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Hot, bold and spicy: What the mala mania says about Singapore
The trend has more in common with Singapore’s social identity than one might imagine.
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Mala converts say the appeal lies in the complex layers of flavours – earthy, smoky, and numbing – that provide a unique sensory experience.
ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
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I know I am in the minority: I am one of those rare Singaporeans who do not take well to spicy food. My nose runs, my eyes tear, my stomach churns and my taste buds hate being set ablaze.
So for the past few years, I have been a quiet bystander witnessing the fiery culinary phenomenon that has taken Singapore by storm. I am talking about the “mala” craze that has fired up many appetites here.
