Founded in 1905 by two This store on Rochor Road holds the title of being the oldest store to have ever sold. Bakwa (Lugan), a sweet and savory snack especially loved in the Lion City. Over a century, Mr Lim and his brothers have built a reputation for culinary craftsmanship. Currently, the store is busy during the Lunar New Year festival period.
Bak kwa, a preservation and cooking technique that originated in ancient China, is a Hokkien cuisine that made its way to Southeast Asian countries, particularly Malaysia and Singapore. It is usually made from pork, and the preservation process involves slicing the pork into thin sheets and marinating it with sugar and spices. The sliced meat is air dried and cooked on a hot plate. The Malaysian and Singaporean versions of this delicacy have a sweeter taste than their predecessors. One thing hasn’t changed over the centuries: Once considered a luxury item for the Lunar New Year, the long lines to buy this sweet show its enduring popularity. Its popularity is obvious.
I miss my hometown of Anxi, China. Lim Chewee Guan started selling bak kwa as a way to assimilate the culture of her homeland into her new home, Singapore. He ran Kim Hock Guan in the Bugis area with the help of his older brother. Today, the facility is still family-run and has a history spanning five generations.