, up 11% from 2023. But its biggest opportunities may lie overseas.
'I don't think we can grow very much more in Singapore,' says Henry. He adds that the company plans to focus on selling its products as food gifts across Asia, and hopefully further afield, by working on things like unique packaging. 'In the Asian region, there's a very strong gift giving culture,' he says.
It's impossible to leave Singapore's Changi airport without passing a Bengawan Solo. There are five stores at Changi, the world's fourth-busiest international airport in 2024, including one in each departure terminal.
The cakes have become wildly popular in places like Hong Kong, where the friends, family, and colleagues of travelers from Singapore often expect a cake. Demand has even sparked a secondary market on Facebook Marketplace and the app Carousell.
Henry says that airport stores now account for more than half of Bengawan's total sales, and its products seem to be the most popular with travelers from Hong Kong, mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
The company has considered expanding overseas, he says, but it has come up against barriers like high rental costs in Hong Kong. The family also wants to ensure its quality is maintained. Today, it uses mostly local sources for its ingredients and gets the 300 to 400 kilograms of pandan leaves from just across the border in Malaysia.
With or without Bengawan Solo, the global appetite for pandan appears to be growing. In Hong Kong, Pandan Man is selling the cakes in two upscale shopping malls. Pandan cakes, and pandan-infused dishes, from mochi egg tarts to cronuts, have started popping up across cities like New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Keri Matwick, a senior lecturer at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, who researches food and language, says that there's been a rise of interest in Asian baking in the US, including desserts flavored by ingredients like matcha, coconut and ube — a purple yam from the Philippines.
Matcha, a Japanese green tea that has been incorporated into everything from tiramisu to cupcakes to banana pudding, has become so popular that some tea sellers in Japan are warning of an impending shortage.
Now, it might be pandan's turn to go global. 'Matcha has already set that precedent of something green is okay,' says Matwick. 'I think (pandan is) starting to emerge as more of a star than it ever has before.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
The Labubus got me — and I learned a trick to finally buy one
I thought I was strong. Then I saw their strange, toothy smiles. The Labubus — little plush monster toys specifically marketed at adults — hooked me. Over the next weeks, I embarked on an adventure of internet rabbit holes, hourslong TikTok livestreams, and several nights playing a game online before I finally learned a trick from Reddit that helped me snag one. I'm far from alone in my obsession: The Labubu craze has taken hold in the US, Asia, and the UK. There's something mesmerizing about the creature, originally created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung a decade ago. Now it is part of "The Monsters" line from Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company whose 2024 revenue doubled from the year prior, thanks in part to the "particularly impressive" performance of these crazy little creatures. Labubus first became popular overseas, as my colleagues in Singapore chronicled all the way back in November; we're just the latest country to catch the fever. In just the last month, US search interest in Labubus has spiked — and Americans are scrambling to get their hands on them. They are part status symbol, part weird little guy, and part bag accessory. Indeed, once they came across my social media feeds, I went from thinking "What is that?" to "I must have one." But it turns out that's easier said than done. The smaller Labubus that people hang on their bags start at $22, and the larger ones go up to $180, but you can't just go to a store or website and buy them. Instead, I entered the new world of Labubu "drops" — the timed releases of the monsters on their official web home — and learned that, to buy an authentic Labubu, my journey had only just begun. First came the Pop Mart TikTok lives: In the latest iteration of live shopping, the company holds live streams on TikTok where Labubus may or may not be offered. You have to bide your time and act fast to get a Labubu this way. Unfortunately, I am a brain-rotted geriatric Gen Zer and did not have the patience to stay on a livestream for what could be hours, though in the process, I began to understand the appeal of having QVC blasting on a TV in the background. The next method was going in person to a Pop Mart. There are a few stories in New York City, but there's no guarantee that they'd be stocked. Pop Mart paused in-store sales in the UK due to long lines, so I wasn't entirely sold on going in person. This is where my animal brain came in: The harder it became to get a Labubu, the more I wanted one. Its comforting texture, popular appeal, and exclusive availability created a perfect storm of psychological urges to get me to spend my money, and, as it seemed only harder and harder, all I wanted to do was buy one of these little monsters. In the meantime, I did get two Lafufus, knock-off Labubus that have become ubiquitous at New York City street stands and gift shops. They are horrifying, and I love them. I named one after one of my editors, who isn't quite sold on the hype around the cute monsters. Finally, I came across a new method for acquiring one of the monsters: Pop Mart launched a live game called Pop Now. Every night at a certain time, players have a chance to click through numbered virtual boxes containing Labubus, and, if you are fast enough to click on one before another player, you can virtually shake it and claim your prize. Then — and only then — would you get the privilege of buying one. I spent several nights toiling away at Pop Now to no avail. Finally, I checked the Labubu subreddit, which is filled with similarly enthralled (and very helpful) folks. From them, I learned that changing a few numbers in the URLto pull up different numbered lots would allow me to view boxes that aren't necessarily public-facing yet. This basically entailed me putting random numbers into the middle of the URL, while preserving the numbers at the start and end of the URL because they demarcated the type of product I was looking for. Thus, I snagged my Labubu. It's on the way from China, and it's pink, aka lychee berry; I am very excited. Do I think my Labubu will solve all of my problems? No. Did I need one? Probably not. But the thrill of the chase got me; it is, after all, a consumer tale as old as Beanie Babies and other trinkets. It also shows what Americans are willing to spend on right now, even with economic concerns and tariff confusion — it turns out we just want weird little guys. Are you a Labubu lover, hater, or hopeful buyer? Do you have another product obsession? Contact this reporter at .


Tom's Guide
an hour ago
- Tom's Guide
'Ginny & Georgia' season 4: Everything we know so far
Good news for fans of "Ginny & Georgia": We won't have to wait too long after that shocking season 3 finale to see how things shake out for Georgia (Brianne Howey), Ginny Miller (Antonia Gentry) and the rest of Wellsbury, MA, in season 4. Yes, more episodes of Netflix's popular mother-daughter dramedy are already in the works and, knowing this bunch, there will be plenty of twists and turns in our TV future — especially after the finale dropped some some life-changing (or life-starting) news for one half of the titular duo. In case you missed it, "Ginny & Georgia" debuted in February 2021 and quickly became one of the best Netflix shows, with a combined 967.2 million hours viewed between the first and second seasons. It charmed fans with its "Gilmore Girls"-esque central relationship between young single mom Georgia and teen daughter Ginny, as well as its small-town quaintness, all mixed with the pulpy thrillers of a good page-turning mystery. So, with things already in motion for a fourth chapter of the Millers' story, here's everything we know about "Ginny & Georgia" season 4. (Warning: Season 3 spoilers ahead!) Seeing as how the third season of "Ginny & Georgia" only just premiered on Netflix on Thursday, June 5, the streamer hasn't yet officially announced a release date for season 4. The writers' room for season 4 kicked off in February of this year, per an Instagram update. Going by previous seasons, which all had a near-two-year gap between them, we could expect the next installment of the Netflix series sometime in 2027. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. A post shared by 𝐆𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐲 & 𝐆𝐞𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐚 (@gngbts) A photo posted by on Back in May 2023, Netflix picked up "Ginny & Georgia" for a double renewal, guaranteeing not only a third season but also a fourth for the fan-favorite series. The series also welcomed a new showrunner, taking over from Debra J. Fisher: Sarah Glinski will lead the team for the fourth season, as she did for season 3. No official casting news has been released just yet regarding the "Ginny & Georgia" season 4 cast. However, you can't have "Ginny & Georgia" without the actresses playing them, so obviously Brianne Howey and Antonia Gentra will both be back for the show's fourth season. It's likely the two Miller actresses will be joined by other returning favorites including Diesel La Torraca (Austin), Felix Mallard (Marcus), Nathan Mitchell (Zion), Scott Porter (Mayor Paul Randolph), Jennifer Robertson (Ellen), Sara Waisglass (Max), Raymond Ablack (Joe), Katie Douglas (Abby), Chelsea Clark (Norah) and Katelyn Wells (Silver). And given that we saw that some of Georgia's family members resurface at the end of season 3, including her incarcerated father, there might be a few more familiar faces joining the drama next season. It looks like there are more Millers in our future. At the end of the season 3 finale, it was suggested that milk-craving Georgia is with child ... but whose? Is the father her ex-husband Mayor Paul (Scott Porter) or hunky cafe owner Raymond Ablack (Joe), with whom she shared a steamy moment a few episodes prior? We don't yet know the answer to that question — 'It's complicated," series star Brianne Howay told Tudum — but creator Sarah Lampert did confirm that the mother of two will officially become a mother of three in season 4. Fittingly, Lampert also revealed to Tudum that the official theme for "Ginny & Georgia" season 4 is 'Cycles and Origins.' As Georgia and the Millers contemplate their futures — literally, with a new life on the way — they will have to reckon with their family's past. 'Sarah has some incredible things planned, and I can't wait to see more about the circumstances that shaped Georgia,' Howey shared. "No one in the Miller family will be the same after this season," Glinski told Entertainment Weekly. "We talk about Georgia changing, but Ginny has changed, Austin has changed, and there's no going back." We saw examples of just how Ginny and Austin have changed in how they navigated their mother's murder trial in season 3, pulling their own behind-the-scenes schemes to ensure their mom's freedom. 'Once Georgia realizes how her kids manipulated this situation, it's quite sobering,' Howey shared with Tudum. 'It's also the final straw that leads Georgia to finally want to go to therapy, to finally break the cycle. She's now seeing in very real terms what her actions have done to her children, because now her children are re-creating her actions.' 'We thought the biggest consequences are how her children are changed through the process," Gilnski added. "The burden she leaves on Austin and Ginny at the end of Season 3 is what we'll have to deal with in Season 4.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
She Let Her Followers In on Her Dating Life. They Witnessed Her Love Story in Real Time (Exclusive)
Maddie shared her dating ups and downs exclusively with her Instagram Close Friends, unknowingly chronicling a real-time love story A casual DM from a younger man named Mikey turned into something unexpected: respect, chemistry and a deep connection Just months later, Maddie's followers watched her go from 'I can't do this anymore' to 'I need him biblically' — and ultimately to saying yes to his proposalIn a now-viral Instagram video, Maddie scrolls through a year of Close Friends stories, narrating the real-time love story she didn't know she was capturing. 'You post your dating stories on Close Friends,' she says in the clip, 'and they watched you fall in love.' When she first invited a few followers into her inner circle, it was just to vent about the chaos of dating in her 30s. 'I posted on my story like, 'If you want to be on my Close Friends to hear more dating stuff, let me know,' and 300 girls said yes,' Maddie tells PEOPLE. The rest of the story unfolded in voice notes, videos, screenshots and tearful recaps shared only with those women. Her digital diary became a safe space not just for storytelling, but for solidarity. 'Honestly, last year was the worst dating experience I've ever had in my life,' she says. 'All 300 of those girls can attest to it.' By early 2024, she was cautiously stepping back into dating after a long break. Burnt out from bad dates and disillusioned with the process, she told herself she'd date just to have fun — no pressure, no expectations. 'I pretty much was like, I'm never gonna find love,' she says. 'But at least I can have fun… at least they're getting some entertainment out of it.' Then, one morning, she posted a quick video from the gym. A guy named Mikey, who followed her online, messaged her, casually noting they went to the same gym, though they'd never seen each other in person. 'I thought he was a trainer trying to sell me a package,' she laughs. 'Because also, I do not get hit on [through] Instagram.' But then came the message that made her pause. 'If it's not obvious, I think you're really pretty,' he wrote. A few days later, they went on their first date. 'I was literally in the car right before, almost in tears,' she remembers. 'I was just like, I cannot go on like these first dates anymore.' But that date turned out to be different. 'Even though my expectations were super low going in, when he walked in, I felt like my body took a screenshot,' Maddie laughs. While everything seemed to be going well, Maddie was hesitant because Mikey looked significantly younger than her. 'When I asked how old he was, he said 26,' she says. 'I was like, do you know how old I am? I'm 35.' Back in the Close Friends group, she debriefed immediately. She told them 26 might be too young, even if he was kind, smart and incredibly attractive. 'I was like, I don't know if I could do that,' she says. 'And they were just like, just give it a chance.' So she did. And with each date, her resistance softened. 'He's responsible, he doesn't go out, he honestly acts older than I do,' she says. 'We always joke that he's 41.' Soon after, Maddie posted the now-viral phrase that marked a turning point in her feelings. 'I need him biblically,' she wrote, adding, 'It's from a Britney Broski sound. It was more hedonistic, if anything, not like I needed to read the Bible with him.' Around that same time, Mikey introduced her to his parents, just two weeks in. 'That's crazy,' she says. 'But I was already like, this is it.' It wasn't just the relationship that felt serious, but how she was showing up in it. As a mom to her daughter Gabbie, dating meant navigating a whole different set of priorities. 'I used to be scared to bring up my daughter,' she says. 'But with this relationship, I was just like, you know what, Gabbie is a big part of my life.' She made it clear from the beginning that Gabbie wasn't going to be hidden or minimized. Mikey didn't flinch. 'When I told him I had a kid, I thought he was gonna be like, I'm not interested,' Maddie says. 'But it didn't faze him at all.' Before they even met, Mikey spoke about Gabbie with gentleness and respect. 'When they finally met, they got along really well, and he just played with her all day,' she says. It was that moment, seeing how he treated her daughter, that cemented everything. 'Gabby liking you is more important than my family liking you all combined,' she says. 'If Gabby doesn't like you, this is not gonna work.' And he did. From day one, he put his best foot forward. Meanwhile, Maddie's followers were catching feelings right along with her. 'Every time I would meet a man, the group chat would be like, 'That's your husband,' ' she says. This time, she asked them to hold off. 'We've said that a few times and we have been wrong every time,' she says. 'So from now on, don't call him my husband.' Mikey was the only man she didn't give a nickname to. 'I don't think he needs a nickname,' she says. 'He just went from the guy from Instagram to my boyfriend to my fiancé.' The proposal came quicker than expected. They had talked about a summer engagement, but Mikey couldn't wait. 'I think we went to Olive Garden and he was like, I can't wait until July,' Maddie says. 'If I have that ring, I'm going to have to propose to you immediately.' She knew the proposal was coming, but didn't want to be caught off guard. 'I told him I didn't want to be surprised with no nails done,' she laughs. So he planned everything. He made sure her nails were done, she received a massage, and even a special dress she had picked out months before. 'We were able to almost plan it together,' she says. 'He executed it, but I got to tell him everything I wanted.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Looking back now, Maddie feels grateful she documented it all — every high, every heartbreak, every glimmer of hope. 'I go back to my archives and see where I was a year ago today,' she says. 'Some of the videos, I'd be crying, like, this is the worst.' But she also sees growth and grace. 'You could see almost like the light returning to my eyes from when we met,' she says. Her journey through dating in 2024 was painful, but it shaped her vision for love. 'Had I not had that, I don't think I would have ever found Mikey,' Maddie says. 'Even if I did, I don't think I would have appreciated him.' She stopped dating for a husband and started dating for herself. 'I just wanted to meet people, go to my favorite restaurants, and be social,' she says. That freedom helped her figure out what she truly wanted, which was kindness, generosity, and softness. 'And not just with me, but with everyone,' she adds, saying she found all of that in Mikey. 'My expectations were so low,' she says. 'And now I genuinely can't imagine my life without him.' Read the original article on People