
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
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kim Kardashian, John Leguizamo and more react to ICE immigration raids
Celebrities around the country are sharing their thoughts on the ICE immigration raids that began in Los Angeles last week. Kim Kardashian took to her Instagram Stories to issue a statement. 'When we're told that ICE exists to keep our country safe and remove violent criminals- great. But when we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families in inhumane ways, we have to speak up. We have to do what's right,' she wrote. 'Growing up in LA, I've seen how deeply immigrants are woven into the fabric of this city. They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers, and family. No matter where you fall politically, it's clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants. We can't turn a blind eye when fear and injustice keep people from living their lives freely and HAS to be a BETTER way.' The Skims co-founder then posted a clip of Doechii's acceptance speech from the BET Awards from the night before where she blasted the Trump administration over the raids and mobilization of the National Guard. Meanwhile, actor and comedian John Leguizamo used his platform to share a video message to his followers. 'Your protests are beautiful. Protesting is as American as apple pie. But Trump wants to create a situation. He wants to be able to call on the Insurrection Act. He wants to create martial law so he can take over every government in every city and every state, so don't give him that,' the actor pleaded to his followers. 'Don't give him what he wants. I mean, he's trampling on all our democratic values of due process, of listening to courts and the judiciary. Just stay calm, stay peaceful. Don't let don't give him what he wants.' He's not the only person speaking out. Standup comedian Gabriel Iglesias, who is a Los Angeles native, shared a post by comedian Alfred Robles to his Instagram Stories, where he was asking if his followers knew of any street vendors in the East L.A., Montebello, Whittier, and La Habra areas who were still working under these circumstances. 'I would like to donate to them so they could go home and be safe with their family,' Robles wrote after encouraging his followers to direct message him the information of those who fit this category. Actress Eva Longoria also posted a video message on Instagram. She called the mass deportations 'inhumane' and 'hard to watch.' She noted that the discord around the situation was 'un-American.' 'We all can agree, nobody wants criminals in our country, nobody wants rapists, nobody wants drug dealers, nobody wants bad actors in our country- that's not what's happening,' the film producer explained. 'These roundups are happening in birthday parties, in elementary school graduations, Home Depot. Those are not criminals. I hope that everyone has more compassion for this issue and realizes we have industries dependent on immigrant labor.' She went on to explain that 'these are people who feed us and take care of us and take care of our families and our children and our communities and we can't deny them as humans. We just can't.' 'For those of you who keep yelling, 'Well, you should've come here legally. Get in the back of the line,' there is no line. This mythical line that people are talking about. There's people have been waiting for citizenship for 25 years that have been 'in line.' I just ask for you guys to educate yourself, if you're out there yelling 'Good, they deserve this,' no, they don't. They're hardworking people from my community, and I think we need to have more compassion for them. They want to just come here and work and provide for their families.' In the post's caption, she listed support organizations like the Immigrant Defenders Law Center, SEIU California, National Day Laborers Organizing Network, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, aka CHIRLA, and the day laborer program IDEPSCA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Fat Joe & Jadakiss Host Father's Day Lunch for 70 Families Impacted by Criminal Justice System
Fat Joe and Jadakiss hosted a Father's Day luncheon at Sei Less NYC on Wednesday afternoon (June 11) for 70 fathers and their families who have been impacted by the criminal justice system. The Joe & Jada podcast co-hosts shared words of wisdom and traded stories with the families on hand while munching on an array of delectable Asian fusion dishes at the Manhattan staple. More from Billboard Fat Joe & Jadakiss Team Up to Launch New Music, Sports & Culture Podcast Jewish Groups Withdraw From 2025 San Diego Pride Festival Over Kehlani's Support For Palestine Elizabeth Hurley Gushes About Being 'In Love' in Birthday Suit Picture Amid Billy Ray Cyrus Romance After posing for photos and selfies, some of the fathers even had the chance to play their own music for the pair of New York rap veterans throughout the afternoon. 'A lot of kids grew up, parents used drugs and parents in jail and all that — the fact that I had my father, a real leader in my household, and working and always kept me focused on the right things,' Joe said of his relationship with his father. 'Kiss reflected on the importance of helping reintegrate those who were incarcerated back into productive members of society. 'Just hitting that switch to let them know that they can come back and get right due to whatever hardships they went through,' Jada said. 'There's some hope now when you come back to get readjusted. Hopefully change your financial situation.' Joe also implored fathers who have fractured relationships with their kids to reconnect. 'Reconnect with your kids because sometimes kids can get bitter their parents were away in jail,' Joe added. 'You gotta find that bond. It's always there, but you gotta find that red tape to get in sync.' He continued: 'Start now. Forget if you messed up the last 10, 20, 30 years. Start now to be a productive father and get your relationship with your kids. … On New Year's everyone want to lose weight; I think Father's Day should be an adjustment with you and your kids.' Joe and Jadakiss hosted the event in collaboration with Sei Less co-founder Dara Mirjahangiry and the REFORM Alliance, ensuring that this Father's Day these families had something to celebrate. 'Working with Fat Joe, Jadakiss and REFORM to celebrate these fathers at Sei Less was truly special,' Mirjahangiry said. 'Ahead of Father's Day, we really wanted to shine a light on these fathers who have been impacted by the criminal justice system and support their re-entry journey with compassion. It was a powerful way to bond through culture, community and cuisine.' Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Eva Longoria and More Speak Out Against Trump's LA ICE Raids: ‘Those Are Not Criminals'
Celebrities are making themselves known as vocal opponents of the ongoing ICE immigration raids as demonstrations continue in Los Angeles. 'There are ruthless attacks that are creating fear and chaos in our communities in the name of law and order,' rapper Doechii said while accepting her BET Award at the show Monday. 'Trump is using military forces to stop a protest, and I want y'all to consider what kind of government it appears to be when every time we exercise our democratic right to protest, the military is deployed against us. What type of government is that people are being swept up and torn from their families?' She continued: 'And I feel it's my responsibility to use this moment to speak up for all oppressed people, for Black people, for Latino people, for trans people, for the people in Gaza. We all deserve to live in hope and not in fear and I hope we stand together, my brothers and my sisters against hate and we protest against it.' Elsewhere, celebs like Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, John Leguizamo and more also spoke out on social media. 'What's happening in Los Angeles and across the country is heartbreaking.' Lovato wrote. 'Immigrants are a vital part of our community and the fabric of our country. While I feel powerless, I stand with those living in fear and hope that these resources can help in some way. Let's please continue to show up for one another and support our neighbors.' Eva Longoria called the raids 'inhumane' and 'un-American' in a video posted to her Instagram. 'We all can agree, nobody wants criminals in our country, nobody wants rapists, nobody wants drug dealers, nobody wants bad actors in our country- that's not what's happening,' Longoria said. 'These roundups are happening in birthday parties, in elementary school graduations, Home Depot. Those are not criminals. I hope that everyone has more compassion for this issue and realizes we have industries dependent on immigrant labor.' Kardashian posted similar thoughts to her Instagram Stories. 'When we're told that ICE exists to keep our country safe and remove violent criminals- great,' she said. 'But when we witness innocent, hardworking people being ripped from their families in inhumane ways, we have to speak up. We have to do what's right.' She added: 'Growing up in LA, I've seen how deeply immigrants are woven into the fabric of this city. They are our neighbors, friends, classmates, coworkers, and family. No matter where you fall politically, it's clear that our communities thrive because of the contributions of immigrants. We can't turn a blind eye when fear and injustice keep people from living their lives freely and safely. There HAS to be a BETTER way.' Leguizamo posted a video encouraging the protestors to keep at it as the raids drew on. 'Your protests are beautiful,' the actor said. 'Protesting is as American as apple pie. But Trump wants to create a situation. He wants to be able to call on the Insurrection Act. He wants to create martial law so he can take over every government in every city and every state, so don't give him that,' the actor pleaded to his followers. 'Don't give him what he wants. I mean, he's trampling on all our democratic values of due process, of listening to courts and the judiciary. Just stay calm, stay peaceful. Don't let don't give him what he wants.' The raids began late last week and sparked protesting over the weekend. President Trump mobilized 2,000 members of the National Guard to quell the gatherings – without consulting Governor Gavin Newsom – and then added an additional 700 marines to the mix on Monday. The protesting reached the point that LA Mayor Karen Bass placed a curfew downtown beginning Tuesday night. The post Kim Kardashian, Demi Lovato, Eva Longoria and More Speak Out Against Trump's LA ICE Raids: 'Those Are Not Criminals' appeared first on TheWrap.