Haw Flakes
These flaky discs are made from Chinese hawthorn, and the teachers used to give
them out. They tasted a bit like fish food, but they still bring back memories.
Thiam says: 'When I was a kid, my friends
and I would pretend that haw flakes were the Holy Communion. One of us would be
the priest and we'd all line up.'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $12 per tub.
Kitty Boy
I adored these – they were ice cream in
cones, yet they weren't the real deal. It was the process of squeezing your 'ice cream' into the cone. Cheap thrills!
Thiam says: 'In each box, you will find
a tube of the "ice cream" which you can squeeze out into the mini cones
provided.'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $.60 each.
Little Bob Dog
This one – which comes in cola or strawberry flavour – is the 'cigarette
candy'. I have friends whose parents banned them from eating these.
Thiam says: 'This is one sweet that many [have memories of pretending]
to smoke like the adults! We call them "cigarettes"!'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $.60 each
White Rabbit sweets
A milky sweet with an edible slip of translucent paper round the sweet. When
we were kids, it was just cool to eat paper.
Thiam says: 'Of course it is not literally
paper that you are eating! This is also one
sweet that many kids grew up eating.'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $1.50 per packet.
Mei Kuay Si
My grandmother used to buy these pieces of preserved radish. Someone said the
red colouring had been banned by the NEA.
Thiam says: 'In those days, it was sold in
a small plastic bag at provision shops,
"mama shops" – even school tuck shops.'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $2 per tub.
Ring Pop
These lollipops in a ring shape came in bright colours and were popular with girls.
Thiam says: 'You can wear it on your finger
and eat it. This was used to tease boys if they were going to "propose to their
girlfriends".'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $.50 each.
Whistle Candy
This round candy that you can whistle through used to annoy my parents – but
that's the whole point!
Thiam says: 'When you place it between your lips, you can whistle as loudly as you like. When it melts, all you have to do is replace it with another one!'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $2 each.
Tora/Xiao Din Dang
These boxes of round, chocolate-coated
biscuits come with a mystery toy. One had a tiny plastic ball you'd shoot into a net.
Thiam says: 'Most of us would remember going to the "mama shop" to buy these – not because of the biscuit, but for the toy
inside, of course!'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $.60 each.
Butterfly Crackers
I remember these crackers – made from
flour, eggs and vegetable oil – were really
hard and a bit oily. I wouldn't be surprised
if some kids lost teeth eating these.
Thiam says: 'This is a crispy, hard cracker.
Once you start you cannot stop – until your jaws ache. Many call it a "pig’s ear".'
Biscuit King, 130 Casuarina Rd (6454 5938, www.biscuitking.com.sg). MRT: Marymount. Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun noon-10pm. $3.30 per tub.
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