It’s that time of the year for bak kwa again (FYI: Chinese New Year begins on Jan 22). If you are craving for barbequed pork slices, there are many local purveyors offering their own versions.

Other than well-known brands, celebrities are selling bak kwa this year too, like Ben Yeo’s collaboration with Kim Joo Guan on a limited-edition yuzu bak kwa.

Meanwhile, influencer Yan Kay Kay has launched a bak kwa brand called 167 Royal Phoenix, which specialises in honey-infused bak kwa with delivery. Photo: Instagram/ @yankaykay

“Online selling [is] my forte”

These days, Kay Kay mainly works as a property agent at Huttons Asia together with her husband Brandon Loh, 29. But the 40-year-old also co-owns online businesses with Brandon, including beauty distributor Supersenji and gourmet grocer Orient Ocean, which offers CNY steamboat platters and snacks.

It was a distributor named Samantha Lee under Kay Kay’s Supersenji brand who kickstarted the bak kwa business with her family, as they have an heirloom bak kwa recipe dating back to 1927. “I tried her bak kwa end 2021 and loved it. Sam asked me for advice on online selling — my forte — and I decided to invest in the business and come onboard to help her spread the word,” Kay Kay tells 8days.sg.

Photo: Yip Jieying

Honey bak kwa 

167 Royal Phoenix was named for Samantha’s grandmother, whose name included the Chinese character for phoenix (167 refers to the birth order of Samantha’s uncles and auntie, who are also involved in the business). 

Instead of sugar, honey is used to sweeten Royal Phoenix’s bak kwa as it is a “healthier choice”. The pork is offered as minced square slices and bacon strips. The latter, Kay Kay says, sold out “in two minutes” when the first batch was launched late last year on the brand’s website.

Photo: 167 Royal Phoenix

The bak kwa is sold in packs, and each slice is individually vacuum-sealed for freshness. “Convenient for playing mahjong, cards and lots of ang pow-giving and receiving. No oily hands to wash!” jokes Kay Kay. She recommends customers to pop their bak kwa in the oven, toaster or air fryer for a short stint for “extra crispiness”. 

The Honey-Infused Bak Kwa is priced at $35 for 500g ($33.95 if you buy two packs, or get a pack free if you buy 10 packs). The Honey Bacon Bak Kwa costs $56 for 500g. 

According to Kay Kay, the bacon bak kwa is made with “thick strips of the best part of the pig’s belly” and “each strip is at least 18cm long — we don't believe in serving our customers tiny scraps and bits from spare parts!”

If you prefer spicy bak kwa, there’s also Mala Bak Kwa at $42 for 500g ($40.75 if you buy two packs, buy 10 get one free). Delivery is free for orders above $150.

Now, what does honey bak kwa taste like? We find the pork much sweeter and stickier than the average bak kwa, but also more succulent as honey is known to tenderise meat. While the bak kwa squares could do with more smoky charring, the caramelised honey on the bacon offers a nice subtle crunch.

Photo: Yip Jieying

Pay by instalment 

Unusually enough, 167 Royal Phoenix allows customers to pay for their bak kwa in instalments, via Atome (3 instalments) and GrabPay (4 instalments). Yes, it’s just like buying a fancy fridge. 

Photo: Yan Kay Kay

Earned six-figure commission as a property agent 

As a property agent, Kay Kay is working under her husband’s team at Huttons. “My husband and I are actively involved in almost all the new launches across Singapore and deal with different types of clients ranging from HDB upgraders to investors, so we really handle almost anything depending on the client's needs,” she says.

Since she started working in property in 2021, Kay Kay has earned commissions as high as a six-digit sum. “There was a case that was very memorable. I remember there were many challenges to overcome for this client and the deal almost didn't go through, but once I managed to solve my client's issues it was truly rewarding. It was a six-figure commission amount,” she recalls. 

Although she is busy juggling several businesses and life as a mum of two young kids now, Kay Kay shares that she is still “very passionate about property.” She explains: “It is definitely one of my top priorities. I seldom post about my property work on Instagram as I personally prefer to use it for e-commerce because it's a more casual platform. Serving property clients requires more one-on-one attention and dedication so I prefer to do it offline. Maybe I should post more to remind people that I'm still an agent!”

To order Yan Kay Kay’s bak kwa, go to www.167royalphoenix.com. For updates on stock availability, check out Instagram.