Enjoy rare treats at inaugural Hinghwa Food and Cultural Festival

Pickled olive skewers, oyster cakes, red rice cakes and red mushroom tea - these rare treats are just a few of the more than 30 culinary delights that visitors can try at the inaugural Hinghwa Food and Cultural Festival.

- Chin Soo Fang

The Hinghwa community first arrived in Singapore in the late 19th century from Putian. The city in Fujian province is also known as Hinghwa and Puxian.

The six-day festival, which will be held at Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza in Orchard Road from March 12 to 17 from 11am to 10pm daily, celebrates Hinghwa heritage, culture and cuisine.

The event will also feature Hinghwa crafts by heritage brands and performances by artistes specially flown in from China.

It is organised by the Singapore Puxian (Hinghwa) Network, a clan association set up to bring together Hinghwa descendants in Singapore. It was inaugurated in 2021 and has about 700 members.

Entry to the festival is free for the public, but each visitor has to buy at least $20 in coupons to use at the food booths.