Singapore is one of the most beautiful countries to visit. You will have a surely still have a lifetime of fun while going there. It is the cleanest and can be quite strict, when it comes to its rules and regulations. When it comes to technology and designs, the country contains some very advanced technologies and items, that will attract you beyond expectation. Not just the beauty of the country is one of the things that will mesmerise you, but the number of markets and shopping malls the country has is almost uncountable. Even if you take out quite some time off your schedule to go for shopping, there still won’t be enough time to go through all the markets or malls and pick all the things you desire.
Also, you need to be very careful about handling your budget, because everything is quite expensive in the country and so, buy only those things which you really want.
With the ladies, there are unlimited options to shop as compared to men and so you will definitely love to visit every market you can.
To make things easier to find and locate, we have brought you a list of the most popular items you can buy and save some time on searching everywhere and anywhere while wasting a lot of time.
Here is the list of 10 best things you can buy in any Singaporean market while visiting the country:
Singapore Sling
The Singaporean Sling has been established as the unofficial national drink of the country. It was originally founded by a bartender at Raffles Hotel Long Bar in the 1930s and since then, it has become the most popular and basic drink of almost all the locals. The trend of its popularity can also be seen among the tourists that keep visiting or visit the place.
At this point of time, the locals have created hundreds of recipes to recreate the original drink and so, you can get wide number of options to choose your favourite form of Sling. You can buy these pretty bottles of cherry pink liquor at various places in the country.
Some of the most famous places where you can buy them are, the iconic Raffles Hotel souvenir shops and the Raffles Hotel Long Bar, Changi Airport souvenir shops and all the major liquor or drink shops and supermarkets.You must definitely take the cute bottles of this drink with you as a souvenir to capture the essence of the country for your own self or with the loved ones.
Souvenirs with Miniature Merlion
If you are willing to learn something about the history of the country, try starting from a simple Merlion, and what it actually means to the country. It is basically a mythical creature containing half a body of a lion and the other half of a mermaid. The lion part of the body portrays Singapore’s original name, which is Singapura, meaning ‘Lion City’, and the mermaid part of the body shows the island’s origins as a fishing village.
Being the official mascot of the country, it is bound to have some deep roots for the people. Keeping this in mind, you will find a wide array of products dedicated to this creature in the entire country at various places. Different forms of Merlion souvenirs can be found like the original Merlion miniature model, statuettes, photo frames, snow globes, lighters, cigarette boxes, coasters, key chains, can openers, refrigerator magnets, ashtrays, as well as chocolates shaped Merlion.
You can find these items at various places including the most popular tourist attraction areas including Chinatown and almost every souvenir shop around the island. These will serve as another perfect souvenir to take back from the place to give you a picture of the real spirit of Singapore.
Orchid Perfumes
Orchid being the national flower of Singapore, it is quite an obvious and an amazing choice for you to take the rich Orchid perfumes as a souvenir remember the trip. People of Singapore have dwelled into the making of such perfumes from a long time and have created such strong and misty perfumes that you will absolutely love the them at one instance.
They have used all the natural infused oils and flower fragrance to handcraft such perfumes and make them available to everyone. Their unique collection come with awesome names like Orchids By The Bay, Aranda 1965, The Orient, One Degree North, Vanda 1981 and more to mesmerise you with the variety of items available. You need to buy the best perfume for yourself or for the people you love based on your taste and preference to go back with some fond fragranced.
You must definitely put this item in your list of shopping as it would be really incomplete without some good old country items. These perfumes are also available in a number of aromas and you will find them at Marina Bay Cruise Centre, 61 Marina Coastal Drive, Singapore Visitor Centre, Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway Emerald and all the major departmental stores and supermarkets in the country.
Asian Artefacts
Asian artefacts in Singapore can be found in abundance at almost every street markets or flea markets or shops and malls. You must definitely buy them as a souvenir for your own self or for your friends and family. There are a wide variety of artefacts that you will find at a dedicated shop for such things and one thing will be guaranteed, which is your sight.
They tend to be really pretty and unique with some very intricate and elaborative designs and come in different patterns and designs and shapes. Many antique pieces to precious gems to scrolls to what not, there is plenty for everyone. You can even take them back as gifts for people back home. These artefacts can be found at various places like Chinatown, Holland Village, Tanglin Shopping Centre and at some places in the street markets.
Ya-Kun Kaya Spread (Coconut Jam)
Kaya spread has been used by the people of Singapore as the most staple breakfast food item. It is very popular in the country and people can be seen daily consuming the Ya-Kun Kaya spread on their toast filled with butter and the spread. The jam is made from eggs, sugar, coconut milk, and pandan leaves. Not just as a breakfast item, this jam is also used widely in the preparation of various desserts, cakes and other sweets by the locals.
You can buy the coconut jam at almost all the supermarkets, malls and street markets held in the country. You should surely try this Singaporean delight with buttered toast and soft boiled eggs as starter and you will love the taste. This can be stored up to quite some time and so, take them as gift souvenirs for yourself or for your friends and family back at home to enjoy the jam even at your houses and be remembered of the country more often.
The jam can mostly be found at the main places that include Ya Kun Kaya Toast shops which are spread all over the island, Changi Airport souvenir shops and all the supermarkets and malls in the country.
Singapore Pressed Pennies
If you are a frequent visitor to the country, you must have definitely heard of pressed pennies available at various places in the city and know the amount of fun it involves.
For the new travellers; pressed pennies are just the elongated versions of your pennies that are engraved with some really cool and iconic designs for you to take back home and remember the country fondly. They will act as one of the best souvenirs of the island and you will really appreciate the place even after leaving and can also gift them to your loved ones.
There are several places in the country where you can find such penny pressor automatic machines being installed at almost all the famous tourist spots. Make your own pennies from these machines and take a world of memories from this place. Most visited places would be the Universal Studios, Gardens By The Bay gift shop, Singapore Coins and Notes Museum, Suntec City Mall, National Museum of Singapore and Resorts World Sentosa. Do visit these places and get your pressed penny now!
Tiger Balm Products
Tiger balm Is supposedly the most popular herbal ointment in all of Singapore. The healing effects have been found to be so good, that the business has expanded all over the world and these products are available almost everywhere now.
Originally, it was created in the ancient courts of Chinese emperors by a Chinese herbalist. Such operation was then expanded to Singapore, where it helped reach global recognition and today, is famous all around the globe. The balm has really good healing effects on regular use for muscle aches, joint pains, headaches and other muscle related pains.
The operations have grown so huge and that the company has even brought different variety of the product in the form of creams, gels and even sprays to capture a bigger market. You can buy the Tiger Balm products at all the departmental or pharmacies, even street markets in the island. This product is something that you can buy at your own place of residence, but try to take in the original product from the country to make the best use of the product as a souvenir.
Laksa Paste
We have seen some of the most famous and popular food items in the list that the whole country craves. Laksa paste is one such item, other than coconut jam and Bakkwa meat, that the locals love to eat. If you have become fond of the Singaporean taste and flavours, then you will definitely like the Laksa paste also.
It is made from the mix of Malay and Chinese styles of cooking, which is actually a traditional Peranakan noodle soup that is made of laksa leaves, prawn paste, lemongrass and coconut milk. You might see some drooling after reading the combination, and so, make sure to buy this edible item when you visit the country. The soup base is frozen to be a ready to cook paste for transportation purposes, so that it becomes easier to carry the containers across places.
The food item is not just available in the country, but also all across the world at various places, making its presence globally. But what I feel is, that when you are visiting the country, try to purchase this item from the origin place to enjoy the best of it. Buy the soup as an awesome souvenir for yourself or for your friends and family, to enjoy some Singaporean delight directly at your homeplace.
You can buy the paste at the Changi Airport souvenir shops and all the supermarkets and street markets around the country.
Gold Plated Orchid
Just like Orchid perfumes, the locals have crafted the national flower into jewellery as well. Gold plated Orchids are real orchid flowers being coated with 24K carat gold and then transformed into various ornaments like earrings, necklaces, pendants, brooches, pen holders, picture frames and much more. Such jewellery is fashioned by the local company RISIS. It will be like a luxury gift item or souvenir for your own self, like a gift for you or for the people you truly care about.
The spirit of the country tends to be strong with the representation of such jewellery and it becomes a must buy when visiting the city. Although, these items turn out to be expensive, but if you are looking for something special to take back, this is the one item that fulfils all the real essence of the country. And believe me, if you love gold jewellery and want to try something new, these gold plated orchids are the best choice you have got.
You can find these masterpieces at various places in Singapore at all the RISIS stores in the island, namely, the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Tangs Orchard, Suntec City Mall, Gardens by the Bay, National Orchid Garden at Singapore Botanic Gardens and Changi Airport. You can also find the artificial ones at the flea markets, if you are not looking for something expensive, but would like to own this beautiful piece of item.
Conclusion
Singapore is a country with many possibilities of exploration into the scenic beauty of the land and nature. You can have fun of a lifetime here and you will get all the quintessential things you could think about. With this being said, the country obviously has this huge variety of items inside of it to be explored as well.
There are a lot of things that will attract you and so to save some of your time while shopping for them, we have brought you the above list of things to specifically search for. These items are the most adored by the locals as well as the tourists and you will not regret buying all of them. Whenever you visit the country, make sure to try all or most of the items mentioned to make the most of the island.