You’ve seen the sights, you’ve walked the streets, you’ve feasted to your heart’s content. Coming to terms with the end of your vacation isn’t easy, and it's time to settle on souvenir shopping. Let's face it, no one uses those tacky keychains sold at gimmicky souvenir shops. Instead, what better souvenir to bring back for your loved ones than food? Lucky for you, Hong Kong is famous for its food, and with a dozen famous confectioners all around the city, you’ll not be short of food souvenirs to share with family and friends!
Lao Po Bing (Wife Biscuit)
Featuring winter melon paste encased between a flakey pastry, Lao Po Bing is a favourite among locals in Hong Kong. Due to its popularity, it can be easily found at any confectionary in the city, but don’t just go into any shop to get these! For the best Lao Po Bing, head to Hang Heung, which bakes theirs fresh, daily. Another favourite is Wing Wah, which does more than just traditional Lao Po Bing. You’ll find contemporary fillings like green tea and black sesame here, too.
Egg Rolls
While this may be more of a Chinese New Year treat in Singapore, egg rolls (or known more commonly as love letters to us!) are an all year long snack in Hong Kong. Delicate, flaky and slightly sweet, this is a treat that is well-loved by both kids and adults. If you ask any local where’s the best place to get these, the answer would unanimously be Duck Shing Ho. If you’re thinking of buying back your weight in egg rolls, think again! it’s so popular they had to impose a 1.6kg quota for each shopper! Head there early; these sell out fast!
Pineapple Shortcake
While originally borne from Taiwan’s food scene, pineapple shortcakes have found their way to Hong Kong and have carved their place into the hearts of Hong Kongers. Think pineapple tarts, but better. With sweet and slightly tart pineapple paste paired with a rich, buttery, golden pastry, it’s not hard to see why. Get yours at Kee Wah, which does some of the best pineapple shortcakes in Hong Kong.
Egg Tarts
While the general consensus is that Tai Cheong and Honolulu Coffee Shop have some of the best egg tarts in Hong Kong, with outposts in Singapore, you’ll easily be able to get your fill here. Instead, take things up a notch with Portuguese egg tarts from Lord Stow’s. A household name in Macau, the egg tarts are available in Hong Kong from The Mandarin Cake Shop in Mandarine Oriental. At HKD20 per piece, these may cost a pretty penny, but boy, are they worth it.
Jenny Cookies
Found at Jenny Bakery, packed in their ubiquitous teddy bear tins, Jenny Cookies are highly sought-after, and with good reason. The cookies are delightfully buttery, and they mean it when they say it melts-in-your-mouth! Beware of imitations, they warn — they only have two branches, one located at Tsim Sha Shui, the other at Sheung Wan. The onus is on you if you buy it elsewhere and it doesn’t taste as good! Go for the Two Mix Butter Cookies tin at HKD140, featuring the original butter flower and the delicious coffee flower. Lines are long here; expect to queue!
Knorr Quick Cook Macaroni
If you adore Hong Kong-style macaroni, you’ll love this. Available in individual packets, with flavours like wanton, mushroom, chicken abalone and more, Knorr sells a range of instant macaroni for those who want a quick fix. It’s easily found in Hong Kong supermarkets, amounting to around SGD1 per packet. Just top with some luncheon meat and a fried egg, and you can relive the experience at home.
While not everyone will be eligible to travel under the Hong Kong-Singapore bubble, there's no reason why you can't bring a little bit of Hong Kong back for your loved ones through these tasty confectionary and snacks!
