Even though we could only watch two TV channels on RTM before TV3 and NTV7 came along, growing up in Malaysia in the ’90s was not that bad.
We could only watch cartoons at 5 pm on weekdays, which gave us more reason to play outside.
And our local kuih only cost 10 to 20 sen per piece back then.
Apart from that, our memories growing up in the ’90s wouldn’t be complete without a look back at our favourite Malaysian childhood snacks.
Let us walk you down memory lane of 10 Malaysian childhood snacks we grew up with:
1. Colourful Lollies
Some people like to twist the top off with their teeth and drink it first while most of us love to freeze it before enjoying it.
Raise your hand if you were one of those people who twisted these frozen lollies apart and shared it with your friend.
2. Nano Nano Candy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIWyW9S6Okw
“Nano, nano, nano, nano…”
Who can forget this addictive jingle from Nano Nano candy’s advertisement?
Originally from Indonesia, this candy has a distinctive taste of sweet, sour and salty combined, just like the song says.
3. Polo mints
This is perhaps the most popular breath mint in the world. It has a distinguishing feature that everybody recognises even without the packaging – the hole in the middle.
Originating from the United Kingdom, these mints were developed by Rowntree’s (which also developed Kit Kat) in 1939 but it was only introduced to the market in 1947.
Now you can find Polo mints almost everywhere in the world including Malaysia.
4. Tora and Ding Dang
No one bought Tora and Ding Dang for the snacks. Everybody bought it for the toy inside.
And usually the toy wouldn’t last a day until it broke.
5. Ligo Raisins
There was this rumour circulating around in the ’90s that raisins could help boost your memory.
Soon enough, people started munching on packs of Ligo Raisins during their lunch break.
Whether they really helped to improve the memories of ’90s kids, who cares? These were, and still are, tasty and addictive snacks.
6. Haw flakes
Haw Flakes are probably one of the most iconic Malaysian childhood snacks that goes as far back as the ’70s .
Do you know it is actually made from the fruit of the Chinese hawthorn tree?
Besides Haw Flakes, this fruit is widely used as candied fruit slices and jam.
7.Apollo Layer Cake
They started with vanilla and chocolate layered cake.
Now they offer various flavours including pandan, cocoa, strawberry, red cherry, blueberry, kaya, coffee and even banana.
8.White Rabbit candy
Who can forget the thin layer sheet wrapped around this candy that melt in your mouth?
Most of us would lick the sheet first before popping the whole thing into our mouths!
9. Mamee Monster
According to Mamee Monster’s official website, it was introduced to the market in 1972.
Now it is one of the most popular snacks in Malaysia.
Apart from Mamee Monster, the same company also produces other household names for snacks such as Mister Potato, Corntoz and Double Decker.
10. Ice Gem Biscuits
Do not underestimate this particular snack, these Iced Gem Biscuits have a history that dates all the way back to the 1850s.
Thomas Huntley started to sell these mini biscuits in Reading, Britain.
Sixty years later in 1910, they added the crunchy icing, which is how the Iced Gem Biscuit was born.
Are your favourite Malaysian childhood snacks not in the list? Let us know in the comment box.
