The Circuit Breaker has changed the way we eat. More of us are cooking more and stocking up our snack pantry at home to cope with midday hunger pangs while we work from home. Heck, we’ve even resorted to making our own bubble tea at home!
Even as dining establishments reopen for dine-in service, there are still several restrictions – and for good reasons – in a bid to reduce spread of COVID-19 in our community.
Without a doubt, the way we purchase our food and drinks online have changed. To find out exactly what everyone else is buying online, we reached out to leading e-commerce platform Shopee to share with us some interesting data on what have been flying off their e-shelves!
Cup Noodles
Even the most avid home-cook may get tired of whipping up a storm in the kitchen every day. Sometimes cup noodles are the comfort food we reach out for; they’re gratifying and incredibly easy to make.
Interestingly spicy cup noodles are the way to the hearts of online shoppers in Singapore. Here are the ones that they’ve been buying.
Hai Chi Jia Suan La Fen
You’ve probably seen these doing rounds on Instagram with its handy brown packaging, making it the perfect DIY cup noodles with a heated twist! This Suan La Fen (directly translates to sour spicy vermicelli) comes with six packets of condiments, offering full control over your preferred spice level.
Simply throw together all ingredients and allow the noodles to soak in hot water for 3-5 minutes depending on the texture of the noodles you want to achieve. Reviewers have commented that these silky-smooth glass noodles hold a similar resemblance in taste to the Sichuan peppercorn flavour found in mala dishes, making this snack a huge bang for the buck with its dual-flavoured sour and numbing profile.
You can read our review of the Hai Chi Jia Suan La Fen to find out what we think of it.
Purchase six in a carton for S$19.90 on Shopee.
ChenCun ChongQing Sour and Spicy / Ma La Glass Noodles Vermicelli
Alternatively, give these ChenCun ChongQing noodles a try for a more traditional taste of the Chinese cuisine. Available in both Suan La and Ma la variations, the former sour-spicy option is halal unlike the latter which contains pork bone.
Watch the mouth-watering pulls of glass noodles glisten with chili oil and fragrant spices with every bite. Quit supper runs, this easy, no-fuss option would make the perfect midnight snack!
Available on Shopee at S$3.80.
Hei Ren Bu Luo Oden Noodles
If you’re still a spice novice working your way up the scale, opt for these Hei Ren Bu Luo Oden Noodles, made with a milder broth that won’t leave you gasping for air. Available in three different flavours – mala, mushroom, and clam.
Oden, which originated from Japan, is a type of one-pot dish consisting of several ingredients such as boiled eggs, daikon, and processed fishcakes stewed in a light, soy-flavoured dashi broth. These instant noodles make a good replica of the Japanese dish, with the inclusion of a small portion of assorted fishcakes!
These Hei Ren Bu Luo Oden Noodles range from S$9.90 to S$17.90 on Shopee.
Ba Shu Lazy Mala Hotpot
If you’re a fan of good broths, this is a mouth-watering choice that you can comfortably slurp, cooked up in under minutes! The Ba Shu Lazy Mala Hotpot comes in four flavours of choice – mala, tomato, sour spicy, and vegetarian.
These make for the most convenient meal with its self-heating container, which means you don’t even need hot water to indulge in it! Simply customise your spice level accordingly with the ingredients given and pour in hot or cold water to cover the heat bag given, pop the lid back on and your broth will start boiling in 10-15 minutes. Awesome!
Available in bundles of two or four at S$7.90 to S$28.90 on Shopee.
Hai Di Lao Self-heating Hot Pot
Too lazy to make a trip down to your favourite Hai Di Lao outlet? Or still a little apprehensive about sharing utensils in a steamboat setting?
No worries, here’s a good option for those of us who’d love to have an entire serving of hotpot by ourselves.
And better yet, get the same fresh-tasting ingredients of Hai Di Lao standards right at home with this self-heating glass noodle cup in no time. We’re just short of a few cuts of sliced meat now!
Savour the refreshing taste of tomato in the top-selling vegetarian tomato flavoured hotpot. Commenters have compared this instant version of broth to the in-house soup and marvelled at its similarities!
Get these piping hot deals at S$14.72 for two packs, available on Shopee in two different flavours.
Related: Japanese instant noodles with unique flavours you should try
Staples
Day-to-day grocery shopping is now done online by those who prefer to stay home. These are what people stock up on during the pandemic.
Royal Umbrella Thai Hom Mali Rice
Ah, the favourite Asian grain – the white rice. Ever find yourself running low on this staple but you refuse to head down to the supermarket only to have to lug back hefty a sack of it?
Good news, you can get Royal Umbrella Thai Hom Mali Rice delivered right to your doorstep.
Available at 5kg for S$15.90 on Shopee. Sold out at the time of writing.
Barilla Pasta Spaghetti No. 5
If you’re not dining at any of these 21 best pasta restaurants in Singapore, stay in for Italian night with Italy’s favourite pasta – Barilla Pasta Spaghetti No. 5 (1kg). Suitable for a myriad of dishes, spaghetti pairs well with just about any kind of sauce!
The Barilla Pasta Spaghetti is made of 100% high quality durum wheat Semolina and GMO free.
Product has been unlisted at the time of writing, but you can find other Barilla products on Shopee.
Baking needs
If you were one of the “Circuit Bakers” during the nation’s stay-in safety measures, you’d be familiar with the vacant shelves of the baking section in our local supermarkets. We were indeed living in strange times earlier this year.
Who knows if these baking essentials will run out again – but lucky for us, these are now easily available online and at incredible prices!
RedMan Icing Sugar
Perfect for desserts, colourful icings and for touching up your homemade soufflé, don’t miss this popular item which was swept clean off shelves in the past months. RedMan is now on Shopee, offering a one-stop solution for all your baking needs with basic ingredients like flour to white lotus mooncake paste for the upcoming Mooncake Festival!
RedMan Icing Sugar (1kg) from Phoon Huat at S$2.44.
RedMan Fine Sugar
RedMan Fine Sugar (1kg) from Phoon Huat at S$1.50.
RedMan Top Flour
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous this weekend, why not try your hand at making some fresh pasta with these 20 fool-proof pasta recipes that are sure to delight your tastebuds.
RedMan Top Flour (1kg) from Phoon Huat at S$2.71.
Uncle Lee’s Premium Clover Brand Bread Flour
Great for buns, breads, and loaves, these bread flour from local seller Uncle Lee’s have been carefully sourced for the best taste. Reviewers have commented on the natural sweetness their toasty bakes contain with this premium bread flour.
Uncle Lee’s Premium Clover Brand Bread Flour (1kg) is available at S$3.50.
Uncle Lee’s Finest Bread Flour
Best suited for European styled buns and breads, Uncle Lee’s Finest Bread Flour has been a reliable source for bakeries all over Singapore.
Its high protein content allows it to form great chewy bread and buns, most recommended for baking if you’re looking for a fluffy texture! If you’ve got little ones at home picky about their carbs, check out these creative sandwich recipes that are sure to thrill.
Uncle Lee’s Finest Bread Flour (1kg) is available at S$4.20.
Pastry Mart Singapore Dark Compound Chocolate Chips
Looking for an easy way to make quality chocolate creations without all the extra effort? The Pastry Mart Singapore Dark Compound Chocolate Chips is a versatile option for just that. No inconvenient double boiler method needed with these chocolate chips that were made specifically for baking!
Available in 250g, 500g, and 1kg. Prices range from S$4.10 to S$11.50 on Shopee.
Pastry Mart Singapore’s Cocoa Powder Brown Alkalised 10-12%
Pastry Mart Singapore’s Cocoa Powder Brown Alkalised 10-12% also known as Dutched cocoa is cocoa that has been specially treated with an alkalising agent to modify its colour while giving it a milder taste as compared to natural cocoa.
Reviewers have noted that bakes produced taste better with the Pastry Mart Singapore’s Cocoa Powder, with the cocoa powder resembling quality unsweetened cocoa powder at a much lower price!
Available on Shopee in 250g, 500g, and 1kg. Prices range from S$4.30 to S$13.50.
Hershey’s New Pure Cocoa Powder
Hershey’s New Pure Cocoa Powder made of 100% pure cacao powder is definitely a staple in most kitchens.
Shop on Shopee at S$9.36.
Health Foods
One good thing that came out from the crisis this year is that many people are taking a step back and trying to take better care of their health. Health foods were super popular and these are what online shoppers are buying.
Amazin’ Graze Granola
We’re not going to lie – all that quarantine weight has been making us all a little health-conscious now that we’re turning up for meetings IRL.
But if you’re feeling a little peckish in the afternoon and just want a crunch, the Amazin’ Graze Granola is a good option to load up on some clean energy with without feeling the guilt.
Or if you’re feeling a little fancy in the mornings, this delightful granola would make a hearty breakfast with a serving of milk or yoghurt on the side.
Available in five different flavours, including local-favourites Coconut Kaya and Salted Gula Melaka for S$19.62 (bundle of two) on Shopee.
Zestiva Certified Organic Black / White Chia Seeds
Rich in Omega Fatty Acids, Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and antioxidants, chia seeds are some super nutritional additions that need no introduction. Besides these health-strengthening nutrients, chia seeds are packed with amino acids that provide the building blocks to a good mind and body.
If you’re looking for a convenient protein alternative for meat, opt for the Zestiva Black Chia Seeds which yield a higher amount of protein compared to the White Chia Seeds which have higher levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids which help ease inflammation and lower triglycerides.
Add these into your diet in the form of a pudding, seed butter or simply sprinkle some onto your salad for some extra nutrients in every meal!
The USDA Certified Zestiva Chia Seeds retail on Shopee from S$9.00 to S$17.80.
Zestiva Certified Organic White / Red / Tricolor Quinoa
If you’re looking for a tasty source of fibre, change out your white rice for some quinoa and you’ll soon feel the difference! Available in three types, black, white, and red, all versions bring along a fairly high amount of protein and antioxidants all the same.
While white quinoa cooks quickest amongst the three, making it a good choice for time-pressed individuals, it has less of a crunch to it. So if you’re looking for more of a bite in your salads, black and red quinoa might make a better choice. In addition, something to take note of is the earthy taste the black version tends to hold as compared to the other two.
With these versions differing little in terms of health benefits, it’s probably best to choose them by their flavour profile. If you can’t decide, your best bet might be to go for the tricoloured version, available on Shopee as well.
Zestiva Certified Organic White, Red Or Tricolor Quinoa (1kg) is available from S$10.90 to S$23.90.
Other foods
Gochujang – Korean Red Pepper Paste
It was a real shocker when supermarket shelves were empty of Gochujang, the Korean red chili paste – we didn’t realise just how popular this fermented condiment was!
Used to cook up a variety of dishes from all-time favourite meat dishes like the Korean fried chicken wings and bulgogi, to warm stews and stone pot rice bowls, this paste seems to be a popular item this stay-home season!
Besides filling up our tummies on these heart-warming Korean dishes, here are some popular Korean snacks to consider too.
Available in 500g at S$11.86 on Shopee.
LiHO TEA: DIY Brown Sugar Golden Pearl Kit
DIY bubble tea has been such a huge activity during the circuit breaker measures that local bubble tea retailer LIHO has released its very own bubble tea kit for those of us who want to try out hand at recreating these drinks from home.
The LiHO TEA: DIY Brown Sugar Golden Pearl Kit makes 30 cups worth of chewy brown sugar pearls. Supplement your post-lunch beverage with these homemade golden pearls, completely customisable based on your preferences.
Retails on Shopee at S$42. Sold out at the time of writing.
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