Food News

Singaporeans Prefer Peppery Bak Kut Teh, According To This Survey

Singaporeans prefer peppery bak kut teh

Few things hit the spot like a piping hot bowl of bak kut teh (BKT) on a rainy day or late at night when the supper cravings hit. The question of allegiance remains, though: are you on team peppery, or team herbal BKT?

The debate is a longstanding one. Peppery BKT is typically thought of as the Teochew version, and is the more common variant in Singapore. Typically, peppery BKT stars a lighter, clearer soup that’s made from simmering pork bones, white pepper, soya sauce, and garlic for hours.

Herbal BKT, on the other hand, hails from the Hokkien and Cantonese communities, and features a more robust, slightly medicinal broth that’s enhanced with rock sugar and traditional herbs. This version is more popular in Malaysia, but is also available in Singapore. Singaporeans’ love for BKT runs deep, but when asked to pick a side, it turns out there’s a clear winner for the preferred BKT flavour: the peppery version.

We recently ran a poll across Eatbook.sg‘s articles, asking Singaporeans what their preferred BKT flavour was. The poll was hosted on our sister website, Answers.sg. Nearly 300 Singaporeans responded, and the results showed that 42% were on team herbal, while 58% were on team peppery.

The margins are narrow enough, so if you want to show some love for your fave type of BKT, you can cast your vote via our poll.

If this has given you a bit of a craving, do check out our guide to the best bak kut teh in Singapore.

About Answers.sg
Answers.sg is a platform that seeks to crowd-source opinions from Singaporeans about various hot-button topics, to create informative content. We run anonymous, hyperlocal polls on a wide range of subjects, from Singaporeans’ average salary brackets to their foodie habits. All data is garnered in accordance with our privacy policy.

Have an idea for a poll? Want to get in touch? Email us at hello@answers.sg.

Beatrice

Beatrice is currently the Group Editor (Branded Content) at The Smart Local Media Group. Prior to this role, she’s spent a decade on staff at lifestyle titles in Singapore, including Lifestyle Asia, AugustMan, and Men’s Folio. Food, drink, and beauty have always been her main beats, but no, she doesn’t get paid to eat good food and wear makeup (unfortunately).

This Mountbatten Stall Draws Long Queues For Its $2.50 Kway Chap—Here’s Our Review

Feng Ji Kway Chap is a popular hawker stall in Kallang with $2.50 kway chap…

20th May 2026

Does Jollibee’s New Kaya Toast Sundae Taste Like The Real Deal?

PSA: Jollibee Singapore has lanched a new Kaya Toast Sundae, available for a limited time…

20th May 2026

Popular Indonesian Nasi Padang Chain Opens In SG At Former Warong Nasi Pariaman Spot

Sederhana, a popular Indonesian nasi padang chain with over 200 outlets across the country, is…

20th May 2026

Famous Cantonese Restaurant Wing Seong Fatty’s Is Closing After 100 Years

Sad news for fans of old-school Cantonese fare: Wing Seong Fatty's Restaurant at Burlington Square…

20th May 2026

20 Japanese Buffets In Singapore From $18.99++ For Unlimited Sashimi And Yakiniku

We've curated a list of the best Japanese buffets in Singapore for you to chow…

20th May 2026

10 Best Cafes In Taman Pelangi JB, All Within 15 Min From The Checkpoint

Here are the 10 best cafes in Taman Pelangi, an underrated neighbourhood in JB! They're…

19th May 2026