You might have heard about Singapore’s last kacang puteh man’s uncertain future outside Peace Centre through the grapevine. Well, those concerned will be glad to learn that he has shifted to a storefront at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange as of 1 Aug 2023. Hopefully, this new booth means the charming owner won’t have to forsake his kacang puteh again.
55-year-old Amirthaalangaram Moorthy’s simple trade has earned him a lot of media attention over the years, leading to Singaporeans endearingly dubbing him the ‘last Kacang Puteh man‘. While the term ‘kacang puteh‘ specifically refers to chickpeas, it is colloquial slang for an assortment of snacks that include murukku, peanuts and the like. This once-common treat has tragically dwindled in popularity and is now enjoyed mostly by older folks.
After the drop in business caused by the circuit breaker, Moorthy faced financial troubles and was forced to shutter his cart at Peace Centre in Feb 2023. Some reprieve came later the same month when the landlord waived his fees for 6 months. Despite the assistance, the venue at Peace Centre didn’t work out.
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Even after these hardships, Moorthy’s jovial attitude has persisted. Already, loyal customers are flocking to the new kiosk, making small talk as Moorthy prepares his snacks. I ended up grabbing two packets for myself. The kacang puteh are priced from S$1.50 to S$2.
I distinctly remember my own experiences downing packets of kacang puteh, way too many to be healthy for a kid my age then. After tasting them today after so long, I realised there is nothing like it in the wide range of modern snacks. Roasted nuts coated in fine sugary powder, an inoffensive snack for anyone with a sweet tooth. Yet I found myself unable to resist fishing for more.
There was a sharp bite to the tongue from the get-go with the murukku, accompanied by its equally pervasive fragrance from the myriad spices. Its salty crumbs had enough separation between them to allow for a welcome variance in flavour. Peculiarly, I found that alternating between both packets of kacang puteh resulted in a potent fusion for my taste buds.
Overall, it’s not hard to see why these snacks were so popular back in the day. Against the market-dominant Western brands that line every store’s snack section, though, it’s an uphill battle.
If you ever miss the taste of old-school snacks, the new kacang puteh stall is conveniently located within Toa Payoh Bus Interchange itself.
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Kacang Puteh
158 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Block 158, Singapore 310158
Kacang Puteh
158 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Block 158, Singapore 310158
