(Credit: Jinning Li / Shutterstock)
Move over bak chang! It’s time to dig into some of the best kee changs in Singapore for the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival. Falling on June 3 this year, it’s time to stock up on your favourite golden-yellow kee changs so you can indulge in some of these traditional goodies. Read on to find out our recommendations on the best kee chang in Singapore!
Kee changs are rice dumplings made with alkaline glutinous rice. The alkaline taste is thanks to lye water that has been mixed into the rice. This is why kee changs are usually yellow! Bak changs on the other hand can vary in colour depending on the spices used in cooking the glutinous rice. There’s also that chewy, sticky texture as you bite into kee changs, not to forget that unmistakable alkaline aftertaste. Most kee changs contain sweet fillings like red bean paste, but there are plain ones that are usually eaten with a dip like sugar or kaya. Compared to bak changs on the savoury side, with fillings like meat, mushrooms, and more!
Not all rice dumplings are the same. Though dumplings are commonly referred to as bak chang, some kee changs have been lumped into the mix. Here’s how you can tell the difference between the two:
| Type of rice dumpling | Rice used | Colour | Flavour of filling |
| Kee chang |
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| Bak chang |
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Did you know that the origins of kee chang and bak chang date back to 340 AD? It all started when Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet, sacrificed himself for his country. He had drowned himself in a river and people rushed out in dragon boats to dump their handmade rice dumplings where his body was. They believed that fish in the river would consume these rice dumplings and hoped that this act could keep Qu Yuan’s body intact and unharmed. This is thus the reason why people commemorate Qu Yuan during the dragon boat festival with kee changs and bak changs.
One of our favourite ways to eat kee chang is with sugar. Whether it’s powdered sugar or coarse sugar, you can bet that dipping a plain kee chang in this will result in a lovely taste. The sugar helps take away a bit of that alkaline aftertaste and it adds a subtle crispy texture to this chewy rice dumpling!
Plain kee changs are also best served with gula melaka syrup on the side. This palm sugar syrup found in coconut palm trees has a complex flavour that’s sweet and caramel-like. The flavour of your plain kee chang will be elevated with some gula melaka!
Add a traditional, local taste to your kee chang by dipping it in some kaya! Just like how you’d pair french toast with this, the pandan flavour of kaya accentuates the sweetness of kee chang. It also helps that the kaya helps hide the alkaline aftertaste of kee changs!
The best way to reheat kee chang is by using a food steamer. This will allow the moisture to be retained while maintaining the kee chang’s chewy texture. If the kee chang has been frozen, leave the kee chang in the refrigerator to thaw for about a day before steaming them. Once that’s done, you’ll just have to steam these rice dumplings on high heat for about 10 minutes and they’re good to go!
Known as Singapore’s top rice dumpling brand, Joo Chiat Kim Choo has pride itself on its recipe that has been perfected through many generations. Paying extra attention to each rice dumpling, Joo Chiat Kim Choo has the best kee chang in Singapore that boasts subtly sweet, yet rich flavour. Filled with red bean paste, Joo Chiat Kim Choo’s kee chang has a nice bite with contrasting textures. What’s best about the Rice Dumpling Mini Bundle (available on Joo Chiat Kim Choo) is how you can choose to have both the plain and red bean filled ones. You can freely indulge in these yummy kee chang since they’re smaller than the usual rice dumplings, and you don’t have to worry about those calories!
Kee chang delivery details:
Daily, 9am – 2pm
$8 delivery, free for orders above $80
*Minimum advance order of 2 to 3 days required
Love your red bean kee changs? Yongle Dumpling takes this popular rice dumpling up a notch by adding whole red beans! Instead of just red bean paste, you’ll get a satisfying bite with their Red Bean Paste Rice Dumpling (available on Yongle Dumpling Official Store). The whole red beans help take away some of the sweetness from the paste, so it’s perfect for both the elderly and children alike!
Kee chang delivery details:
Delivers in 2 – 3 days
Daily, 10am – 2pm, 3pm – 7pm
$3.99 delivery, free for orders above $45
*Order before 12.30pm for next day delivery (except on public holidays and big sales days)
*Orders after 12.30pm will be delivered on the following working day
While most kee changs are wrapped in bamboo leaves, these Red Bean Rice Dumplings (available on SMH Food Group Official Store) are wrapped in lotus leaves! The lotus leaves impart a different aroma to these Red Bean Rice Dumplings, leaving them a subtle tea-like fragrance that’s unique from bamboo leaves. We also love how these kee changs veer from the usual triangular shape, making it easier to eat – think like a burrito! You can easily dip this kee chang into some powdered sugar to elevate the flavour of the red bean paste and bring out the aroma of the lotus leaves.
Kee chang delivery details:
Mon – Fri
Sat, 10am – 2pm (by special request only)
$3.99 delivery, free for orders above $45
*Orders made from 6am to 5.59am of the next day will be delivered in one working day
*Orders made from Fri 6am to Mon 5.59am will be delivered on the following Tues
Want a sweet kee chang but tired of the usual red bean flavour? Go for some Honey Date Rice Dumplings (available on the Tunglok Group Official Store)! You’ll find a sweet honey date paste and some chewy honey dates in the centre of each rice dumpling. If you love the sticky texture of kee changs then this Tunglok rice dumpling takes the cake! What’s even better is how honey dates can help with digestion and reduce cholesterol levels. With the beautiful gift bag, this Honey Date Rice Dumplings from Tunglok is the best kee chang in Singapore to gift your family and friends!
Kee chang delivery details:
Mon – Fri, 9am – 4pm
Sat, 9am – 1pm
$8 delivery, free for orders above $100
*Order before 11am for next day delivery (subject to availability)
Shangri-La Singapore has truly transformed the traditional sweet kee changs. Instead of the usual flavours, the Heritage of Asia Rice Dumpling Gift Set (available on Shangri-La Singapore Official Store) features a purple rice dumpling that has a sweet potato custard centre. The custard centre is wrapped in a blanket of mochi, adding to that chewy texture with most kee changs. These best kee changs in Singapore are great for health too! Did you know that purple rice is rich in fibre that can aid digestion, and sweet potato can greatly boost your immune system? Go ahead and binge on these Shangri-La rice dumplings with peace of mind!
Kee chang delivery details:
Delivers in 2 – 3 days
Delivery available between 10am – 2pm, 3pm – 7pm
$3.99 delivery, free for orders above $45
Self pick-up available
*Minimum advance order of 2 days required
Stock up on the best kee changs in Singapore! These Chinese Glutinous Rice Dumplings (available on love.dumplings) come in a pack of 32, so we’re sure these can last you for a while. This home-based business has dedicated itself to perfecting its kee chang recipe since it started in 2020, and their plain kee changs are simply drool-worthy. They also have a flavoured kee chang that contains a sweet red bean paste nestled within some aromatic glutinous rice. The best thing about love.dumplings is how their rice dumplings are available all the time, so you can constantly indulge in some yummy kee changs at any time of the year!
Kee chang delivery details:
Delivery available on Wednesdays and Saturdays
$8 delivery, free for orders above $150
*Minimum advance order of 3 days required
*Contact seller for self-pickup options
Love heading over to Malaysia to get your rice dumpling fix? You can now order your favourite Yuen Chen Siang Traditional Rice Dumplings (available on thatrandomstore.sg) to your doorstep! Originating from Johor, Yuen Chen Siang has dedicated more than 50 years to its rice dumplings. Making sure that their recipe is perfect while making upgrades to improve their ingredients, these traditional kee changs are one you must not miss out on! Instead of just red bean paste, Yuen Chen Siang has added pork and dried shrimp to elevate the simple kee chang. If you’re looking for a twist on the usual traditional rice dumplings, then these are the ones for you!
Kee chang delivery details:
Delivers in 10 – 16 days
$1 delivery, free for orders above $20
Tam Kah Seafood doesn’t just have amazing tonics. They’re also known for their Vegetarian Rice Dumplings (available on Tam Kah Seafood)! With flavours like black glutinous peanut and sesame, it’s no wonder Tam Kah Seafood is a hit when it comes to the best kee changs in Singapore. Their red bean kee chang is not any different. This chewy and fragrant kee chang is packed full of a decadent red bean paste that’s just as aromatic. They also have a plain option that you can enjoy with some lovely kaya that will bring out the glutinous rice’s flavour – yummy!
Kee chang delivery details:
Self-collection only
*Contact seller for delivery options
Entice your kids with some colourful kee chang from Treasure Two! Their Hokkien Rice Dumplings (available on Treasure Two) aren’t just packed with flavourful ingredients, but they’re also coloured with butterfly pea flowers. The blue tinge in these Hokkien Rice Dumplings makes eating them fun for kids. Their kee changs are available in mini sizes, so it’s perfect as an afternoon snack for yourself or your little ones. Dip them in some powdered sugar and sip some tea to make this the perfect afternoon delight.
Kee chang delivery details:
Delivers in 2 – 7 days
$3.99 delivery, free for orders above $45
You can’t go wrong with some Handmade Rice Dumplings (available on Delicious Dumplings)! These kee changs are the epitome of perfection as they’ve been made lovingly by hand. Each one is carefully wrapped to keep all the deliciousness in, so you’ll have a smooth and chewy kee chang that’s also rich in flavour. Store your kee chang in a freezer if you can’t bear to finish them all at one go. Don’t forget to reheat these best kee chang in Singapore in a steamer or your rice cooker for about 10 minutes before you dig into these!
Kee chang delivery details:
$3.99 delivery, free for orders above $45
*Contact seller for delivery options
If you’re into the freshest ingredients for your kee chang then these Supreme Vege Traditional Vegan Rice Dumplings (available on Vegetarian Restaurant) are for you! With no artificial ingredients or preservatives used in this recipe, these are the best kee chang in Singapore that are quality-assured. All the goodness added to these kee changs has been carefully selected to ensure that you’ll taste a flavourful red bean paste and flavourful glutinous rice. This also means that you can’t keep these kee changs for long, but you can still store them in a freezer for up to a month to prolong their freshness!
Kee chang delivery details:
$3.99 delivery, free for orders above $45
Self pick-up available
Summer Palace’s Red Date Dumplings With Osmanthus Honey is an atas kee chang like no other. This best kee chang in Singapore is jam-packed with red dates that have a subtle sweetness to them. These red dates are also great for your skin, so if you’ve been wanting to improve your skin health, you know what to do! The osmanthus honey added in this kee chang also adds a fragrant floral aroma, giving it a wonderful flavour that truly exudes the essence of atas.
Where to buy Summer Palace kee chang:
Place your order here.
$25 delivery, free for orders above $250
Self pick-up available
Got a sweet tooth that you just can’t satisfy? Xin Cuisine’s Signature Red Lotus Seed Paste Dumpling should do the trick! This delectable kee chang has been saturated with so much sweetness that you can’t get enough of. You’ll be in for a surprise as you bite into this best kee chang in Singapore. The creamy centre will ooze and fill your mouth with a luscious lotus paste that also contains chestnuts and gingko nuts. This kee chang also comes with an osmanthus sauce. The floral fragrance of this honey-like sauce adds more sweetness to this rice dumpling and brings it to a whole new level – talk about one true pair!
Where to buy Xin Cuisine kee chang:
Place your order here.
Delivery available from 27 April – 3 June 2022, Wednesdays to Sundays
Self pick-up available
*Minimum advance order of 3 days required
Raffles Hotel’s Butterfly Pea Flower Kee Chang is one of the best in Singapore that you must get your hands on this year. The butterfly pea flower gives this kee chang a lovely shade of blue in addition to its noteworthy yellow colour. This isn’t just for aesthetics though. The butterfly pea flower adds subtle notes of earthiness to this kee chang, taking away some of the bitter aftertaste you’ll usually get from other alkaline rice dumplings. The best thing about this kee chang is how it also comes with Raffles Hotel Singapore’s Signature Kaya Jam. The muted sweetness from the pandan and coconut highlights the flavours from the butterfly pea flowers, making it one of the best kee chang in Singapore this year.
Where to buy Raffles Hotel kee chang:
Place your order here.
Delivery available from 20 May – 5 June 2022
Self pick-up available
Move over red bean kee chang, I’m going for the Black Sesame Lye Dumplings from InterContinental Singapore! Be greeted with a dark black filling as you bite into this best kee chang in Singapore. The smokiness from the black sesame will engulf your sense of taste to fill you with gastronomic delight! These Black Sesame Lye Dumplings aren’t the only surprise you’ll get from InterContinental Singapore. If you get five or more of these yummy treats, you’ll get a red pyramid-shaped dumpling carrier that’s designed to replicate how you’d usually unwrap these rice dumplings – perfect for gifting your relatives this year!
Where to buy InterContinental Singapore kee chang:
Place your order here.
Delivery available from 2 May to 3 June 2022
$20 delivery, free for orders above $200
Self pick-up available
*Minimum advance order of 2 days required
Specialising in local handmade delicacies, D’Bun is one to go for when you’re looking at the best kee changs in Singapore. Their kee changs stay true to traditional recipes that highlight the alkaline flavour of these rice dumplings. We recommend drizzling these plain kee changs with kaya or honey for some contrasting flavours as you dig into them. D’Bun also offers a Signature Red Bean Kee Chang that is just as delightful! They’ve honed their recipe to create one of Singapore’s best red bean kee changs. Featuring a sweet centre, the Signature Red Bean Kee Chang has a wonderful aroma that’s earthy, yet flavourful!
Where to buy D’Bun kee chang:
Place your order here.
Delivery available from 20 May to 6 June 2022
$20 delivery, free for orders above $200
Self pick-up available
*Minimum advance order of 2 days required
With a recipe carefully crafted by a family business, you can be certain that these are one of the best kee changs in Singapore you have to get your hands on! Known for their homemade curry puffs, Lucy & Family has delved into kee changs that are just as delicious thanks to Lucy’s great grandmother’s recipe. These plain kee changs have a bright golden finish that’s indicative of the alkaline aftertaste you’ll get. Moreover, the kee changs are freshly made to order using top-quality fresh ingredients. What’s interesting is how these best kee changs in Singapore are cooked using charcoal. All the goodness in the kee changs that flows out will be roasted by the charcoal to add a smoky richness no other rice dumplings have. You’ll be in for a treat with these best charcoal kee changs in Singapore!
Where to buy D’Bun kee chang:
Contact 90363325 to order.
Delivery and self pick-up available
*Minimum order of $40 for delivery
*Minimum advance order of 2 days required
Kee chang with yellow bean paste? Sign me up! Kim’s Rice Dumplings are truly authentic as they’re filled with a delightfully aromatic yellow bean paste that has subtle sweet notes of earthiness. They take pride in spoiling their customers by filling their rice dumplings with a chock full of ingredients, so get ready for a large mouthful of yellow bean paste as you bite into one of these kee changs! Kim’s Rice Dumplings also prioritises their customers’ health, making sure that their kee changs are free of preservatives and MSG without compromising on flavour.
Where to buy D’Bun kee chang:
Contact 96317122 to order.
$8 delivery with a minimum order of $40
Self pick-up available
*Minimum advance order of 3 days required
Using high quality Thai glutinous rice, Cui Nyonya Kueh offers one of the best kee changs in Singapore boasting an au natural recipe. These homemade kee changs contain premium natural ingredients that are free of artificial preservatives – you’ll only get the freshest goods here! The luscious hues of golden on these kee changs are what entices us and you can bet that the flavour doesn’t disappoint. Paired with a drizzle of gula melaka sauce, the bitter aftertaste of this best kee chang in Singapore is a delight. The coconut palm sugar adds a soft touch of smokiness that highlights the fragrance of the Thai glutinous rice, making it a perfect treat we can’t get enough of!
Where to buy Cui Nyonya Kueh kee chang:
Place your order here.
Delivery and self pick-up available
*Contact seller for delivery options
Learn more about the history behind the Dragon Boat Festival as you indulge in the best kee changs in Singapore. Go for the best bak changs in Singapore if you want some savoury options instead! Looking forward to the durian season? Check out some of the best durian puffs and satisfy your cravings with Singapore’s best durian delivery places in Singapore!
This article was updated on 30 May 2022. Additional research done by Jamantha Lim.
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