The papaya (Carica papaya) is widely distributed in most tropical countries and islands, where it thrives in the warm climate. Papaya plants are extremely common in Singapore and are often cultivated in private gardens. In 1993, special stamps featuring the papaya, ...

Ciku (Manilkara zapota), a tropical fruit tree also commonly known as sapodilla, belongs to the family Sapotaceae. Various species are grown and used worldwide for different purposes. Due to the fruit’s resemblance to a pear, it was also called Manilkara achras, ...

The durian (Durio zibethinus) is often dubbed “king of tropical fruits” and a native of Southeast Asia. The name “durian” was derived from the Malay word for thorns, duri. The renowned naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, said this about the fruit: “It is like a ...

Rojak is a local salad of mixed vegetables and fruits, drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce comprising local prawn paste, sugar and lime. Rojak in Malay means "mixed", but the dish exemplifies the cultural diversity of Singapore, including both Chinese and Malay ...

Various cakes, fruits, sweetmeats, nuts and delicacies are popular treats served and eaten during Chinese New Year as part of festivities celebrated in Singapore by those of Chinese descent. These items are served primarily because their names have auspicious double ...

Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola), or Carambola, is a tropical fruit native to the Malayan archipelago and belongs to the family Oxalidaceae. With its sweet-sour taste, the starfruit is a popular fruit in Singapore, most often eaten raw. The starfruit displays a star ...

Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is a tropical fruit belonging to the family Sapindaceae. The word rambutan is derived from the Malay word rambut which means “hair”, a reference to the numerous hairy protuberances of the fruit. The fruit is often red but sometimes ...

A tropical oasis in the heart of Orchard Road, the Istana Park was officially opened on 6 September 1996. It is bordered by Orchard Road, Penang Road, Penang Lane and Buyong Road. The 1.3-hectare Istana Park is a landmark situated opposite The Istana, Singapore’s ...

The dragon fruit (Hylocereus undatus) is a tropical fruit that belongs to the climbing cacti (Cactaceae) family. Widely cultivated in Vietnam, the fruit is popular in Southeast Asia. Apart from being refreshing and tasty, it has been noted that the dragon fruit ...

Behn, Meyer & Co. was established in Singapore on 1 November 1840 as a partnership between two Germans, Theodor August Behn and Valentin Lorenz Meyer. In its initial years, the firm traded in tropical produce such as coconut oil, pepper, camphor and rattan, but ...

The lychee tree (Litchi chinensis) is popular for the sweet fruit it produces. Although the lychee tree is not easy to grow in Singapore, this evergreen tree can still be found in different parts of Singapore including the Singapore Botanic Gardens. A particular ...

The buah keluak (Pangium edule) tree is indigenous to Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, and is known as kepayang and kluwek in the first two countries respectively. The seeds of the buah keluak fruit are used in Malay, Indonesian and Peranakan (Straits Chinese) ...

Bubble tea is a beverage originating from Taiwan comprising tea with fruit syrup or milk added, and then shaken. Tapioca balls or “pearls” are often added to the concoction as well. This beverage has undergone a few waves of popularity in Singapore.

Choo Hoey (b. 20 October 1934, Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia–) is the founder and conductor emeritus of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). He was the SSO’s resident conductor and music director from 1979 to 1996. A master in his field, Choo has gained a reputation ...

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea sp.) is a popular tropical and sub-tropical ornamental flower tha belongs to the family Nyctaginaceae. The Nyctaginaceae plant family consists of 28 genera and 250 species. Spectacular bougainvillea of different varieties have been ...

Chilli (Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum frutescens L.) is a hot-tasting tropical berry belonging to the Solanaceae family. It was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in tropical America, and its use spread rapidly throughout the world because of its pungent ...

The Mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) is a tropical and sub-tropical tree belonging to the family Rutaceae. Associated with good fortune by the Chinese, it is a features prominently in local Chinese New Year celebrations. The fruit is high in Vitamin C and its ...

The People’s Park Complex is a high-rise mixed-use building in Chinatown, Singapore. Completed in 1973, it is a landmark project in terms of architectural design and boasts a number of superlatives, including being the largest shopping complex in Singapore and ...

Edred John Henry Corner (b. 12 January 1906, London, England–d. 14 September 1996, Great Shelford, England) was a renowned botanist and Assistant Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens from 1929 to 1945. His extensive knowledge and research on fungi earned him ...

Mandai Orchid Gardens (MOG) was a commercial entity located at Mandai Lake Road. It was owned by Singapore Orchids Private Limited (SOPL), a worldwide exporter of cut flowers and live plants. Initially meant for growing and cultivating orchids, MOG was later transformed ...