Ji Xiang Confectionery: SG’s most famous Ang Ku Kueh store with humble beginnings

Whenever I think of ang ku kueh, the first local business that comes to my mind is the ever-popular Ji Xiang Confectionery.

It was founded by Mr and Mrs Toh, and had humble beginnings as a home-based business back in 1985. The business first started out as a hobby for Mrs Toh but then blossomed in popularity.

3 years later, Ji Xiang Confectionery opened its very own physical store in Everton Park, where it has been making and selling its famous creations ever since, with many loyal supporters still returning to purchase some goodies year after year. It remains their only outlet in Singapore.

When I visited Ji Xiang Confectionery, I was greeted by a large variety of flavours, way more extensive than your usual peanut and mung bean kuehs. They even had creations involving durian and corn!

What I tried at Ji Xiang Ang Ku Kueh

Ji Xiang Confectionery had 9 flavours when I visited their Everton Park store, though their Durian and Cempedak flavours were not available. I got one of each available flavour, and was greeted by a stunning mix of colours when I opened the box.

Kicking off the list of flavours I tried is the Peanut Ang Ku Kueh (S$1.10), a classic and well-loved flavour. As someone who can’t get enough of peanut, Ji Xiang Confectionery’s take on this dish checked all the boxes. The glutinous skin was chewy and bouncy with the perfect amount of generous peanut filling within.

The Sweet Bean Ang Ku Kueh (S$1.10) did not disappoint either. The fillings were smooth and subtly sweet, with a rich mung bean flavour and similarly generous fillings.

I was pretty surprised to see the intense red hue of the coconut filling in the Coconut Ang Ku Kueh (S$1.10), which contrasted against the vibrancy of the green glutinous skin nicely. The coconut fillings were chewy and fragrant with a slight crunch every time I bit into the kueh. If you’re a lover of coconut, you should definitely try this.

Hodunamu: Authentic Korean rice cakes by Korean ahjumma in Everton Park

Moving on, the Salted Bean Ang Ku Kueh (S$1.10) reminded me heavily of tau sar piah, with its fillings falling apart easily. The liberal amount of salted bean filling had a light salty taste, and its crumbly texture was a nice juxtaposition to the chewy glutinous skin.

I was most surprised by Ji Xiang Confectionery’s Corn (S$1.10) flavour, stuffed generously with a corn-infused sweet bean paste, complete with bits of dried corn kernels scattered throughout. This unique flavour wasn’t too sweet, and has a prominent aroma of sweet corn, perfect for those who enjoy this Asian dessert.

I personally really liked the Yam Ang Ku Kueh (S$1.20), which was stuffed with smooth and natural yam filling. Don’t worry about this ang ku kueh being artificial or overwhelmingly sweet, as it manages to strike the perfect balance between having an earthy yam aroma and having adequate sweetness to appeal to the masses.

Finally, I was most excited for the Black Sesame Ang Ku Kueh (S$2), which was packed with black sesame filling. When I bit into the creation, I realised that the black sesame paste had been mixed with some mung bean, diluting its grainy texture and nutty flavours a little. Though that was a tad bit disappointing, I still loved how generously stuffed the ang ku kueh was, and the black sesame aroma could still be tasted.

Final thoughts

It’s no wonder why Ji Xiang Confectionery has become as famous as it is. The business has proven itself to be one of Singapore’s most iconic brands, sticking to its humble and traditional roots while still delivering flavours that everyone can enjoy.

If you’re in need of a delicious yet affordable snack with lots of local history, their one and only outlet at Everton Park is where you’ll find it.

Expected damage: S$1.10 – S$2.50 per pax

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