100 years of a biscuit Hong Kongers love.
One biscuit factory was hosting a pop-up in Hong Kong to commemorate their centennial anniversary.
Garden biscuits had been around for more than 100 years and to celebrate, they hosted a pop-up shop for visitors (or lovers of the brand) a tour of their 'factory'. They were selling various merchandise including, t-shirts, keychains (that almost resemble a Jellycat toy) and yes, snacks from the famous brand.
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| taken from Time Out Magazine Hong Kong, of Langham Place |
In this pop-up, visitors can experience what was like in a biscuit (or cookie, if you are Canadian or American) factory by looking at the checkered-floorings of blue/white and red/white tiles, red walls and the Garden logo plastered on it.
They also collaborated with several streetwear brands; as mentioned before, t-shirts printed with Garden Biscuit products such as, Life Bread, past Garden logos, button down shirts, a cap with their logo, limited edition Rainbow Chocolate Fingers, Grandpa G plushies of various different products like Life Bread, Cracker Malkist (thin, multi-layered cookies that are sweet and/or savoury), Chiffon Cakes, etc.
You can also dig in deep with the time travel portion, which takes you decades worth of products from the past. It should bring memories to many visitors walking by!
But ever wonder what was their past like?
And why Hong Kongers enjoy them so much?
I'll take you back to mid-1920s, when Tse Fong Cheung and Wah O. Wong, both cousins decided to open a bakery. At first, they did not know what to name it, but after spending breaks resting at a Hong Kong garden, famously known as 'Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens' which was located in the Central part of Hong Kong.
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| Left in striped Ties: Mr. T. F. Cheung and Wah O. Wong |
The first retail and wholesale store opened in Des Voeux Road in Central Hong Kong.
After a devasting fire in the early 1930s, they were hit with a loss. An 'unsuccessful insurance claim' forced the factory in Ap Liu Street in Sham Shui Po. During that inception of its opening, they were producing biscuits (or cookies) in this three story building. Eventually buying a house worth HKD$10,000 in 1935.
In 1938, the factory was relocated to mass-produce the biscuits. As the time went on, it kept expanding in 1951, 1958 and purchased yet another building which is located in Sham Shui Po on Castle Peak Road. The picture below were the earlier days around 1960s.
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| The 'Garden' Biscuits factory in Kowloon, Hong Kong during the 1960s. |
In the 1940s, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, they were making goods for the army, and from the official Garden website, they were making around 90,000 kg worth of hardtack (a dense cracker using flour and less water).
Later on, they were being taken over by Japanese Troops. During that time, they had to halt all products and cease operations soon after.
Since then, the masses love their products, the famous red tins had been given out on festivities like birthdays, anniversaries or even celebrations like Chinese New Year.
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| Garden Biscuit Tin (given on celebrations) |
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| Pop-Pan, Spring Onion Crackers. |
Garden Biscuits are sold everywhere in Hong Kong, but you can find them internationally. Mainly in Chinese Supermarkets, I have seen them pop up in various stores.
Here in Canada, these products are sold in T&T supermarket, Walmart.
Internationally I found them sold on Amazon.
Again, Garden Biscuits had a long-standing tradition that spans throughout Hong Kong and around the world. As it celebrates its centennial, we are reminded of how much of their past, present and look towards the future of these biscuits, and to quote from them, 'Every Bite Tells a Story'.
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