SINGAPORE – Pineapple tarts and Nonya kueh might not exist if not for the Spanish galleon trade routes of the 17th century.
Pineapples, as well as the cassava root and its derivative, tapioca flour, were carried to South-east Asia, along with such other foodstuffs as chocolate and chilli, thanks to the Spanish ships that plied the long, dangerous sea route across the Pacific Ocean from Mexico’s Acapulco to Manila in the Philippines.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you