Kaya toast facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kaya toast

Kaya toast with coffee sold at Ya Kun Kaya Toast
Type	Toast
Course	Staple food
Region or state	Southeast Asia
Created by	Hainanese cooks during the Straits Settlements period
Serving temperature	Hot
Main ingredients	kaya (coconut jam)
Glycemic index	49 (low)

Kaya toast is a yummy snack made from two slices of toast. It has butter and a special spread called kaya. Kaya is a sweet jam made from coconut. People often eat kaya toast with coffee and soft-boiled eggs. It's a very popular breakfast food in Singapore. You can find it in many coffee shops, called kopi tiam, and famous places like Ya Kun Kaya Toast and Killiney Kopitiam.

The Story of Kaya Toast

Kaya toast dipped into soft-boiled egg

Many people believe that Hainanese immigrants created kaya toast. These immigrants came from Hainan, an island in China. They used to work as cooks on British ships. When they came to the Straits Settlements (parts of Southeast Asia controlled by Britain), they changed their cooking. They used kaya jam instead of Western fruit jams.

In the past, you could only find traditional snack shops in a few places. These included Chinatown and Balestier Road in Singapore. But then, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) started to promote local street food. In 1994, they began an event called the Singaporean Food Festival. This festival happens every year. In 2004, kaya toast was chosen as a symbol for local snacks. It was part of the "Uniquely Singapore Shop & Eat Tours."

The government also helped kaya toast businesses. They moved street coffee carts into special food centers called hawker centres. By 2005, there were over 70 places selling kaya toast in Singapore. Now, you can find kaya toast in almost every coffee shop and hawker centre.

The way kaya toast is made has changed over time. Sellers now use electric grills instead of old charcoal grills. They also buy bread from factories instead of making it themselves. But one thing has stayed the same: the kaya spread. Famous places like Ya Kun Kaya Toast still use traditional recipes for their kaya.

In 2021, a South Korean store called CU started selling kaya toast. This was part of their "Singapore Gourmet Trip series." Also in 2021, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) made special commemorative coins. These coins showed kaya toast and other local dishes. They celebrated Singapore's hawker culture being added to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists.

Different Ways to Enjoy Kaya Toast

Kaya toast is usually served as a sandwich. It comes with coffee and two soft-boiled eggs. People often crack the eggs into a bowl. Then they add dark soy sauce and white pepper. You can dip your kaya toast into this egg mixture.

In Malaysia, a similar dish is called roti bakar. This is also toast with butter and kaya. Sometimes, people in Malaysia also call it "kaya toast" in English.

How Nutritious is Kaya Toast?

Kaya toast has different nutrients that give your body energy. Here is a simple look at what's in it:

A serving of kaya toast (about 108.7 grams) is considered a low Glycemic Index (GI) food. It has an average score of 49 on the GI scale. Foods with a low GI score release sugar into your blood slowly.

Making and Eating Kaya Toast

First, the bread is grilled or toasted. Traditionally, it was grilled over charcoal. After grilling, butter is spread on the warm toast. Then, the sweet kaya jam is spread on top of the cold butter.

To eat it the traditional Hainanese way, you need soft-boiled eggs. Crack the eggs into a bowl. Add some soy sauce and white pepper to taste. Then, dip your kaya toast generously into the egg mixture. It's best to eat it right away. The butter should still be cold when you take a bite.