For subscribers

Retrace journeys of Spanish treasure ships in ACM’s Manila Galleon: From Asia To The Americas

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox

Asian Civilisations Museum's new show, Manila Galleon: From Asia To The Americas, runs till March 17.

Manila Galleon: From Asia To The Americas is on at the Asian Civilisations Museum till March 17.

ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

Google Preferred Source badge

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. 

See more on