At certain times of the year, the team tends to overthink a little more than usual; and, around the National Day period, a rose-tinted light glows all over our childhood memories – especially around the snacks that accompanied us through cartoons, rowdy recesses, and frustrating study sessions. But, frankly, is it really a surprise that we still remember our most beloved childhood snacks?
Naturally, we had to share our absolute favourites with one another – in real life! Here’s what we picked. Mind you, we tried every single snack that had been brought.
Sesame Street's Cookie Monster mirrors our own snack-citement
Psst: if you want to see what they look like and which our favourites were, watch out for the reel on IG – coming right up.
BING BLOKBERGEN-LEOW
Snack shared: Tapioca Chips (with Chilli Sauce and Ikan Billis)
My dad used to buy this snack regularly. He would buy them whenever he saw some and bring them home for the family to share, and we all love it, even today.
The flavours have stayed essentially the same. I bought two different types for the team to try: one with ikan billis, and one without.
My husband, who didn't grow up with the snack, likes it too because it really tastes like what it is meant to be – tapioca and chilli!
MICHELLE LIM
Snack shared: Mitsuya Tasty Biscuit Stick
This is my favourite nostalgic snack because it has stayed unchanged over the years. I love how versatile it is. It’s delicious whether I eat it on its own or dip it into different jams and spreads – Nutella being my absolute favourite.
L-R: Michelle's Tasty Biscuit Stick; Gladys' Ice Cream Sandwich with Rainbow Bread
GLADYS NG
Snack shared: Ice cream sandwich (with rainbow bread)
The ring from the ice-cream man's motorcycle was music to my ears during my primary school days — especially after rounds of physically demanding games (i.e. Catching, Hide and Seek, Swinging Competitions, etc.) with the neighbour kids and cousins at the nearby playground. You'd be hungry, thirsty, and drenched in perspiration. The combination of a thick block of cold, creamy, sweet Raspberry Ripple with soft, colourfully dyed bread was the perfect snack. It was a sandwich made in heaven. Still is.
NICKMATUL HUANG
Snack shared: Steamed Rice Cakes, with orange sugar
It’s odd how some of the smallest moments just stick in your memory, sometimes even longer than those super spectacular occasions with fireworks, flowers and stars. These steamed rice cakes bring back immediate memories of weekend mornings in my Popo’s kitchen.
Once in a while, when Popo or Gong Gong returned from their morning market strolls, Popo would seat me in one corner of the huge sunshiny kitchen – out of the way so I would be safe, then place a steaming hot cup of freshly brewed Milo and these gorgeously coloured little cakes in front of me. Naturally, the cakes were accompanied with the accompanying neon orange sugar. It would be a sugary little weekend breakfast treat.
The cakes no longer taste the same, but they still feel like those weekend mornings.
L-R: Josephine's Pola Snack; Nick's Steamed Rice Cake
JOSEPHINE THOMAS
Snack shared: Pola Snack
I love this snack because it brings back fond memories of my primary school days when I would spend some (sometimes all) of my precious lunch money buying this snack instead of a proper meal – even after being told repeatedly by my mom not to buy snacks at school. Back then, each pack only cost 20 or 30 cents, and I remember I would buy 3 packs at a go during recess. That would be my entire lunch for the day. Fun times!
CLAIR ONG
Snack shared: Oheya Snack
When I was in primary school, I used to buy a packet of this every single recess, happily alternating between the different flavours. I loved it for its perfect saltiness and satisfying crunch — and the fact that it made wheat taste this good was a definite bonus.
Clockwise from left: Clair's Oheya Multi-Grain Snack; Bellis' Potato Wheel; Brenda's Craze Hottis
BELLIS LOO
Snack shared: Potato Wheels
I chose Potato Wheels because of its incredibly addictive flavour and texture. Salty, light, and crispy, it was the kind of snack I could never stop reaching for. It was sold at the mama shop behind my primary school, and every time I walked past, I would be tempted to buy a packet if I had some extra pocket money. Many afternoons, what started as "just a few pieces" would quickly turn into finishing the whole packet. It remains one of my favourite childhood snacks and brings back fond memories of those carefree school days.
BRENDA POH
Snack shared: Noi Craze Hottis
Craze Hottis was a big part of my childhood. I remember frequenting 7-Eleven with my friends to buy them — we would always try to overfill the square cup to get as many extra pieces as we can by stacking and balancing them on the "mountain" of pieces we already had. No doubt some pieces fell out on the way to the cashier counter! I dearly miss seeing the iconic Craze Hottis machine loaded with the warm crunchy treats.
YU JIA HUI
Snack shared: Chocolate Teddy Biscuits
These are one of my favourites whenever I crave something snacky. It has a nice and simple flavour, fun crunchy texture, and a cute shape! It was a nostalgic snack for me because I last ate was in primary school and I missed the chocolate taste so much that I could eat a whole bag by myself!
L-R: Jiahui's Chocolate Teddy Snacks; Kaviya's Apollo Layer Cake (strawberry)
KAVIYA MAHESH
Snack shared: Apollo Layer Cake
Apollo Layer Cake has a special place in my heart because it reminds me of grocery shopping with my dad when I was a child; it was so much fun! Every time we went for those grocery runs, my dad would always buy me an Apollo Layer Cake and it quickly became one of my favourite snacks. Eating it always brings back those simple happy memories.
After trying each and every single one of these, we rediscovered old-new favourites. So, do any of these snacks sound like something you’d pounce on?
