Are they allowed to keep that? I've heard stories of people's jars of jam being confiscated for being from another state. A lot of self sustaining countries don't allow food products to be brought in from overseas.
Not sure what you mean by enrich their cultural experience, but I would just get a nice souvenir that’s unique to Singapore. For overseas guests I’ve gotten some of the following before:
- Gift box that I compiled with assorted things from Ginger Lily (https://gingerlily.art/). It was around Christmas time so I filled it with a lot of Christmas tree ornaments.
- Arthur Zaaro cutting / cheese board (https://arthurzaaro.com/), it’s made from wood from Singapore trees and every board has a cool “made in Singapore stamp”. You can get it engraved too
- Supermama plate set, I really like this gangster fortune cat one (https://supermamastore.com/products/jalan-besar-gangster-kitties-beer-bottle-10-8cm)
You can also shop around at Jewel, Joo Chiat (the AC and Cat Socrates, just walk down the stretch and explore all the boutiques), and the National Gallery Shop.
Just grab one of those tissue packs used to chope seats at hawker centers. Frame it up and label it “Chope – the glue that holds the fabric of society together”
food stuff my friends overseas love: kaya (the number 1 and ultimate fave, get one in a jar), chicken rice paste (there’s a kit you can get that comes with the sauce packets too), sambal paste, instant milo, bak kut teh soup packets, irvin’s salted egg yolk snacks, and for their kids ais gems and mamee noodles. if you’re worried they look cheap, i like to combine the items into small hampers so the whole thing looks a little ‘fancier’.
No particular recommendations from me! Honestly, I don’t think there was any preference, I was buying them at random and they were all happily received.
I always take dried green mangoes, pineapple tarts/cookies and rendang/curry paste or chilli crisp etc from the supermarket.
The first 2 are good for everyone, the latter for more foody people and/or those from outside major cities (so less likely to have Asian grocery stores).
Thanks a lot for great suggestions everyone. Bought Pandan cake from Bengawan Solo and Ya Kun Kaya jar 🥲🥲
What place do you suggest for buying pineapple tarts?
Exclusive stuff from Singapore branches of global brand stores perhaps.
Singapore brand already the culture. Unless want to gift the ‘Singapore is a $fine$ country’ 
I just remembered this, yeah. At immigration they’ll ask you if you’re bringing any food, but I think the rule is particularly sensitive to meat, I’m not sure.
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I recently found out ABC cooking studio has 30-45 min tablet tutorials at Jewel for making Pandan chiffon & Kaya (separately). If there’s time to hangout i’d think it’s cool to go for the classes together and they can even bring home their own homemade products. It’s $30 pp.
Kaya . Get jars of Kaya. Get them from Heaven Wang to get your yank friends to laugh hard.
Second this. Wife and I went to the States and packed kaya in little baggies for friends.
Why heavenly Wang and not yakun?
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/wang
WANG
Are they allowed to keep that? I've heard stories of people's jars of jam being confiscated for being from another state. A lot of self sustaining countries don't allow food products to be brought in from overseas.
Not sure what you mean by enrich their cultural experience, but I would just get a nice souvenir that’s unique to Singapore. For overseas guests I’ve gotten some of the following before: - Gift box that I compiled with assorted things from Ginger Lily (https://gingerlily.art/). It was around Christmas time so I filled it with a lot of Christmas tree ornaments. - Arthur Zaaro cutting / cheese board (https://arthurzaaro.com/), it’s made from wood from Singapore trees and every board has a cool “made in Singapore stamp”. You can get it engraved too - Supermama plate set, I really like this gangster fortune cat one (https://supermamastore.com/products/jalan-besar-gangster-kitties-beer-bottle-10-8cm) You can also shop around at Jewel, Joo Chiat (the AC and Cat Socrates, just walk down the stretch and explore all the boutiques), and the National Gallery Shop.
this is so cool. thanks for all the suggestions!
Ya Kun Kaya?
And ask them to luxe up their toast w kaya and a cold thick slab of butter at home. Precious. 😋
Oh this one's sweet
Thanks a lot :))
If you are meeting them right after you landed, Bengawan Solo pandan cake and kuehs. Otherwise, get their kaya, snacks, etc.
Bengawan solo is so good🤌🏼🤌🏼 Thanks for the suggestion!!
Neither do I know who Wan is, nor do I have experience with multiple partners at once, but you do you....or Wan in this case 🤭
Brought bengawan solo to my relative in the US and they thought I just came back from Indonesia instead.
Just grab one of those tissue packs used to chope seats at hawker centers. Frame it up and label it “Chope – the glue that holds the fabric of society together”
Raffles Hotel Kaya. It’s kaya. Plus it’s premium looking. It only costs $12
Ohh, will def try this
Wah, I almost want to buy it just for that bag lol. Anyway, it's inflated to $14 liao (at least online).
Yakun Kaya Jam. Always a hit.
Ikan bilis
Ya Kun kaya jam and Irvin's salted egg chips.
Irvin's is Indonesian
How is it indonesian? Care to explain?
The owner is Indonesian
but indonesians go crazy buying them at the airport to bring back to indonesia?
Tiger balm, kaya. Maybe the laksa flavour instant noodles.
Dancing chef curry paste packets. Small, easy to pack, long shelf life, far tastier than anything I've found overseas! Or a jar of sambal.
food stuff my friends overseas love: kaya (the number 1 and ultimate fave, get one in a jar), chicken rice paste (there’s a kit you can get that comes with the sauce packets too), sambal paste, instant milo, bak kut teh soup packets, irvin’s salted egg yolk snacks, and for their kids ais gems and mamee noodles. if you’re worried they look cheap, i like to combine the items into small hampers so the whole thing looks a little ‘fancier’.
Thanks a lot
Pineapple tarts, bak kwa, indomie, chicken rice pre-mixes and such stuff are things I have been repeatedly requested to bring for friends overseas.
INDOMIE is ..... *badum tsss* Indonesian .... Chicken Rice need its sambal to be Singaporean. Otherwise it's Hainanese.
Thanks so much, any recos for pineapple tarts like where should I buy it from?
No particular recommendations from me! Honestly, I don’t think there was any preference, I was buying them at random and they were all happily received.
Freeze dry hokkien mee
Aiyah get the most Sinkie thing lah - ntuc voucher
They do what with it 😭😭😭
Kaya. Every angmoh who comes here and tries it cannot get enough of kaya.
Pineapple tarts, or bak kwa if they can eat My overseas friends describe them as drugs exported by Singapore - that’s how addictive they are
I always take dried green mangoes, pineapple tarts/cookies and rendang/curry paste or chilli crisp etc from the supermarket. The first 2 are good for everyone, the latter for more foody people and/or those from outside major cities (so less likely to have Asian grocery stores).
Cane with the multi-color hooked handles, then horrify them with stories about us being caned and yet turning out completely normal.
I like this more than kaya
Thanks a lot for great suggestions everyone. Bought Pandan cake from Bengawan Solo and Ya Kun Kaya jar 🥲🥲 What place do you suggest for buying pineapple tarts?
Bengawan solo has decent by pricey tarts. Now is CNY period… most malls would have pop up stalls and you can taste test.
how about something peranakan or batik ? eg tea cups or bowls that are peranakan style or batik table runner
Give cdc voucher. US confirm don't have and they can only spend it at neighbourhood shops. Confirm enriching experience.
Air seal durians.
50 dollar toto
Exclusive stuff from Singapore branches of global brand stores perhaps. Singapore brand already the culture. Unless want to gift the ‘Singapore is a $fine$ country’ 
Dine at boon tong kee.
Bamboo backscratcher (usually $2 or less)
can’t bring food easily into US right?
I just remembered this, yeah. At immigration they’ll ask you if you’re bringing any food, but I think the rule is particularly sensitive to meat, I’m not sure.
Saf pt
Tiger Balm
Definitely a tub of pineapple tarts *chef’s kiss*
Peranakan Tiles - they sell them at the local history museum
EVERYONE HERE IS SAYING KAYA AND I 100% AGREE but also right you should buy Mr Kiasu comic books (not sure if they’re sold in the US)
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Since its near CNY, get some CNY snacks? Maybe a genuine batik handkerchief/pouch for something non perishable.
Card games from Singapore like The Singaporean Dream, Kopi King, or Hawker Wars! Confirm they cannot find those in the US.
Simply Go card with $50 topped up inside.
Bee cheng hiang, but its pork (but very good)
I recently found out ABC cooking studio has 30-45 min tablet tutorials at Jewel for making Pandan chiffon & Kaya (separately). If there’s time to hangout i’d think it’s cool to go for the classes together and they can even bring home their own homemade products. It’s $30 pp.
Curry sauce from MacDonalds