Kaya toast

Kaya toastis a dish consisting of two slices oftoastwithbutterandkaya(coconut jam), commonly served alongsidekopiandsoft-boiled eggs.The dish was believed to be created by Hainanese immigrants to theStraits Settlementsin the 19th century while serving on British ships.
In Singapore and Malaysia, the dish is commonly consumed forbreakfastor as a late afternoon snack.It became integrated into coffeeshop culture, being widely available in eating establishmentssuch askopi tiams,hawker centres,food courtsand café chains such asYa Kun Kaya Toast,Killiney KopitiamandBreadtalk'sToast Box.
It is believed thatHainaneseimmigrants created the kaya toast by adapting what they had previously prepared while serving on British ships docked at ports during theStraits Settlementsperiod.The kaya spread was considered a replacement for Western fruit jams.The Hainanese eventually settled in Singaporeand openedkopitiams(coffee shops).Established in 1919 as Kheng Hoe Heng Coffeeshop, Killiney Kopitiam is one of the oldest coffee shops in Singapore specialising in the dish.Kopitiams started becoming a common sight in Singapore after theJapanese occupationaround 1945, when rental for commercial spaces were affordable.Mostly set up by the Hainanese, these kopitiams specialised in selling coffee, tea, cakes as well as making their own kaya.
In the past, traditional snack shops could only be found in a few locations such asChinatownandBalestier Road. However, Singapore started actively promoting itsstreet foodorhawkerfare via theSingapore Tourism Board(STB). In 1994,  it held a month-long event to advertise traditional foods called the Singaporean Food Festival, which is hosted every year. Particularly in 2004, Kaya toast was featured by the Singapore Tourism Board in its "Uniquely Singapore Shop & Eat Tours", serving as the symbol for a local snack.
Government efforts of placing coffee carts situated on the streets into hawker centres also significantly assisted the kaya toast business. As of December 2005, the Singapore foodscape houses an estimate of over 70 outlets selling kaya toast, excluding smallcoffee-shopsthat are not listed on the internet or does not have a website. Since then, kaya toast has become a regular item in café and can be found at almost every hawker centre.
The preparation method and appearance of kaya toast has changed. Sellers use electric grills instead of the traditionalcharcoal grills. Previously, hawker workers would use homemade bread but have now opted to order bread supplies from factories. While the methods and ingredients have been simplified, one thing that has yet to change drastically is the kaya spread itself. The kaya spreads used in renowned retailers, such as Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Killiney Kopitiam, are still produced from traditional recipes. It is also worth noting that changes in the method, menu, and economy have not necessarily led to a decline in traditional food sellers. Singapore itself does not prevent the rise of micro-entrepreneurs in the department of traditional food.
One slice of kaya toast is usually accompanied by another with butter, to make a sandwich, alongside coffee and two runny soft-boiled eggs, paired with darksoy sauceandwhite pepper.
In Malaysia,roti bakarortoastwhich is prepared with butter and kaya, is sometimes referred to as "kaya toast" in English.
One portion of kaya toast (108.7 gram) is categorized as a lowGlycemic Index(GI) food with an average score of 49 on the scale.
Kaya toast is generally associated with theSingaporean cuisine, due to the active promotion of the dish by the Singapore Tourism Board.
In June 2021, South Korean convenience store chainCUannounced that it has begun selling kaya toast at all of their stores as part of their "Singapore Gourmet Trip series".In October 2021, theMonetary Authority of Singapore(MAS) unveiledcommemorative coinsthat features kaya toast as well as other local dishes, as part of its commemoration over the inscription of hawker culture into theUNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Liststhat previous year.
In March 2024, kaya toast was listed as Singaporean at number 42 in the '100 Best Rated Breads in the World', by TasteAtlas.