A Muslim cafe owner in Hong Kong has developed lard-free versions of iconic local pastries like pineapple buns, sausage buns, and wife cakes, traditionally made with pork fat, making them accessible to Muslim residents and tourists alike.
His creations have drawn interest from visitors from Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, according to a feature by news.gov.hk.
Swadiq Khan, the cafe owner, established a central kitchen a decade ago to produce halal-certified Hong Kong-style buns without lard or preservatives.
“I handed out pineapple buns to ethnic minorities so they could discover what a real pineapple bun tastes like,” Khan said in the article.
His kitchen was later certified halal by the Incorporated Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong, with all ingredients, from vegetable oil and flour to chicken sausages, meeting halal standards.
Since receiving certification, Khan’s bakery has supplied the nearby Kowloon Mosque & Islamic Centre and attracted Muslim tourist groups from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and others.
The growing interest in Muslim-friendly offerings comes as visitor arrivals from predominantly Muslim markets, including the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Indonesia, and Malaysia, surpassed 360,000 in the first five months of this year.
In response to this trend, 190 eateries in Hong Kong have been halal-certified, and 60 hotels have been rated as Muslim-friendly by CrescentRating.
The Hong Kong Tourism Board introduced an online training resource titled Tips for Welcoming Muslim Travellers in late June, which includes videos and infographics on Muslim customs, dietary rules, and religious practices.
The board has also organized seminars for trade partners and hosted overseas influencers and media to explore Hong Kong’s Muslim-friendly facilities, HKTB deputy executive director Becky Ip Ching-tak said in the article.
“We have made some good progress in terms of Muslim segment development. But I am sure that we can work even more closely with our partners from different industry sectors, to make Hong Kong a top-of-mind destination for Muslim travellers,” Ip added.
(Jamie Liu)
